A letter from Bich’s mother comes, telling them that she is living in the U.S., in Pennsylvania. Bich and Anh are allowed to write her back and tell her a little about themselves, but they do not hear from her again for another few years.

When Bich is in college, Rosa casually mentions that they are going to visit her mother in Pennsylvania. She also reveals that Bich has another brother and sister. Bich's boss tells her if she takes time off, she won’t have a job when she gets back. When her family doesn’t push it, Bich decides not to go.

The next summer, Bich goes to Boston for a wedding and decides to meet her mother, who now lives in Massachusetts. Bich discovers that her half-siblings, Nho and Huy, are older than her. Bich goes with Nho and her husband, Binh, to their apartment, where Bich’s mother is waiting. She is a small woman with features like Anh’s. She is also forty-seven, and six months pregnant. They all drive into Plymouth for dim sum.On the way, Bich’s mother talks to her about what happened after they left her in Vietnam. The story goes that the week before they got on the ship to the U.