The child he loves. The idea of a child, he's beginning to understand, is where everything will go wrong.William works as a human remains removal specialist, removing stains left by the dead. Whether by a bloody crime scene or a quiet domestic death, William is reminded each day of the frailty of human life. As his fiancée, Julie, nears term with their first child William becomes increasingly desperate for a way to overcome his belief that to birth is to kill. But Mrs. Rose, an elementary school principal and messenger pigeon hobbyist, nurtures William's depressive outlook and claims to have a way to prove that William's hesitancy to accept fatherhood is not only natural but necessary.In this novel of impending parenthood, an idealistic teacher recruits a pliant protégé to join her group of Strangers - a devout collection of kindred minds who have dedicated their lives to cultivating a unique idea of perfection.But joining is easier than leaving.