Taft

In Ann Patchett's "Taft," the story revolves around John Taft, a quiet and introspective gas station owner with a troubled past.

His life is disrupted by the arrival of a young woman named Fay, who claims to be pregnant with his estranged son's child.

As Taft grapples with his son's absence and Fay's presence, he confronts buried emotions and the complexities of family and connection.

The novel explores themes of loss, redemption, and the unexpected bonds that can form in the face of adversity, set against the backdrop of the American Midwest.