In the story, a woman, who is having a secret affair, is caught in an awkward situation with her lover in the bathroom. Her daughter, who is training and starting to enjoy tennis, sees the commotion and questions her mother about her actions. The mother justifies her affair by arguing that honesty in relationships hasn't brought her financial security, contrasting it with her long-standing, honest marriage to her husband. She reveals that her daughter’s boyfriend, Garrett, is a wealthy individual, and she sees him as a means to a better life, not just a genuine relationship.