Cass and Kate meet at school–and are firm friends for the rest of their lives. Both marry naval officers, but Cass’s infidelity has far-reaching consequences for her children–and Kate’s. Many of the characters in First Friends (published in the UK as Those Who Serve) reappear in later Marcia Willett novels, and we meet their children as well. As always, Marcia Willett’s wise understanding of love, loss, marriage, and parenthood is conveyed with honesty, generosity, and compassion.