Esther Blau Timeline and Summary

Esther's father, Pop, comes to the United States, and after struggling, he becomes wealthy and has a family.
Esther grows up with maids and a privileged life, but her mother is distant, and her father is angry.
Esther's family is Jewish, but they live in an anti-Semitic neighborhood. This makes life awkward and painful a lot of the time.
Esther falls in love with Jacob, but her father disapproves of him because he's poor.
Esther marries Jacob anyway, but she still acts like her father is in charge of her life. She lets him decide where she and her husband will live. She lets him pay the bills and make her husband feel like less of a man. Even when she argues with her husband, she takes her father's side. All. The. Time.
Esther has Deborah.
Esther has two stillborn twin boys. She goes away to recover and leaves a hired nurse in charge to look after Deborah.
Esther gets pregnant with Suzy and is often nervous, though she puts on a happy face for Deborah.
Esther intervenes in Deborah's life every time something is the least bit awkward or uncomfortable for her. She does this because after the surgery and summer camps, Deborah seems unhappy all the time.
Esther walks in on Deborah's suicide attempt and talks Jacob into admitting Deborah to a mental hospital.
Esther visits the hospital a few times to see Deborah—but mostly to talk with Dr. Fried.
Esther holds down the fort at home while Deborah is in the hospital for three years.
Esther is finally proud of Deborah for getting her GED.