The Creed Family Moves to Ludlow

Louis Creed, his wife Rachel, and their two children, Ellie and Gage, arrive at their new home in Ludlow, Maine, after a stressful cross-country move from Chicago. The family is exhausted and on edge; Gage is teething, Rachel is crying, and the cat, Winston Churchill (Church), is restless. Louis feels a moment of panic and considers driving away, but when they see the house, Rachel is delighted, and Ellie asks if this is home. Louis parks the car, and the family shares a moment of joy when Gage says his first word, "Home." This event establishes the family's new beginning and the central setting of the novel.