Though she is a crabby, eccentric and unsanitary homeless woman Bennett “allows” her to park her van in the driveway of his Camden home “for three months”. She stays there for 15 years. During her 15-year stay in his drive, Bennett balances his writing career with watching over Shepherd and providing for his increasingly invalid mother. Though he denies “caring” for anyone, he slowly becomes aware of his growing friendship with Shepherd.