at what times does james recreate feelings from his childhood ?

The reader a glimpses the early years of James's life in the final section of the book. Ruth first realized that she was pregnant while Dennis was in the hospital, and Dennis named his unborn child "James" just prior to his death. James's earliest memories are of Hunter Jordan, whom he viewed as his real father, and of the knowledge that his father had died before he was born. Ruth missed her period, and realized that she was pregnant once again. When she told Dennis, who had been admitted to the hospital, he told her to name the child James. After a few weeks in the hospital, Dennis asked Ruth to bring the children by. They stood outside, waving up at his window, and something sank in Ruth's heart. A few days later, a call came while she was at home. Dennis had died of cancer.