ATD, page 609 question/discussion

[Alex Nunez]

"The first pale husbands of the evening stood waiting for suburban trains
never meant to arrive at any destination on the rail map—as if, to be
brought to any shelter this night, one would first have to step across into
some region of grace hitherto undefined." (Page 609)

I'm confused as to the meaning of this sentence/image in Against The Day,
page 609. The only way I can make sense of it is that the "pale husbands"
are grieving widows waiting for the return of their lost, departed loved
ones and the only way they can return to them is by making a step across
into some otherworldly region/space/dimension/etc. Anyone care to offer
some help/an interpretation?
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