Sidonie Fallows, 16 years old and her older sister, Bobbi, have difficulty adjusting to their mother's death. Their father escapes to his work in the local TB hospital, Bobbi escapes to a dutiful but angry woman-of-the-house role, and Sidonie longs for the comfort of a loving, understanding person. Enter Kieran McMorran. They become friends, but would prefer more. When it seems he can help Sidonie cope with her grief, the boy's own problems surface.