Seeking to escape her oppressive father and unfeeling mother and gain control of her own life, eighteen-year-old Adie Ross leaves her hometown of Depcon, Pennsylvania, for Short Creek, New York, in 1948. Mrs. Goodman, a teacher and mentor, has arranged lodging and a job for Adie at the Shaw Insurance Firm. In Short Creek, Adie collects a plethora of friends: Steward Esmond, the Greyhound bus driver; Hildi and Joyce, her co-workers; Tony Martini, a young policeman; and ten-year-old Freddie Smith. She must also deal with her enigmatic landlord Mr. Wilton Barb and address her troubled heart.
Her world takes a sudden turn during a chance meeting with Sally Light Carter at the ice cream shop in Depcon-an encounter that begins to reveal pieces of history that may relate to Adie's cloudy past.
Between tragedy and rapture, Adie overcomes obstacles, pushing past barriers that enable her to find the courage to respect herself. With the help of her new and special friends, Adie searches for answers and is no longer afraid to find them.