Roberta and Kim Alexander are siblings that navigated through the most formative years of their young lives alone because their father, James, deserted the family when Roberta was a young child and Kim was little more than a toddler. A strong but short-lived bond was thus formed between the girls and their mother. However, after a lengthy bout with lung cancer, she too departed from their lives. In her mid-twenties, Roberta continues to look after her younger sister, helping her through college and advising her on the ways of the world, often in an overbearing manner. Contrary to Roberta, Kim feels a need to connect with her father. After finding his whereabouts, she writes to him several times with no response. Finally he writes back. Kim excitedly tells Roberta that their father wants to visit, but Roberta hates him more than Kim can understand. After all, she remembers the hurt he inflected on the family more vividly than Kim. James' visit leads to a series of powerful events that encourage awareness and discovery. James must squarely face the errant life choices he made and the tragic damage they caused, while Roberta learns that some wounds, no matter how deep, can heal.