When Marnella Paxton finally gets the courage to leave her verbally abusive husband, she only knows she needs to get away, to go somewhere to find out who she really is. She knows she isn't as stupid and idiotic as her husband keeps telling her she is. But who is she, really? As she heads away from the home in Kansas City where she had lived for the past ten years, ever since marrying Pat, she has no real idea of her destination. By the time she gets to Des Moines, her mind is made up. She goes to a national bank and transfers half of her and Pat's savings and checking accounts, and all of her private savings account into one checking account in her name only. The next day she decides she will head to Michigan to find out about her family's roots. Her parents were from a little town called Westford. She thinks that would be a good place start. On the way, she stops by a Radio Shack and purchases a prepaid cell phone, cancelling the account to her old one. With the new number, Pat would have no way of reaching her. She calls her sister Geri to let her know the new number, and to tell her where she is heading and why. Neither woman has any idea of what is in store for them as Marny uncovers their family's past; deals with the present, which includes Pat's surprisingly violent nature; and comes to terms with the wonderful future she can have, if she only believes.