When Lydia Reynolds arrives home from work to find her ten-year-old son, Brandon, climbing through his bedroom window, she knows she needs help, and she'll do almost anything to get it. Brandon must learn to cope with the loss of his father in Iraq and his feelings of inadequately fulfilling his father s last instruction to take care of your mother until I get home. Andy Jenkins, Brandon's teacher, is recently divorced and happy with life the way it is. That is, until Lydia enters the picture and asks for his help. Unable to say no to a student in trouble, he agrees. When they team up to help Brandon, they soon realize that they make great partners outside of the classroom, as well.