Finally, at twenty-three Miranda's career is on the fast track. She has the perfect job in the perfect city, and just when she meets the perfect man, her world tumbles down around her. In fulfillment of a promise she never thought she'd have to keep, Miranda is forced to give up her job in the city she loves and moves to California to care for her twelve years old nephew Joey Spence. Struggling with feelings of resentment, Miranda tries desperately to maintain a sense of normalcy for herself and her nephew. And at the same time struggles with the fear of being doomed to the same fate that befell her parents and her sister.
As Joey develops into a handsome young man, Miranda is constantly haunted by the absence of Alex, the man who walked out of her life as quietly as he had walked into it.
It's the last football game of the season and on the way to the stadium, an accident leaves Joey in a coma. When Joey finally awakens he must deal with the overwhelming task of putting all the missing pieces of his previous life back together.