Magdalene is eager to find love and friendship, something she lacked growing up. She leaves her Canadian home to join her sisters in New Jersey, quickly learns the language, and lands a job. All that's left is to find a husband. But after a foolish night in the city, Magdalene gives birth to a child and has no maternal instincts to be a good mother.

Anna adores her high school sweetheart--both have college plans. But when an unplanned pregnancy threatens their futures, the parents insist adoption is the answer. Devastated by her loss, Anna takes drastic measures. Decades later, after receiving a distressing call about the son she gave away, Anna is faced with what could be the most critical decision of her life.

Gabriel Mackenzie stumbles upon his mother's secret and begins to question everything in his life--about the mother who treats him differently than his sisters and the father he knows nothing about. Angry and confused, he spirals down a dark path that can only lead to no good.

This 21st-century saga dates back to the 60s and encompasses the lives of Magdalene, Anna, and Gabriel, where the three are curiously intertwined. It is a story of love and loss, trials and tribulations, and a mother's essential role in the emotional well-being of her child.