After a hasty Civil War marriage to Confederate soldier, Jeb Carter, Cherry Fitzwilliam finds herself abandoned among strangers;over the next twenty-five years she carefully constructs a life based on lies. She is the widowed mother of a daughter, and becomes a successful antiques dealer. Cherry's one indulgence is a much anticipated monthly meeting she has with Jeb. A meeting that usually devolves into a shouting match. When Jeb Carter becomes ill, perhaps even dying, discord changes to despair and he asks that they spend his remaining time together. Avoiding family and friends, they leave Texas on a journey that takes them to a love they've long denied.