The world came to a sudden end for Vonna Bracy, with the death of her husband, Matt. But no matter how she wanted to retreat, cast aside other people, the fact of her son forced her to face up to responsibilities. For Robby needed an open-heart operation if he was to live...and Vonna was not prepared to accept this second loss. Forced to turn to Matt's family for money, the family Matt had cut himself off from years earlier, Vonna went to the old Bracy house in Maine, ready to anything for her son's sake. But the hatreds and conflicts that filled the house were almost too much for her sacrifice.