From the moment she learns of the stranger's visit, Molly Tattersall is filled with a sense of fear. Then her mother disappears, leaving behind a letter asking Molly to take care of her five brothers and sisters. Molly's wayward father rejects his responsibilities, leaving Molly to choose between the young man she has given her heart to and the family she adores.

It is the cruellest decision of her life, with long-reaching and heart-breaking consequences. Only one thing is certain - Molly's life will never be the same again.