When Deirdre Roberts' husband and daughters die in an automobile accident, her life seems irrevocably shattered. Four years later, Deirdre-still despondent, although she owns a successful florist shop-communes regularly with her family's portrait. Peri Tarleton-a young woman convinced other women don't like her-moves in next door, and Deirdre is startled by her resemblance to her dead youngest daughter. Soon, the two women grow close. After Peri begins a relationship with Ben Singer, founder of a computer consulting firm, Deirdre is introduced to Ben's father, Sam, a writer and widower. As Deirdre returns to normalcy, Peri's troubled childhood takes its toll. Peri exhibits wild mood swings, then is diagnosed with an achalasia, a possibly psychosomatic disorder making it difficult for the esophagus to push food into the stomach, reflecting a person's inability to swallow the situation. Peri seeks help from Marilyn Swiss, a psychiatrist, who concludes Peri's father, an unfeeling martinet, has left Peri emotionally abandoned. Still, Swiss has a nagging feeling that she's missed something. Later, Sam's coldness towards Peri, whom he considers an overly dramatic and troubled replica of his dead wife, confounds matters. When Peri's former boss pressures Ben to fire Peri or lose a major contract, Peri explodes, then suffers a major achalasia attack. Deirdre must now try to rebuild her life, while helping Peri deal with her issues.