In 1977 Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Lily Webb’s first love—a devoted, college-bound quarterback—ends in tragedy when his fierce protectiveness leads to a life-altering decision that tears them apart. Already scarred by her mother’s death and her sister Jane’s struggles with addiction, Lily carries deep grief into adulthood. Years later, she builds a steady, comforting life with Marshall Middleton, a respected ornithologist. But when her former love reappears, unresolved questions about that fateful night resurface. Torn between the intensity of her first love and the security of her second, Lily must confront her past to understand whether forgiveness—and true healing—are possible.