Ramona Leighton-Schultz is a woman with problems. Married to the uncommunicative Gerhardt, she is unhappy with the downward slide their intimacy level has taken since the early days of their relationship. There is a child involved who they plan to adopt. And now things are suddenly much, much worse-for Ramona and Gerhardt have just suffered a tragic plane crash, leaving Ramona with chronic skeletal problems and Gerhardt paralyzed and wheelchairbound for life. Living for several years in a virtual state of shock, Ramona struggles to keep their beautiful Napa home and acreage in order, and to keep Gerhardt's dental practice solvent. Ramona's sister, Allison, agrees to adopt the little boy. Ramona is so busy taking care of everything around her that she has no time to take care of herself. But eventually Ramona figures out why she's so miserable all the time. Her relationship with Gerhardt has entirely fallen apart. Always emotionally distant, Gerhardt has become completely greedy, emotionally-a common reaction in handicapped survivors of tragic accidents. Despite the help of a marriage counselor, things get so bad that Ramona decides she must move out. While on her own, she makes a re-acquaintance with Charlie, a distant neighbor. She learns what a normal relationship looks like. Through time spent together, once again Ramona learns to value what she has to offer, and to accept who she is. Gerhardt, through continuing counsel, also is learning to grow. He is finally able to prove to Ramona that he is making real efforts to improve himself, and tells her for the first time that he loves her. She decides to continue to commit herself to her marriage. Back with Gerhardt, things are stilldifficult. But they have begun to make strides toward improvement. Finally, though, Gerhardt's health begins to falter. And on a Caribbean cruise, he dies of a sudden heart attack. Ramona, though, does not fall apart. She's been healed of her depression and has learned volumes about herself and Gerhardt during their difficult times together. She's happy they managed to work things out to the extent that they did, and is now ready to 'let go' of her husband. In learning more about who she is, Ramona learns to dream her own dreams, plot her own goals, and let Gerhardt's dreams rest in peace.