The night after the storm, Lottie is rescued from a shipwreck at St Ives, Cornwall. But how a seven year old child came to be on a cargo ship remains a mystery. Lottie's velvet dress and lace petticoats suggest that she has come from a rich family, but her little back bears the scars of a severe beating. Arnie and Jenny Lanroska already have two children, Matt and Tom, but Arnie wants Lottie to stay with them. They agree to foster her, despite opposition from the local orphanage and criticism from the locals. From the start, Lottie is self-willed and full of surprises, and though Tom adores her, Matt's feelings are less clear. For a few years, life is good for the Lanroskas. But when tragedy strikes at the very heart of the family, the repercussions will be immense for everyone.