It is 1944, and Margaret Montgomery is pregnant with twin boys. In the midst of World War II, her husband, Lt. Colonel Henry Montgomery is stationed overseas. As Margaret is giving birth to their sons, Henry's lover, Ma Le, is giving birth to a daughter in the confines of a thatched hut in Indonesia.Henry promises to bring Ma Le and the baby to the States. To ensure her passage to a new life, however, Ma Le commits a horrific act--one that changes her forever. Margaret, unaware of her husband's betrayal, often relies upon the kindness and resources of their close friend James Walsh, who gives her an inscribed locket while Henry is still overseas. When he returns, their years together become difficult, and it is James's locket that helps guide her through the storms of life and eventually sends her into a safe harbor.

This historical novel follows the lives of two women as they raise their children, who share a father, and make their ways in a difficult world.