The long awaited second book in the 1929 Jonathan’s Cross trilogy. It’s June, 1930 and life is harder than ever. The residents of Rockport, Massachusetts have just held a memorial service for Aryl Sullivan. Everyone searches for ways to cope and continue on with life, except his pregnant widow, Claire, who is devastated. Caleb drowns his sorrow in a bottle of whiskey and Jonathan anxiously awaits the birth of his child. Once again, Maura is put to work to see them past the worst of it, facing setbacks of her own. As the gears of life slowly start to move again, new friends are made and old enemies return to finish what they started. At Maura’s inarguable insistence, Claire meets Gordon, a widower, and they begin to forge a bond through a common sorrow. As Claire begins to move on and accept her new life, Aryl returns. While a happy reunion at first, all is not as it seems with Aryl. As his self destruction becomes obvious to everyone, Jonathan and Caleb must do what they can to save their friend.