The heart and spirit of an indomitable people travel far in time and space ... The unexpected luxury of a day spent at the home of a Hollywood star leads three old friends to share secret facets of their lives, both tragic and triumphant. Excited to return to the home of her youth after a lifetime spent away, a woman learns that the life of a childhood friend has been a bleak, awful shadow of her own. The streets of Vancouver seem to glitter with promises of love and success, but a young man is forced to perceive the grittier reality that hides beneath. A young woman, unwilling to stay at home with her baby while the rest of the world is celebrating, performs an impulsive act of love and selfishness that will shatter the lives of a family she cares for as much as her own. These are only a few of the stirring, unforgettable, often heartbreaking stories in a lyrical collection exploring life and love, terror and joy, fury, and deep sorrow.