It's 1942, and nineteen-year-old Hilda Stenkiewicz has a secret: she's given birth to an illegitimate child. Ashamed and overwhelmed, Hilda turns to her older brother, Martin, for help. On his advice, she gives her baby to Martin's Army buddy and his wife, who are strangers to her. Hilda, heartbroken and devastated, leaves her hometown in northern Pennsylvania to start anew. She forges a bond with Elaine Huebner, the landlady at her boarding house, and soon, their friendship blossoms into a much deeper relationship. With Elaine's help, Hilda tries to put her past behind her, but she can never forget the baby she surrendered.