Gillian Blake an architect, recently arrived from England, is the owner of a house on Pleasant Avenue that she has personally, painstakingly renovated. Painfully shy to the extent that she stutters helplessly in uncomfortable situations, she nevertheless begins to form friendships with her tenants: the gracious, elderly Mrs. O'Brian, and the young, delightful Jenny.But everyone in the house on Pleasant Avenue has well-hidden secrets.A new job with an architectural firm sets Gillian on a collision course with Gabe Hadley, the principal of the school she is seeing to completion. But the job also offers the possibility of additional new friendships and a route back into life.Gillian and Gabe have each suffered terrible personal losses. Yet slowly they find, through their blossoming feelings for each other and for Jenny and Mrs. O'Brian, that a future might just be possible -- in spite of the burdens of the past.