Emily is raised by her father who encourages her to always follow her heart and dreams. But when her father dies leaving Emily all alone she has to be raised by one of her relatives, none of which want her. She hides under the table as they draw lots to see who will have to raise her. Aunt Elizabeth is drawn and Emily is sent to live with her, Aunt Laura and Cousin Jimmy at New Moon.

New Moon suffers tragedy with the death of Aunt Elizabeth who went missing at sea. The family then discovers that Elizabeth had borrowed money from Scottish relatives and that New Moon now belongs to them.

While her friends all head off for Shrewsbury Emily is left behind in Blair Water because her Auth Ruth refuses to have Emily stay with her. Bitterely disappointed, Laura tries to cheer her up by telling Emily that she has left Ian for good. An ally of sorts then comes to Emily's help and her future takes a turn for the good, but things aren't so good for Laura who discovers something unexpected.

Overjoyed at finishing her first book she goes to see Teddy to see what he thinks of it. Only he breaks her heart when he is brutally honest about it bringing back memories of Dean Priest.

Emily then falls down the stairs and remembers back through a series of flashbacks the moments in her life that have shaped her future.