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.

Oliver, Emily's cousin, announces that New Moon actually belongs to his father. His girlfriend Maida is pregnant and loses her job and is left penniless. Emily, Ilse, Perry and Teddy, get her settled in the Disappointed House and end up helping to deliver her baby. Maida leaves town, and Oliver takes responsibility for his child.

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.