Laura Pehlke, a Long Island dental hygienist, finds her life unraveling as her marriage crumbles and her husband Bob's sudden death leaves her reeling. Struggling to connect with her adolescent son Dennis, who is increasingly distant and troubled, Laura's attempts to keep her life on track are hindered by her own flaws and insecurities. Her relationship with her overbearing family, including her disapproving mother Joan and her seemingly perfect sister Kathy, adds to her burden. Laura's journey through grief becomes even more complicated when a well-intentioned lie spirals out of control, leading her into a deeper web of deceit and confusion.

As Laura navigates her new reality as a single mother, she grapples with finding her own identity amidst the chaos. Her interactions with those around her, including a budding relationship with her kind-hearted neighbor Paul and the challenges she faces at work, offer both moments of clarity and more setbacks. Laura’s struggle highlights the themes of personal growth and resilience. Her efforts to rebuild her life and the relationships with those she cares about reflect the complexities of modern family dynamics and the search for genuine human connection.