This story takes place in many different places. We follow two different characters, and Vivian and Molly are moved about from foster home to foster home so much. It also takes place in two different time periods, the early 1930s through the early 1950s and in 2011. The story begins in Molly's foster home in Spruce Harbor, Maine, 2011. Molly lives there with her foster parents, Ralph and Dina. Here we meet Vivian, a ninety-one-year-old widow, who also lives in Spruce Harbor at the same time as Molly. Molly comes to Vivian's house to fulfill her community service.
Then, we see a glimpse into Vivian's first years, in the 1930s when she lived in Ireland. We then travel with Vivian to New York to her new home, in the 1930s. After any shred of that working out has burnt to the ground, Vivian begins her descent into "the system." Vivian rides the orphan train, a train for orphans looking to start over. Chicago is the first stop for many for the orphans looking to find their forever homes. Vivian isn't adopted at the first stop, so she rides the train to Albans, Minnesota. From here Vivian goes to the Byrnes' home. When that, too, fails, Vivian is sent to Hemingford County. Here she lives with the Groteses and their four children. When this doesn't work out either, Dorothy, for a short period of time, lives a few miles away, with her teacher at her boarding house. Then she gets moved to a more permanent situation. She lives with the Nielsens, whose only daughter, Vivian, had passed away a few years prior, and who are looking for some help around the shop. From then on, Vivian stays put until she gets married and leaves her house to move in with Dutchy. After Dutchy dies, Vivian moves into a big, old house with Jim Daly, whom she later marries. Vivian lives out the rest of her life here, and then Molly joins her, beginning a whole new adventure.
Then, we see a glimpse into Vivian's first years, in the 1930s when she lived in Ireland. We then travel with Vivian to New York to her new home, in the 1930s. After any shred of that working out has burnt to the ground, Vivian begins her descent into "the system." Vivian rides the orphan train, a train for orphans looking to start over. Chicago is the first stop for many for the orphans looking to find their forever homes. Vivian isn't adopted at the first stop, so she rides the train to Albans, Minnesota. From here Vivian goes to the Byrnes' home. When that, too, fails, Vivian is sent to Hemingford County. Here she lives with the Groteses and their four children. When this doesn't work out either, Dorothy, for a short period of time, lives a few miles away, with her teacher at her boarding house. Then she gets moved to a more permanent situation. She lives with the Nielsens, whose only daughter, Vivian, had passed away a few years prior, and who are looking for some help around the shop. From then on, Vivian stays put until she gets married and leaves her house to move in with Dutchy. After Dutchy dies, Vivian moves into a big, old house with Jim Daly, whom she later marries. Vivian lives out the rest of her life here, and then Molly joins her, beginning a whole new adventure.