Julia Simmons, mother of nine year old Mandy, and a teacher at the village school, has been divorced for a year. Julia, in self-defence, has distanced herself from the villagers, her neighbours and also to a certain extent, her colleagues. The headmaster, a middle-aged bachelor, has been pursuing her for some time. On her way home one evening she sees smoke coming from an apparently empty house. She intervenes and later learns that the twin sons of the new owner were responsible for the fire. Their father, Bob Nooney, brings them to Julia's house to apologise. In the meantime they are enrolled at the school. Julia feels drawn to Bob, a widower with as many problems as herself.