Surrendering her virginity to her high school sweetheart the same night her family entered the Witness Protection Program comes back to haunt Dawn Wainwright when she is not allowed to inform him of their daughter's birth. Later, the death of her parents frees Dawn from the WIP, but she discovers Rick Landry has moved and for fifteen years Dawn raises Kelley alone.
Then the respected scientist relocates to San Francisco and crosses paths with Rick. Fearing his reprisal, Dawn still keeps their daughter's existence secret.
While at the DMV Kelly sees her birth certificate for the first time and discovers Dawn listed her father as Unknown. Convinced her mother lied to her about her father and slept around in her teens, the distraught girl runs away.
To insure her safety, Dawn sends Rick to bring her home. He guesses the truth and forges lasting but fragile bonds with his daughter
185 pages.