Three years on from a devastating loss, sixteen year old Elise is stunned by her father's decision: she is to enter the local convent in Noumea, New Caledonia. Longing for a family of her own one day, she grasps hold of the only alternative she is offered: move to New Zealand to live with her married sister.

But other challenges await as she grapples with a new language and her brother-in-law's unwelcoming manner. Naive and trusting, Elise soon falls for the charms of Harold, who works for her brother-in-law. Just as it seems her dreams are coming true, Harold's true nature is revealed with tragic consequences.

Can Elise learn to stand on her own feet and carve out the life she has dreamed of?