In the rural countryside of a small Kentucky town, where the pace is slow and everyone knows everyone else, we find teary-eyed IVY DAWSON moments away from the saddest day of her life -- her wedding day.  Ivy’s reluctance to walk down the aisle is compounded by her mother, GLORIA’s urging to decide whether to fulfill half-hearted marriage vows to the father of her unborn baby, or abort her pregnancy to avoid the inevitable social scandal.

Ivy decides to keep her baby to raise alone as a single mother -- a decision that ultimately leads to a life of personal struggles, strained relationships, and even harsher life-altering choices.

Her best friend ANGIE takes her home, diligently caring for her while she brings her child to term; remaining by her side until Ivy finally gives birth to a beautiful baby boy – TANNER.

Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication, and patterns of behavior.  At age 7, Tanner’s behavior and tendency towards physically violent tantrums prove too much for his school to handle.

Tanner’s following indefinite dismissal leaves Ivy in the precarious situation of finding a way to keep her job while maintaining Tanner’s care.

Unable to afford reputable schools that cater to Tanner’s needs, and refusing the option of abandoning her son to an institution, Ivy swallows her pride to ask her long-alienated mother for help.

Ivy writes Tanner a note-card reading, “Mommy will be home soon”, and leaves to meet  the new man in her life, GEORGIE, at a local diner where he reveals that he has been offered and accepted a better job in another town and is ready to leave that very moment. Ivy is then stunned with a marriage proposal and an offer to leave with him to start a new life together, but only under the provision that she leave Tanner behind.