Shadow Mountain / Cousins Lauren and Charlotte Lee grow up together on Shadow Mountain in North Carolina in the 1930s. While Charlee has everything given to her, Lauren often does without. Charlee, though younger, is the more outgoing and is the object of Lauren's admiration. Lauren walks in Charlee's shadow, ceding beauty, charm, and even boyfriends to her. But when Lauren meets David, she wants him for herself. Later, when their son is sick one night, and Lauren can't find David, doubts creep into their marriage. Misunderstandings and breakdowns in communications result, exacerbated by outside influences.
