Elizabeth's sister Saoirse is a red-haired whirlwind, always leaving behind pieces that Elizabeth struggles to pick up One of these pieces is Saoirse's six-year-old son Luke, a quiet, contemplative boy When Luke is playing in Elizabeth's garden one day, witnessing the latest scene between his mother and his aunt, a friend named Ivan walks into his life This unexpected and rather mysterious friend will change Luke - but will have an even greater impact on Elizabeth Always capable and self-contained, Elizabeth finds Ivan creeping under her skin and beginning to change her life in ways she could never have imagined