New York, 1979. It is Thanksgiving Day, and Evelina is gathered with her close family and close friends, her heart full of gratitude for all she has and regret for all she has had to give up. She has lived in the United States for more than thirty years, but her soul remains Italian... Northern Italy, 1934. Evelina lives a sheltered life with her parents and siblings in a decaying villa. When her older sister Benedetta marries a banker, aiming to satisfy her father's wishes rather than her own, Evelina swears that she will never marry out of obligation. She knows nothing of her romantic love, but when she meets Ezra, the son of the local dressmaker, her heart recognizes him as an old friend. Evelina wants these carefree days to last forever. She wants to enjoy the sun, beauty and love and not pay attention to the gray clouds gathering on the horizon. However, nothing lasts forever. The shadows of war loom over Europe, and many precious lives are at risk.