Book is in French Montreal, 1940. Her heart buried in immense grief, Mélina has difficulty recovering from the loss of her dear Antonin. The young widow gives up working in the stable, but must nevertheless provide for the needs of her daughters. Resourceful, she now takes the tram every morning to go to a sewing workshop at Place d'Armes. Little Angélina is entrusted for one summer to her grandparents O'Brien. During her stay in Rivière-au-Renard, a tragedy occurs, leading to her cruel grandfather Salomon escaping... A few years later, Mélina returns to Gaspésie and reunites with her half-sisters to unravel a painful story of inheritance . Her children have grown up: Angélina abandons her studies to help her mother and allow her sister Bénédicte to continue her studies. She worked several jobs, was tempted by a career as a model and then became a seamstress for the prestigious Eaton's store. For months, Mélina has not heard from Médard, the charming bread delivery man with whom she had established ties before the war. Did he die on the battlefield or was it rather the distance that extinguished the flame of their love? Despite everything, the valiant mother continues to struggle with everyday life, for the happiness of others...