The novel centers around Iris, the daughter of the beautiful passionate Anna from a secret love affair with Paul Werner. During the turbulent 60s, Iris and Theo's fragile marriage begins to falter, while their son Steve, a student at a midwestern university, comes under the sway of the charismatic and radical son of Paul Werner's niece, Meg. It is in these already difficult times that Steve unwittingly starts a chain of events that throws the family into emotional chaos. Paul, consumed by a lifelong secret he will never divulge - that of Iris' true parentage - helps this trouble family, and in so doing is finally able to find happiness for himself.