Dianne Parker (Kimberly Williams) meets and marries the handsome and charismatic Mark McCune (Eric Close), never noticing the quiet attention of his brother, David (Campbell Scott), a soft-spoken pediatrician. Their marriage seems perfect until the birth of their daughter, Julia, a baby with genetic abnormalities. Mark, who can't face of idea of a less-than-perfect child, walks out, leaving Dianne to confront the challenges of being a single mom. As the years pass, Dianne and her mother, Hannah (Blair Brown), remain sel flessly devoted to Julia. David introduces Dianne to a young girl (Alexa Vega) from a troubled home as a "mother's helper," and things begin to change. Julia gains a best friend and Dianne finds renewed strength and hope, but David must wait patiently for a chance to reveal his true feelings. In the process, Dianne learns that love is more than what you feel for someone- it's what you're willing to give of yourself.