When her boyfriend is arrested for marijuana possession, Joleen Reedy and her 11-year-old daughter, Tara, take refuge with Joleen's aimless brother, James. Joleen soon runs off with a truck driver, and James is unable to meet his responsibilities. After Child Protective Services takes possession of Tara, James abducts her from a foster home, and the two travel from California to Utah, where his abusive father lives.

Michelle Miller is a chronic sleepwalker. She and her husband Dan Miller are trying to have their first child after she had a miscarriage the year before. One night she sleepwalks into the bedroom of her neighbor Luke Williams while his wife Nancy is out of town. They have sex; she is unaware of this but he not only knows about it but falls madly in love with Michelle and decides he wants to leave Nancy for her. Michelle gets pregnant, but doesn't know whether the baby is Dan's or Luke's.

On her first visit to East Africa, a young woman crosses paths with the Ranger charged with being her guide. They have something in common and when they meet, a light within them both begins to flicker.