For Fred and Karen Schouten, the news that she is pregnant is most welcome, having been trying for a while with no success. Gordon and Alice Holc are also happy as whilst they already have one child, they learn that at 35 Alice is pregnant again. But both couples receive devastating news as Fred and Karen are informed that their not-yet-born baby has a brain defect and has no chance of surviving whilst Alice and Gordon learn that their baby has a defective heart and also has little chance of surviving...

Patty Nowakowski already has three children, but decides to be a surrogate mother. Fully confident of being able to give up her baby, she is nonetheless stunned when she discovers that she is expecting twins, and the couple for whom she is pregnant will only accept one child, provided it is female.

Alix Miller arrives at the isolated Crompton mansion in New Hampshire to paint the portrait of the mysterious Leland Crompton. When they meet, she discovers that he is horribly disfigured from a disease called acromegaly. Nevertheless, friendship, romance, and a deeper understanding develop between the two.