To outsiders, they seem the perfect American family. Margaret, the loving, widowed mother. Mackie, the brilliant, dazzling handsome older son. Phillis, his beautiful, talented, sophisticated wife. Dink, friendly and outgoing, with all the energy of young manhood. Gina, his girlfriend, the prettiest girl in their Illinois small town. They alone know of the shadow of guilt hanging over all of them. They alone know of the flames of forbidden desire consuming each of them. They are ordinary people who enrich and damage one another's lives, and somehow, some way, survive to keep moving on.