Susan Morton is an attorney and a single mother to her 12-year old daughter Carson. When Susan is diagnosed with cancer, she moves from Chicago to California, where she grew up, and she brings Carson along with her. On the west coast, she meets Michael Blake, who is currently a low-paid waiter, and falls in love with him. Michael make friends with Susan's daughter Carson, but he leaves Susan when she tells him that she has cancer. Then Carson convinces him to return to them. Meanwhile, after Susan's ex-husband Peter turns down the offer to let Carson stay with him, Susan considers making her parents, Phil and Marnie, Carson's legal guardians. Michael then offers to take care of Carson since they get along so well, but this upsets Susan's parents. Two weeks later, Susan dies and Carson decides to stay with Michael instead of with her grandparents.