Christian O’Donnell is a year from fifty and wants a family of his own. At a birthday party for his nephew, of which he traveled from upstate New York, a beautiful woman is seen getting out of her car with a young boy bolting from the back door. They were invited by Christian’s sister-in-law, or cunhada in Portuguese, who is from Rio de Janeiro. It is a sunny day in a park just outside Boston. Sparks are flying for Christian, but he is near fifty now and does not assume anything anymore. A rocky dating period leads to two promises needed before going further with Marcia. She must have no more secrets. Living as an alien in this country after her work visa expired has created many walls, which will not work if they are to even consider marrying. She must also allow the relationship with her son to develop naturally without impeding. Christian knows and wants to become close to her son and offer much as a stepfather. Upon agreeing to both and a few months of showing signs of walls coming down, they marry. Almost immediately one promise broken. Her walls are back to the same height as when they first met. Focusing on her son, the relationship does develop as expected and a close bond is formed. One night after saying prayers with only the two in the room, her son tells him he loves him. Words Christian has been waiting for his adult life to hear. Marcia goes in after and after a half hour, comes out, says nothing, goes into the bedroom. No discussion of what just occurred. At least not to him. The next day, Marcia tracks down her ex-husband while he is vacationing in Brazil to have her son speak to his father. In essence, impeding the relationship. Promise number two is broken. Christian cannot live with her after this. While it will be heartbreaking to leave her son, he will not be allowed to freely connect and so the decision to annul the marriage or divorce is pondered. An annulment will send Marcia back to Brazil as it has not been a year since the small civil ceremony. This will be seen as a phony marriage. His anger wants her out of this country. If this occurs, her son will not have his mother. No matter what, he is gone from the small apartment. A new start is chosen on an island north of Boston. Gloucester, Massachusetts will be the place to regroup. This time only guarantees. No more dating. He still has work and alcohol. Things he can control, for now.