 Susan Morton (Nancy Travis) is an attorney and a single mother to her 12-year old daughter, Carson (Jamie Renee Smith). When Susan (Nancy Travis) 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 (Scott Bairstow), who is currently a low-paid waiter, and falls in love with him. Michael make friends with Susans daughter, Carson, but he leaves Susan, when she tells him that she has cancer. Carson convinces him to come back though. Meanwhile, Susan is concidering to have Carson stay with Susans parents, Phil (James Karen) and Marnie (Holland Taylor), when she dies, after Susans ex-husband, Peter, turns down the offer of letting Carson stay with him. Michael then offers to take care of Carson, since they get along so well, making Susans parents upset. Susan dies two weeks later, and Carson decides to stay with Michael instead of her grandparents.