As a child, Matt Barnett was sexually abused for five years by his evangelical Christian father. Soon after his father's sudden death, Matt leaves home for a fresh start, and carves out a new life for himself overseas, working as an energy consultant. Now, more than two decades later, he returns to Vermont after learning from his widowed younger brother, Luke, that their dementia-stricken mother is dying. Luke is a teacher who still lives in the local community with his 16-year-old daughter, Enaj. Quietly passionate about Native American rights and culture, Luke is helping to fight a gas pipeline project that threatens an ancient Abenaki burial ground.

Matt has always believed his mother was complicit in the abuse – and as part his own healing process, he wants to learn the truth before it’s too late. But the conversation never happens: his mother dies soon after his arrival. Luke then reveals that he is fatally sick with cancer and asks Matt to become Enaj’s guardian after his death and to move back to Vermont to be with her. For Matt, that would mean living once again in the community of his traumatized childhood. His love, loyalty and resilience are tested as never before.