Kayleigh: Love-starved wife of workaholic congressman, Bob Fallon,wants nothing more from life than to be a good mother and practice her cherished career of illustrating picture books.

Bob: A congressman too consumed with Washington politics--and his attractive legislative aide--to see his wife as more than an elegant centerpiece.

Erik: A charismatic Norwegian who enters their carefully ordered lives and turns them upside down. He makes no secret that if Bob can't give Kayleigh the love she so desperately needs, he will.

For the first time in years, Kayleigh sees desire in a man's eyes, but she tells herself she must be faithful to Bob. Until she finds the packet of condoms in her husband's overnight bag--and realizes the truth about Bob's betrayal. And she asks herself...what does a wronged woman do now?

When can you justify cheating on your husband?

This is the question that Leigh Fallon is faced with when she learns that her marriage to Congressman Bob Fallon is not as honest as she's always assumed. It feels like Bob has been all but ignoring her, except to criticize, and Leigh finds herself helplessly drawn to Erik, the twentysomething Norwegian exchange student who's staying in their home. When she finds proof that Bob has been spending his free time in the arms of his beautiful young Capitol Hill secretary, she decides that "enough is enough" and allows herself to begin a relationship with Erik.

Little does she know that her affair with the young Norwegian will change her life forever, setting in motion a series of events that bring tragedy and heartbreak--and ultimately, a discovery of hidden strength and courage.