In 1939, just before the Nazis invaded Poland, young Alma's parents send her to live in the safety of her aunt and uncle's mansion in San Francisco. There, as the heavy clouds of war have fully enveloped Europe, she meets Ichimei, the quiet and gentle son of the family's Japanese gardener. Their relationship blossoms like a flower, unseen by all eyes. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the two young people are separated, as the Japanese are declared enemies by the American state and sent to camps.

Decades later, Irina, a girl trying to come to terms with her heavy past, meets the now elderly Alma and her grandson Seth at Lark House, a retirement home unlike any other. Irina and Seth become friends and witnesses to the delivery of mysterious gifts and letters to Alma from a secret sender.

Through a journey across continents and generations, Isabel Allende unfolds the story of a hidden passion that endured over time and addresses themes of identity, redemption, and reconciliation. A novel that celebrates the enduring value of human love in a constantly changing world.