His older brother, Dale, a paratrooper who planned to become a surgeon, dies in the Normandy invasion. After exacting a promise from Lane to study medicine, his alcoholic father, widowed physician Grant Canfield, kills himself.
Nursing student Cara Angeli, whom Lane loves but deceived about his age, then breaks off their relationship and reunites with a former boyfriend blinded in combat.
Lanes neighbors the Dantons take him into their home, and their older daughter, Tish, an attractive cheerleader, begins coming to his bed. However, she intends to marry her highly motivated boyfriend, Brad Owen, who is headed for law school.
Growing to manhood in the home of the ambitious Dantons, Lane tries to find genuine love and a satisfying career. He had hoped to become a writer, but his promise to his father to study medicine nags at him. Brock Danton, his surrogate father and a bridge contractor, eventually manipulates him into choosing a career in construction management.
Obsessed with becoming a millionaire, Brock demands that Lane devote nearly all of his time and energy to his job. Brock has promised to share profits with him but keeps putting him off.
Disillusioned, Lane moves to California with his artist wife, Shari Danton, and their small daughter, Melanie. He works in real state there for a longtime friend, now a successful Santa Monica broker.
Although he finds real estate more lucrative and less stressful than construction, Lane becomes dissatisfied with the field. After a personal tragedy, the Canfields leave California for Colorado.
Years later, with success on his doorstep in Colorado, Lane still feels haunted by the tragedy and other demons from his past. Until a shocking event changes his life.