Irreparably damaged by a devastating earthquake, the Clarke mansion foundation cracks revealing the body of missing reporter Chris Christian. Larger issues face the town of Milford-Haven as it tries to recover from the physical chasm down Main Street as well as the emotional chasm of blame dividing builders from environmentalists and artists from business people. Meanwhile, pinned under fallen debris, Miranda Jones is rescued by estranged lover Zack Calvin, Sally and Tony escape to Arkansas for a soul-searching journey, and years of blame and guilt are stripped away in the private secrets locked away in Samantha Hugo's journal....