In the early 1960s in a small mining town in the north of England, a part of the old West Riding of Yorkshire, Pete has just left school. Janet is in her last year at high school. Over time, their relationship builds. A terrible mistake traumatically ends their relationship. In later years, they both drift into separate marriages. Janet leaves the area whilst Pete remains. When both marriages fail, Janet returns home. They both deteriorate physically and mentally. Thirty years after first meeting, they are brought together again. They begin helping each other to get better. Peteas health, unbeknownst to them, deteriorates rapidly as Janet falls pregnant. Just before the birth of their daughter, Emily, Pete dies suddenly. Janet, incapable, leaves her widowed mother to bring up the baby. Tragically Emilyas grandmother dies, and shortly after, her mum dies also, leaving Emily to cope with two funerals and her relativesa strange requests.