Before the dawn

the long version

Charlotte Stevenson brings her grandchildren home to Heather Creek Farm in Nebraska after the death of their mother—Charlotte’s daughter, Denise, who ran away years ago. Sam, 16, isn’t obeying school rules; Emily, 14, is eager to stay connected to her California friends; and Christopher, a fourth grader, just wants to make new friends. Charlotte is eager to set up a schedule, with her husband Bob just as eager for discipline and structure, but might these grieving children need more than rules? As the family begins to build a life together, each of them must adjust to a “new normal.” For Charlotte, that means dealing with her insecurities as a parent; for the kids it means adjusting to life at Heather Creek, which is so different from their previous home in the city. But a crisis helps Charlotte and the children learn about themselves.