Two years after the death of his wife in a car accident, a frustrated producer of cheesy local television commercials finds an unexpected connection with a free-spirited artist. But can he confront his own grief and his deceased wife's controlling, alcoholic sister before he loses a second chance at love?

SYNOPSIS:

Pete Fowler, 45, makes cheesy local TV commercials for a living - screaming car salesmen, talking dogs, goofy costumes. He used to dream of someday making a movie, but now, two years after the sudden death of his wife, Tracy, in a car accident - and with his daughter, Teresa, away at college - Pete is simply going through the motions. Harry, Pete's friend and business partner, tries to encourage him to get out of his rut, but to no avail.

On what would have been Tracy's 40th birthday, Pete visits his wife's sister, Kate, and her family. Before he makes the two-hour drive back home - and at Kate's insistence - Pete and Kate go out to dinner where they encounter Ronnie Chandler, a 29-year-old happy in her bohemian existence as a freelance artist and part-time waitress and bartender. Kate, who drank heavily for a time after her sister died and has recently started sneaking drinks again, is rude to Ronnie at dinner, so Pete leaves a generous tip as a means of apology.

The next week, Pete encounters Ronnie again when his car stalls and she stops to help him. Over the next few hours, they hit it off. Over the next couple of weeks, Pete takes tentative steps into the relationship.

Despite encouragement from both Harry and Teresa, Pete is nervous about the relationship and doesn't tell Kate because he fears how she will react.

As Pete's relationship with Ronnie blossoms, Kate's world falls apart. At a fund-raising event she attends with her obstetrician husband, Kate's drinking gets out of control after he is called away on an emergency. Shortly after this episode, her husband leaves and takes their teenage daughters with him. She calls Pete, desperate, feeling he and his daughter are the only people she has left in the world. Pete dutifully tends to her and makes up an excuse when Kate notices he isn't wearing his wedding band.

Kate only finds out about the relationship days later after Pete has a health scare. Kate rushes to the hospital and discovers Ronnie there, too.

Will Pete stand up to Kate so he can move forward with Ronnie? Or will his grief and fear get in the way?