While touring the American South, the LaValle family from France met the Massey family, who lived near Mobile, Alabama. Both families had teenage daughters. Bea and Monique became fast friends when the LaValles accepted the Massey's offer to stay in their home. At the end of their visit, the LaValles encouraged the Masseys to visit them in Paris.

When Bea graduated from high school, she begged her parents to let her go to Paris to study painting. "I could stay with Monique and her family." Her parents agreed, and Bea was welcomed by Monique and her family when her plane landed in Paris.

Bea and Monique were shopping in Paris when they learned that the Germans had invaded France. The girls hurried home to tell Monique's family. Since the airport was closed to all air traffic, it was settled that Bea would stay with the LaValle family. Hurriedly, they packed as much as they could, and departed to the South of France where Jean Louis owned a cottage. There they would live out the War years and do all they could to thwart the Nazis...