Disowned, former socialite and unwed mother, Shirley Stephens, searches for options to care for herself and her young child after her boyfriend dies while fighting in World War II. Answering an advertisement about a full-time nanny position, she develops a solid backstory to cover her past sins and flees to the faraway town of Sugar Maple, Tennessee.

Former war correspondent, Wayne Bishop, lands a job at a mediocre, feel-good newspaper in order to earn money to care for his widowed sister-in-law and her children. His job takes him to a small town to cover the adoption of five street children, but when he discovers the nanny is a war bride struggling to live without her husband he is drawn to her story.

Shirley must keep her identity a secret despite the handsome and attentive reporter's interest, but Wayne Bishop will stop at nothing to uncover her secrets all in the name of good journalism.