For Kelly Corrigan family was everything. At thirty-six she had a marriage that worked two funny active kids and a weekly newspaper column. Yet even as a thriving adult Kelly still saw herself as the daughter of garrulous charmer George Corrigan. She was living deep within what she calls the Middle Place - 'that sliver of time when parenthood and childhood overlap' - comfortably wedged between her adult duties and her parents' care.

But Kelly is abruptly shoved into coming-of-age when she finds a lump in her breast - and gets the diagnosis no one wants to hear. When George too learns that he has late-stage cancer it is Kelly's turn to take care of the man who had always taken care of her - and to show us a woman who finally takes the leap and grows up.