In 1920, Abruzzo, Italy, the village of Rapino lies devastated-its men lost to war, its people ravaged by influenza, and its once-vibrant linen industry destroyed by industrial change. Young war widow Clementina Vitale does what she can to stave off famine, but it's not enough.
When offered passage to South Australia to escort six-year-old orphan Margherita to Linda and Eddie Walsh, distant relatives living in Henley Beach, Clementina accepts. Hoping to fulfill her mother's dying wish by tracking down her missing brother, Francesco, last heard from in Adelaide ten years ago, she's also desperate to earn enough to make a difference for her family in Italy. With a generous offer of work from her sponsor, Linda, a successful seamstress, Clementina is relying on her expert embroidery skills to support her aims.
By 1922, Henley Beach is changing-its quiet rural charm giving way to a bustling resort town. Nearby stands Lady Galway's Convalescent Home, where wounded soldiers rebuild their futures. Among them is Private John McLeod, determined to use his grandmother's art of ribbon embroidery to reclaim his sense of purpose.
When Clementina and John's paths cross, two worlds shaped by loss collide. He must face his ghosts; she must let go of hers. Clementina must choose. Does she chase the past that shattered her or embrace a new love?
Healing may come not from returning to what was lost, but from creating something tender and true together.
