Dott Emerson (Mary McDonnell) is a divorced mother who owns a successful publishing house, for which her best friend, Ellie Walker (Jean Smart), writes best-selling romance novels. Val Brumberg (Faith Prince) enters the picture as Dott and Ellie's old girlfriend from college who is pregnant and leaving her husband, much to the dismay of Ellie, who wants nothing to do with her. Against Ellie's wishes, Dott lets Val move in with her.