Safe Harbour

Steel, who lost her own son to suicide a few years ago, here tells the story of a lonely woman reeling from the untimely deaths of her son and husband who have both recently perished in a small-plane accident. The months pass, but Ophelie just can't get past the loss, and she spends most of her time sleeping, crying, or attending support-group meetings for the bereaved. In addition, she has ceased eating almost completely and barely takes notice of her 11-year-old daughter, Pip. The young girl is also reeling from her loss and finds herself alone much of the time and wandering on the beach near their home. It is during these unchaperoned jaunts that the child befriends a grown man who shows up every morning to paint seascapes. Mattie begins showing Pip how to draw, and by his companionship brings some light into her dark life. Pip keeps her friend secret from her mother for a while, but Ophelie soon finds out and, suspicious of the man's motives, forbids further contact. Ultimately though, Mattie is revealed to be a gentle and kindhearted man who also is mourning a personal loss and--more importantly--is single and eligible. Needless to say, things end happily