One sweltering evening, Nora finds herself alone, dumping another family dinner down the garbage disposal. The next day, on impulse, she agrees to a drastic haircut, shedding her long braid-a lifelong defining feature. Suspecting infidelity in her husband, she makes a hasty departure, and in her absence, her family unravels. Eric wrestles his own inner demons-a sexy younger client who leads him astray-his washed-up career in a crashing housing market. Their daughter, Daniela, is shattered when her father falls from grace, as she struggles to come to terms with her own sexual identity. The story highlights the culture, scenery, food and drink of northern California's wine country, while delivering a breathless view of life change accessible to contemporary readers everywhere.