When she loses confidence, her Rumanian teacher Andrea decides it's time for a magic dose of self esteem. A mysterious old woman in rags gives Melina some curious advice; a violinist Russian hamster, who happens to live under the old woman's hat, offers her a virtuoso performance; a shooting star fills her with hope on Christmas Eve. Is Melina actually playing better, or has her violin become magic? Who is the old woman in the town square, and why does she wear the same emerald ring as her teacher Andrea?

     Two soldiers march off to war in Europe. Both from the same neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. Only one returns home. Rose Kaufman's grief is soul deep. Her husband, Joe, had been her one true love, so right for her that a lifetime together wouldn't be enough. When Charlie Shapiro shows up with stories of Joe--eager to rebuild his war-shattered life with Rose and her baby daughter--she warns that a marriage of convenience would be unfair--to him. She cannot promise her heart to this kind and gentle man. Through the years, Charlie wonders if love can grow or if he'll always be second best. Who is her true love? The man she married with all her heart, or the man who married her with all of his? It's a question only Rose can answer.