After 20 years in Europe, nurse Sarah Adams is returning to Australia to see her grieving mother. When her hopes for reconciliation go awry, Sarah contacts George Bligh, whose mother she had nursed on the transoceanic trip, for employment. His mother, however, has other ideas.

Sarah takes up new lodgings at a boarding house, but the nosey landlady may make her regret the decision. A riding accident devastates Anna and brings back painful memories for Sarah. Meanwhile, Olivia receives welcome news.

Sarah arrives at her first day on the job only to face questions from Dr. Jack Duncan about her real name. Deeply offended by the invasion of her privacy, Sarah resolves to leave Inverness—but not before revealing the truth about what happened on the ship.

Jack gets a horrible shock while accompanying Sarah on her daily rounds. Olivia’s curiosity about her husband’s former lover grows, and Sarah begins to open up about her past after spending time with a local Jewish family.

With Yom Kippur approaching, Sarah takes the opportunity to make amends with people. Her spiritual cleansing, however, resurrects difficult emotions about her husband’s death. Meanwhile, Anna rebels when the Swansons come to visit with their eligible son, Andrew.

Anna and Gino’s romance grows deeper at the same time as James and Olivia’s marriage reaches a breaking point. Sarah lands herself in the middle of a dangerous domestic dispute involving one of her patients.