Melanie Adams is a divorced mother who gave birth to twin girls Val and Jessica at age 19 before becoming a successful news correspondent working in New York City. For her latest story, she travels to Los Angeles to do a report on a sick, but an optimistic girl. She immediately feels attracted to the girl's doctor, Peter Hallam. Peter is a widowedfather of three children; 18-year-old Mark, 15-year-old Pam, and 8-year-old Matt. Their mother died of pulmonary hypertension after refusing treatment. The family is still grieving - especially Pam - has difficulty dealing with the loss. After a short-lived romance, Melanie and Peter part ways. They soon conclude that they can't live without each other and Melanie reluctantly gives up her job, thereby ruining her chances of becoming an anchor, to move with Val and Jessica, now 16, to Los Angeles. There, she takes a job as a co-host at a local news program and soon finds out the other co-host, Paul Stevenson, is not glad about her arrival, trying to sabotage her opportunities. Further on, she and Peter are married. Trying to adjust to Californian life does not go without trouble. Val and Mark fall in love and she becomes pregnant. Fearing their parents' judgment, they decide to visit a downtown inexperienced doctor for an abortion. Val soon becomes very sick, which forces Mark to tell Melanie and Peter the truth about her abortion. While dealing with this information, Melanie is bothered by the great impact Peter's first wife still has. Pam and the maid, Mrs. Hahn treat Melanie horribly by not allowing Melanie to take in her own furniture and the twins still have to use a spare room. When Melanie finds out she is pregnant, Peter is delighted, but the children are disgusted. Realizing she already does not have enough time to spend time with Val and Jessica, she considers having an abortion. When Peter thinks she only wants an abortion because of her career, Melanie decides that she has had enough. She packs her stuff and runs away to San Francisco. The family soon realizes all the problems they have caused Melanie. Peter fires Mrs. Hahn for not accepting Melanie as his new wife, and he takes down his late wife's portrait from the wall. Afterward, Peter convinces Melanie to return and everyone - including Pam - apologizes. The family decides to move to a new, larger house and Melanie hires Raquel, her maid from New York. Melanie soon gives birth to twins.
