Ten years have passed since Joy stood by the fresh grave of her husband, Larry. Now, she stands by the grave of Larry's brother.

She had done all within her power to keep Larry alive. Having nursed him through years of suffering, she supposed being alone wouldn’t be a bad thing, but Joy now realizes she hates being alone.

Loneliness, a needy monster, follows her everywhere she goes. For years, Joy has searched for someone to love, but after countless wretched experiences, she remains alone. She wants her devoted daughter to have a life. Girlfriends go places with her, but on Thanksgiving, no one comes around. She goes to crowded restaurants, where she stands in line close to families, so people won’t stare at her. She learns to control her tears as she eats. She sometimes cries too hard to see the road as she drives home.

Since Christmas is coming, Joy resolves to start working with determination to find love immediately, so she won’t have to live through another sad Christmas. As she remembers some of the disasters of the past, she fears that finding the wrong man—someone loaded down with baggage and undesirable personality traits—can make her want to return to the safety of her empty home.

Will this be the Christmas when Joy finds love? Or will she continue to wither throughout her days in quiet desperation?