因著老友桃蒂辭世,詩詞教授柯萊莉密契爾家中滿是前來致哀的親友,柯萊莉的獨生子山姆與桃蒂的獨生女瑪歌因此重逢。高中時曾交往過的兩人,後來各奔東西,斷了聯繫。如今重逢,人事已非。瑪歌已失去母親,丈夫死於愛滋病,她也染有愛滋病毒。桃蒂生前已中遺書中告知柯萊莉。山姆對瑪歌舊情復燃,不顧一切向她求婚。柯萊莉是否會認同兩人婚事?他們的感情又會有何進展?
Returning home for her mother's funeral, Megan Brooks arrives with a Dixieland band playing "When the Saints Go Marching in." This incident raises the ire of her godmother, Clarice Mitchell, a renowned poet. Clarice's son, Sam and Megan had been high school sweethearts, but their lives drifted apart. Now that she is recently widowed, Sam is interested in rekindling a relationship and spontaneously proposes to Megan. Clarice, however, is horrified to discover that Megan is HIV positive. The mother urges her son to retract his proposal, and at first Sam literally drives away. But realizing his selfishness, he returns and pledges to stand by Megan through their coming years together. Now Megan has reservations about the marriage leaving Sam completely confused. Revealing that she has been the conduit through which Clarice received divine inspiration, Tess urges the poet to give her blessing to the nuptials because this is Sam and Megan's time to live and love. The wedding proceeds apace after the bride and groom also receive separate revelations, and Clarice composes a new poem for the ceremony.