It is the aftermath of a tragic automobile accident.Elizabeth and Philip Boucher and their grown son Paulhave plunged over a cliff into the ocean. Their bodiesare never recovered. Ralph Shannon, an invalid and thefamily patriarch and Jenny, his twenty-two year oldgranddaughter remain desolate in their home on theCalifornia coast. Michael, Jenny's fianc, is devastatedto have her withdraw from him to cling to her grievinggrandfather. While agonizing over his dead daughter'sportrait, Ralph decides to commission Gilbert Engress,a noted artist, to paint Jenny. What ensues is apassionate love affair. While on the beach Jenny spots afisherman dressed as her father, fishing from hisfavorite site. Her hysterics causes him to disappear.Comforting her Gilbert insists it is a cruel coincidence.While his passions are waning, she is more enamored.Ralph, who detested his son-in-law, also sees thefisherman. Who is he? Ralph's recollections offer thereader a history of early Carmel, and San Franciscofrom the 1906 earthquake through to 1971, whichincludes Cal Berkeley. There is a double twist ending.
