After her husband Vincent’s death, Ammalie Brinks sets out to find out about him, their unsatisfactory marriage and herself. The basis of her search is three keys. Each one unlocks a door but also a part of the past.
The first key is to a Colorado cabin, where Ammalie and her husband once stayed. The second unlocks an old trailer in the Arizona desert. Her husband visited there alone.
The final key unlocks a house in New Zealand, where Vincent lived before he and Ammalie were married. She “promised herself a true adventure, one that pushed her limits,” writes popular Colorado author Laura Pritchett. Ammalie is searching for more than adventure, however.
With her husband dead, her son out of high school and her job over, she’s also looking for relevance. It’s middle-age angst, and many female readers will understand. Ammalie takes off in an old car, with only a few necessities.
She sleeps in the car until she reaches the Colorado cabin. The key doesn’t fit, but she finds one hidden nearby. With her belongings always packed and waiting by the door in case she’s discovered, Ammalie explores the mountains and finds herself soothed by their beauty.
Barely escaping from the cabin before she’s caught, she heads on to a seedy old trailer in the Arizona desert, and eventually to New Zealand. Each stop gives Ammalie strength. She hardens physically and grows spiritually as she explores the world.
She becomes aware of the environment, discovering love and forgiveness. Sh.