Divorcee Ceil owns Hilltop Quilts, and after a minor accident with broken glass, embarks on an affair with Anselm, the owner of the local variety store. Anselm is driven by his anxiety about the fate of his son in Afghanistan; Ceil is simply lonely and feels no guilt about what they are doing. Ceil hires Katy to help out in the shop. Katy is trouble, with two kids and a string of abusive boyfriends, and a habit of lying, but she also breathes life into the shop with her charm and her outrageous modern designs. Meanwhile, Anselm's son is badly injured in the war, and this news casts a pall over their relationships. Ceil's mother reveals that Katy has been sleeping in the back of the store in secret, and that she found out when she stopped by one night to try to confirm the rumours about Ceil and Anselm for herself. Angry at this invasion of privacy, Ceil doesn't argue when her mother stops working with her at the store. When Ceil confronts Katy about sleeping in the store, Katy reveals she has broken up with her partner and needs a place to stay - along with her children. Ceil refuses, not wanting the untrustworthy Katy in the store at night, and offers her money for accommodation instead. But Ceil begins to suspect Katy is still staying at the store, and she does exactly what her mother did to her: returns at night to confirm her suspicions. She discovers not only Katy, but her kids and her boyfriend staying there. Katy starts bargaining, offering to work more hours in return for a raise, then threatens to reveal Ceil's secret. Ceil thinks of Anselm and the damage it will do to his life. Understanding that accepting Katy's offer will eventually mean the end of her business, she tells Katy they will talk about it tomorrow.