Ada Engle and Hans Krause are born in Torgau, Germany, during the rise of the Nazi party. Ada's father, Theo Krause, is the assistant pastor of a Lutheran congregation. Jacob Engel, Hans's father, is drafted and goes to war. Soon, Jacob and Theo are imprisoned for listening to Radio London. When the devastating war ends, Ada and Hans marry and decide to flee from Soviet-occupied East Germany. Ada succeeds in a dramatic flight through the "iron curtain." In the escape she loses track of Hans. Living alone in West Germany, Ada finds a new church but grieves over the loss of her husband. When President Kennedy visits the Wall, she decides to go to America. With a student visa Ada attends Seton Hall University and becomes a paralegal. While working for two lawyers in Newark, another dramatic incident helps Ada find purpose in life. Will she ever be reunited with Hans?
