A New York City waitress finds opposition rather than support from her husband in achieving her dream of becoming a designer.

Nurse and con artist Belle Haimes lives with her dull-witted husband Rex Haimes in the Hart Mansion in British Columbia. There, she cares for the invalid 103 year old Slim Hart, aka Pappy, and his comatose wife Minnie. Fed up with her job, Belle plots the death of old Mrs. Hart and the kidnapping of Old Pappy, but things don't go quite according to plan.

Forest City depends entirely on the Aikens Christmas decoration factory. Local economics graduate Judith 'Noelle' Dunn returned there to finish her thesis by analyzing the plant. A freak near-accident matches her with adventurous drifter Justin Allen, whom she gets a menial job in the factory. Alas the late founder discretely footed systematical losses. His haughty granddaughter Ashley Aikens arrives to check if the firm can be made profitable. Noelle is jealous when Ashley keeps contacting Justin, who swears only to have eyes for her. It turns out he is key to more secrets, but will they work for good or bad?