Maya moves from the bustling city to a peaceful neighborhood, seeking a calm place to write. After thirty-two years of noise and crowds, she longs for tranquility and finds a quaint little house where everyone seems friendly, but soon discovers that life there isn’t as simple as she hoped.
Her closest neighbor, Mrs. Harrington, an elderly woman living in a worn-down house, intrigues Maya. The house is old and overgrown, and while her mother suggests Mrs. Harrington might just be too old to care for it, Maya can’t shake her curiosity about the woman.
What captures Maya’s attention the most, though, is a small, dilapidated shack next to Mrs. Harrington’s home. Every day, the old woman goes to the shack twice, carrying shopping bags, but avoids any interaction with Maya. This strange routine fuels Maya’s curiosity, leading her to become obsessed with what Mrs. Harrington might be hiding.
After several days of watching, Maya decides to investigate. She pretends to take a walk, but when she approaches the shack, Mrs. Harrington suddenly rushes out, furious and yelling for her to leave. Shocked and confused, Maya turns back, her mind racing with questions about the shack.
Determined to find out what’s going on, Maya waits until nightfall. Sneaking out, she sees a large padlock on the shack’s door, but a small gap allows her to peek inside. What she discovers makes her heart sink: a dozen thin, frightened dogs, all looking for help.
Without thinking, she tries to break the lock, but Mrs. Harrington catches her again. This time, instead of anger, she shows desperation, explaining that she’s not harming the dogs; she’s rescuing them from the streets. She takes in strays but can’t keep them in her house due to allergies and safety concerns.
Maya’s anger dissipates as she listens. Realizing they both want to help the dogs, she offers to take some of them to her home. With her brother-in-law, a vet, they plan to find good homes for the rescued dogs.
In the end, Maya takes most of the dogs to her place, giving them food and a safe space to roam. Together, she and Mrs. Harrington work to get the dogs the care they need. Maya even keeps two puppies, happy to have found her purpose in a quiet life filled with love.