Traumatized by her mother's death, a 6-year-old girl stops talking, but is cared for by her three uncles. The story unfolds as all of them discover the importance of family.
Mark Nagle leaves his better job and home in Seattle when his 6-year-old orphaned niece Holly, who stopped communicating after her mother's death, isn't allowed to pass to the next grade. He moves back in with his single brothers Alex and Scott, a contractor and a brilliant but jobless biological researcher, and tries to impose "child-friendly" house rules while technically their guest. New to the island town is Maggie Conway, who bought a toy shop and needs her sister Kate's support plus interns after firing the experienced manager to try a child-oriented concept. It appeals particularly to Holly, and babysitting her enables romance to bud between Maggie and handsome Mark, but his local ex may snatch him back.—KGF Vissers
At the start of the movie, Tim and Maggie are getting married. Only Tim never shows up, though Maggie's dress is gorgeous.
In Seattle, three months after her mother Victoria died, first-grader Holly hasn't talked yet and she is having trouble in school. Victoria wanted her brother Mark to take Holly if anything happened to her (she didn't tell Mark who the father was), and so far Uncle Mark is doing a good job, but he doesn't want Holly to be held back because of her problems. Shelby is his girlfriend, and while she is nice enough, she won't put Holly's needs above her own.
The solution is to move to the charming little island town where he and Cara run T.A.N. Coffee. There is a good school there which should help Holly.
The island is reached only by ferry. And it just so happens that on the ferry, Mark and Holly meet Maggie, Maggie's logical sister Kate, and Olive, the dog Kate got stuck with when her roommate moved out. Maggie thinks Holly is just adorable, though Kate thinks she likes Mark too.
Mark and Holly move in with Mark's macho construction worker brother Scott. Their science nerd brother Alex, who works when he gets grants and may move to Maine, also lives there, and he can cook. But the house is big and while the older brothers are both macho jerks who still treat Mark like a kid, Holly could be a good influence. With little work to do, Scott is in the process of renovating, and a pretty pink room for Holly becomes part of that process.
Former toy company employee Maggie has dreamed of opening a toy store of her own. She has bought Magic Mirror Toys on the island, though she gets in a disagreement with the longtime manager and sends the older woman packing. This means Kate is stuck working for her instead of going back to college, but Maggie needs her intelligence.
Thanksgiving is a disaster, but the brothers have not been together since they lost their father and their mother didn't want to celebrate.
The day after is the big grand opening for the toy store. Holly and Mark happen to visit and Maggie and Holly have one of several really special moments.
Soon, Holly is in school, and starting to improve. She hasn't talked but she really likes that toy store.
