A year and a half before the events in Surreal Ice, the McCain family begins their journey to the P&R Coffee Shop. Sally McCain has no knowledge of the reason why Mike and Lucia Townsend own and operate the coffee shop and rentals. She just needs to rent the only apartment in her price range. Mike senses that the Light is bringing Sally's family to the P&R so that he and his wife can minister to them. Cancer continues to attack not only Sally's husband, Wyatt, but also the family's finances, emotions, and relationships. In the beginning, Sarah hangs out with a pre-teen gang, however, a special friend from the group appears later in the story as an encourager for her. After their home is foreclosed, the McCains move to the P&R with very few things. The mysterious surreal ice appears to each McCain during the story challenging them to confess their wrongs and trust in the Light. As they do, their lives change. The P&R apartment becomes a home with compassionate neighbors and friends who support them when Sarah runs away and when Wyatt faces death. The end is a beautiful understanding of life and death for them all.