Close to My Heart

Brad Sheridan, a newspaper columnist, and his wife Midge decide to adopt because they cannot have children of their own. They learn of a baby named Danny who was abandoned and is a ward of the juvenile court at a police station. They visit Danny under the ruse that Midge is Brad's secretary, hoping to evaluate him as a potential son.

Midge develops a strong emotional attachment to Danny during the visits, while Brad tries to shield himself from getting too involved. Brad also writes a newspaper column disclosing the child's abandonment, which angers Midge and strains their budding agreement. The couple's dynamic shifts as their ambitions and feelings pull them in different directions.

Mrs. Morrow from the adoption agency inspects the Sheridan home and warns that adopting Danny is risky due to his uninvestigated background. She cautions that the agency cannot proceed with the adoption unless Brad eases off his investigations. The warning creates a conflict between Brad's curiosity and the agency's procedural requirements.

Danny's status as a foundling makes him an easier candidate for adoption in some eyes, since the background is less established and harder to verify. Brad learns of a well-known local couple whose adopted son became an adult criminal, illustrating how appearances can be deceiving regarding a child's past. These revelations influence his view on what truly matters in parenting.

Brad's investigation leads him to an apartment where a woman named Arlene claims Danny's mother Martha died giving birth there. Arlene asserts she took the child herself after lying that the father took him. She provides Brad with Martha's ring as part of the evidence.

Arlene's tale becomes a central piece of the puzzle: Martha died in the apartment building during childbirth, and Arlene stole the baby. The ring belonging to Martha serves as a tangible link to the missing mother and intensifies Brad's quest for the truth. The new clues push Brad deeper into the investigation.

Brad informs Midge about the steps he's taking to uncover Danny's background, keeping some details from her as he digs deeper. Midge reacts with a mix of concern and anxiety, feeling the strain of the secretive pursuit. The couple's relationship teeters as trust and safety concerns intersect with the adoption.

A boarding house operator provides Brad with a sweater that belonged to Martha, adding another physical link to the past. The sweater corroborates Brad's growing impression that Martha and Danny's origin is more complex than it first appeared. This clue tightens the timeline of events surrounding Martha's life.

Brad discovers Martha kept company with a man named Edward Hewitt, whom he suspects traveled to Reno with Martha to marry her. To aid in identification, Brad publishes Hewitt's photo in his newspaper. The revelation raises the possibility that Danny's lineage is tied to a potentially dangerous past.

Mrs. Morrow recognizes Hewitt's photo and informs Midge that Hewitt is incarcerated for murder, which would block the adoption progression. This discovery complicates Danny's future with the Sheridans, underscoring how dangerous or controversial backgrounds can derail the plan. The adoption's fate hangs in the balance of legal and moral considerations.

Brad visits Everett Heilner, Hewitt's real name, at San Quentin State Prison and tells him that he has a son and that Martha died giving birth. Hewitt dismisses the idea of a family and coldly asserts there was no place in his life for a child, implying the child will never be a cop. The conversation reveals Hewitt's aloof attitude toward responsibility and parenthood.

Brad returns home to learn that the adoption agency has taken Danny to protect him from potential harm, prompting Brad to rush to retrieve the child. He is blocked by the court's probation officer, halting his immediate attempt. The legal system acts as the final gatekeeper between Brad's desire and Danny's future.

Brad convinces Mrs. Morrow of the adoption's viability by recounting how a meeting with Heilner's brother convinced him nurturing a child outweighs concerns about background. The agency ultimately approves the adoption, allowing Danny to join the Sheridans for a hopeful future. The conclusion reflects the film's emphasis on love and nurturing over past connections.