The story opens with Keith's mother, Kiana, and the emotional circumstances surrounding Keith's birth and prompt adoption by Richard and Teresa. The story then jumps ahead 26 years to the present day where Keith meets Melody and sparks fly. However, Keith twists the facts about his life to avoid revealing the truth about his adoption.
Keith later learns about a website his adopted brother Aaron used to find information about his biological family before surprising Melody at a pop-up event. After the event, Keith and Melody share a deep conversation about their complicated family lives. She reveals she wishes she had reconciled with her father before he passed and encourages Keith to reconcile with his biological family. Keith then visits his adoptive family in Northern California to get a copy of his adoption papers before returning to NYC.
Keith searches for his mother using the information in the adoption papers. He finds an address for his mother and his biological grandmother. Inspired, he drives down to Washington DC to the addresses listed. There he meets his younger biological brother, Terrel, but not his mother. He separately meets his grandmother and older brother Jerome. There he learns a great deal about his mother's troubled past and confirms Kiana hid his birth from the entire family.
Fast forward a year to Keith's birthday celebration. It is revealed that Keith’s biological mother still hasn’t reached out. Melody gifts Keith a DNA test, which he later takes, and is notified of a family match with, Terrence Washington. After bringing it up to his brother Jerome, Keith is told Terrence was a former boyfriend of Kiana's and is Terrel’s father as well.
Keith is left to consider this new information and later receives a text message from an unknown number, which turns out to be his biological sister Khadijah. Khadijah previously spoke to Jerome and tells Keith that Kiana doesn’t want him to contact Terrence under any circumstances. This news drains Keith emotionally causing him to have a mental breakdown.
Weeks later Keith receives another call from an unknown caller who turns out to be his father, Terrence. Jerome had contacted Terrence behind Keith’s back to create the introduction. Soon after, Terrence and Keith connect on a deeper level when Terrence visits Keith’s apartment in Harlem. There Terrence confirms Kiana hid Keith’s birth from him and shares stories about his life and family. Later Terrence plans a surprise family reunion for Keith to meet the extended family on his father’s side. Keith and Melody arrive at Terrence’s house, where they are greeted by cheers and celebration from family members.
As Keith reflects on his reunion in NYC, he receives a letter from his mother, Teresa encouraging him to write down his experiences. She also sends him a quote about the importance of persevering through life's ups and downs. The story ends with Keith starting to journal and deciding to title his adoption experience "Dreams of My Mother."
