In this historical southern drama, sorrow and tragedy are overcome by humor, faith, and forgiveness. Eleven-year-old Nellie Cox longs to be free from the torment of her abusive uncle Ettie, but in 1920s North Carolina, secret sins are to be buried away in shame, never to be mentioned. With nowhere to go and no one to help, Nellie must depend on her own resourcefulness to survive. When her mother returns home from years spent in a mental hospital, Nellie believes her prayers for escape have been answered. She hatches one elaborate plan after another to marry her beautiful mama off to the handsome Dr. Walker, who Nellie is sure will whisk them away to a new life. But as each attempt fails, Nellie loses hope, until she finally learns to rely on a power greater than anything she has ever known.