When Leila Shepherd's daughter-in-law attempts suicide, Leila takes custody of her infant grandson for six weeks so his young parents, Cecil and Hully, can "get their stuff together." Then, when Ben is ten months old, his mother walks out on the family and moves in with her husband's best friend. Leila again takes over Ben's parenting.

After struggling for two years to find his way, Cecil makes a tragic mistake, and Leila obtains permanent custody of Ben. That is just the beginning of her fight to save a very angry child and heal him.