Milltown, Alabama. 1918: Six-year-old Lollie listens to her parents fight through their ill-fitting bedroom door in the mill-company house. Her father, Lee Webb was trapped into marriage because of May Lou's pregnancy with Lollie. He was ashamed of Mary Lou's German heritage, his low-paying job cleaning cotton-mill machinery and rejection for military service. Lee forgets his problems with whiskey. The war with Germany ended one week after their new baby's birth. Proud of a baby son and the war ending, Lee develops a skill that earns him three promotions and boasts the family's income and morale. Lollies optimistic attitude helps her obtain a scholarship form the University of Alabama and overcome poverty.
Her father's death causes Lollie to temporally drop out of college and assume responsibility for her young brother, J.B. and ill mother. Dr. MacMurray, their family doctor, advised Lollie to move them with her to Tuscaloosa. She drove by the doctor's home to tell him goodbye and give their new address. His grandson, James, a Harvard medical student is visiting. He and Lollie fall in love. After graduating with her R.N. degree, and completions of his medical internship, they marry. Their marriage perpetuates his family tradition of medicine by raising twin sons and a daughter through happy and sad years. Their children's intense problems cast shadows over the family. Before his death, James finds a way to perpetually comfort Lollie with his love. She guides three generations of the family through heartache, tragedy and triumph.