Catherine Dollanganger escapes from the attic of Foxworth Hall with her brother and sister and attempts to reach Florida, but the arsenic she and her siblings ingested during their imprisonment causes them to have to cut their trip short in North Carolina. There the children are taken in by a kind, widowed doctor who is more than willing to share his home and his heart with these wounded, desperate children. Upon their arrival, Catherine is determined that it will only be for a short time, long enough for Carrie to recover from the illness that ended their journey. However, a normal life with a guardian who clearly loves them sways Catherine and helps her move the focus from running to surviving.