The story starts with the history of Willow Springs, a secluded island whose bridge sits between Georgia and South Carolina. We then get to know more about the “Day” family. Aside from Mama Day and Cocoa’s grandmother, Abagail, Cocoa is the only girl child left on their lineage. 

Though Willow Springs is a very small place where everybody knows each other and all within walking distance, there’s something peculiar about this place. 

Mostly, the use of witchcraft and the hands that it falls within decides on whether the outcome is to help or harm. 

Within the story we see Cocoa budding into a relationship that leads to marriage. But after four years of her vows, she finally brings her husband home to meet everyone. And from then, hate starts to brew. Hate that had no cause other than jealousy from a deranged batshit crazy woman. 

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Mama Day is seen and respected as a matriarch in the Willow Springs community. Helping the sick and giving wise advice, with her old age she knows that many things can be cured with the power of herbal remedies. 

In the end of this story, Mama Day recognizes that hate can brew up a storm they will tear down anything in its path. There are somethings that aren’t able to be done alone and she enlists the hands of an outsider - a stranger to her homeland - to assist her with a task she can’t do alone. 

With death knocking, clear as the sun shines in the sky, the stranger must make a decision. A decision that forces pride to the side. Afterall, they say that love conquers all. And Mama Day realizes that everything comes with a price.