Sculptor Amanda Rittenhouse's beloved grandmother dies under suspicious circumstances. Her will unearths a long-buried scandal that sends Amanda and her psychiatrist lover, Sara Orlando, to "Mayberry," North Carolina, which proves to be the opposite of Andy Griffith's benign 1960s television sitcom.

Turns out, Grandma had a secret life. As a teenager, defying racism and choosing love, she gave birth to Andrew, giving Amanda a new, loving, and diverse extended family. Grandma also left two hundred acres of prime real estate, which is coveted by a large cast of vicious, greedy developers. In their most desperate adventure to date, Amanda and Sara are confronted by murder, an apparent suicide, and a sniper determined to dispose of her and all the other heirs.

As Amanda embraces her new relatives, redefines her love for Sara as family, and celebrates her grandmother's courage, she hopes she lives long enough to enjoy it all.