Through most of her life, Georgia Ayres has struggled with a tendency to be overly cautious and hesitant to delve into things with which she was unfamiliar. When her best friend Julie invites her to come along on a vacation trip to Hilton Head Island, in the company of Julie's husband Harry and Georgia's boyfriend Jon, Georgia surprises herself by not only agreeing, but embarking on a journey that leads her into a world where the dead and alive coexist.

Shortly after arriving on Hilton Head, Georgia becomes aware of the rich history of the Gullah - former West Africans who were brought to the island as slaves. She discovers that many of the descendants of this culture still reside on Hilton Head. One day, as she is exploring one of the Gullah graveyards on the island, she encounters the ghost of Bessie Campbell. Miss Bessie entrusts Georgia with the story of her grandfather's untimely death and enlists her help in unraveling the mystery surrounding it. As she embarks on this exploration, she develops a special friendship with two other Gullah descendants, Henry and his wife Mary, whose love and support help her find the strength to delve into a world that is as foreign to her has their unique language.