Lula Borrow begins working as a made for the MacFarland family at fifteen years old, and develops a close relationship with their son Wade from the beginning. She married at thirteen but her husband quickly became abusive, beating her until she ran away with their two children. When her husband stole the babies and ran home with them in the rain, the boy died of exposure. She ran further away this time, finding her post with the MacFarlands and boarding her daughter with another woman. Wade is intrigued by her situation and insists on walking her home to see her house, a habit his mother disapproves of. When her husband discovers her location again, Wade helped her evacuate. When Lula becomes increasingly involved in her church Wade comes to services with her, but he's uncomfortable with the spiritual bonding Lula perceives between them. He distances himself from her, and Mrs. MacFarland eventually fires her.

Lula drifts between jobs, unable to hold any down and obsessed with finding her daughter, whom she'd sent further away after her last scare with her husband. She can't raise enough money to make the trip to see her, so she tries peddling her signature candy, divinity fudge, on the street. She makes pennies, but becomes addicted to the candy herself. She receives news that her daughter has run off with a man and left no address, and becomes dizzy and ill. After finally gaining enough strength to go out selling again, she runs into the MacFarland family. Wade, overjoyed, buys all of her candy, and slaps his sister when she insults Lula after the woman has left.

Lula's landlady finally insists on calling a doctor for her. While lying down and waiting, she sees Wade and her daughter together in her church, dancing joyfully with her to the rhythm of a tambourine. The next morning the landlady comes to the MacFarland's door to let them know Lula has passed on.