** spoiler alert ** As the story opens, Sally and Gillian Owens, recently orphaned, go to live with their aunts. Everyone in the Massachusetts village knows these ladies are practicing witches. Although most clients are asking for love potions, townsfolk tend to avoid them in anything but "consultations". Unfortunately, the girls find themselves treated in a similar manner by their pees. The Owens women have dealt with this attitude for almost two centuries. It began when their great grandmother arrived in town. A fearlessly independent young woman with money of her own, townsfolk suspected her of witchcraft. They took this as fact when the day after a local farmer winged a thieving crow in his cornfield, Maria Owens appeared with her arm in a sling and her hand bound in a white bandage. The aunts line of work makes life a torment for the sisters. Especially upsetting to Gillian, the beautiful blonde with a lazy attitude. Early on Sally became the responsible one. When Gillian runs away from home, Sally remains behind, marries and has two daughters. Everything seems to be going well until her husband is suddenly killed in a traffic accident. Sally decides she needs space. She moves to a small town in New York, gets a job at the local high school and makes a good life for herself and her daughters. Things are going very well until the night Gillian knocks on their door. From that night on, the world as they know it comes to a sudden end. Aunt Gillian has brought all of her problems with her and into their home. Before long it becomes obvious that in order to make their lives bearable, the must seek the help of their aunts.