"I saw her come running by here like the wind a few minutes ago. You should tell that child to be careful."
"I do try. She just doesn't listen."
"You baby her too much, that's why. She'll end up spoiled at this rate. If you ask me-"
"Molly is my child. I'll take care of her. Thank you for the food." In that moment, Samantha realized the shy, timid girl she'd befriended after waking up in Eternity twenty years ago had disappeared. A strong, confident woman existed in her place now, a woman capable of leading an entire community. Prudence had been right eight years ago to say they could get along without Samantha. Not only had they gotten by; they had flourished in the years since she'd left.
Jackie thanked Phyllis as well and then hurried out the door ahead of Samantha. Inside the package Phyllis had given them were a dozen sugar cookies. Jackie held one up and then looked down at where Phyllis had pinched her. "Mommy, am I fat?" she asked.
"No, sweetie. You're just the right size." Jackie had always been a pudgy child, though nowhere near as fat as Samantha or Prudence at her age. This answer seemed to comfort her; she ate the cookie and then another as they followed the path up to the meadow.
The vacant meadow of Samantha's youth had been transformed into a park, complete with a playground, sandbox, and benches. Helena, who had not lost the weight from childbirth, sat on one of the benches, wiping the face of a girl who looked just like her as a child. "It's you," she said to Samantha. "I must look like a complete wreck to you. Go ahead and laugh. I'm sure you want to after everything I did to you."
"You look wonderful. Your children are adorable."
Helena took no notice of these compliments. "It's all his fault. He did this to me. I used to be the most beautiful girl on the whole island and now I'm ruined."
"Mommy, I want to pway!" her daughter squealed.
"Fine, go play. Stay where I can see you."
Samantha knelt down next to Jackie. "Sweetie, do you want to go play with the other kids?" Jackie shook her head. "Come on, sweetie, it'll be fun. They aren't going to bite you."
"I don't want to," Jackie said, her lip trembling as if she were about to cry.
Before Samantha could say anything, Molly almost bowled into her. "Mama, Mama, I found Daddy! He was over at Mr. Davenport's house fixing their tractor."
"Trying to fix it," Wendell said. "I don't think I have the right parts for it."