"Molly, oh thank God! You had me so worried. Are you all right? Answer me, sweetie, please," Becky said. As in her dream, Molly reached out to touch Becky's nose. Becky took her hand and gave it a squeeze. "That's right, sweetie, I'm here. I'm going to take care of you."
Becky held out a leather flask, filling its cap with strange, glowing water. She eased the cap towards Molly's mouth. "Here, drink this and you'll feel all better. Come on, sweetie, you can do it. Open your mouth a little bit." From the way Becky talked, Molly thought her dream must have come true and that somehow in the safe she must have shrunk into a baby. She tried to say something, but no sounds would come out. "That's a good girl."
Becky poured the capful of glowing water down Molly's throat. A warm feeling ran through her body, filling her with strength. She sat up and croaked, "What are you doing here?"
"I thought you might have found your way here." Becky hugged Molly to her chest and only then did Molly realize Becky was crying. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you in that safe? You could have suffocated."
"I'm fine," Molly said.
"I was so worried. I thought you were dead." Becky held Molly out at arm's length to add, "You're never, ever to do anything like that again. Do you understand?"
"You can't tell me what to do. You're not my mother." Becky slapped her across the face hard enough to snap Molly's head to the left. Molly stared back at Becky in shock, tears starting to well up in her eyes. Becky hadn't ever hit her.
"I'm sorry, honey. I shouldn't have done that." She kissed Molly on the cheek and hugged her again. "Now let's go home and clean you up."
"I don't want to go home with you. I want to stay here with Veronica," Molly said.
"Who?"
"Veronica. She's my friend and she's much nicer than you."
"I see. And what does Veronica look like?"
"She's an old lady, much older even than Samantha. She has gray hair and brown skin and pretty gray eyes."
"I'm sure she's very nice. Where is she now? Is she in the room with us right now?"
"No. I'm not sure where she is."
"When we get back home you can tell me all about her." Becky helped Molly off the floor and put an arm around her shoulders. "Then we'll have a long talk about everything."
Upstairs, Molly found Uncle David waiting for them. "You found the little brat." He reached down to his belt. "Becky, go outside and I'll teach this one some respect."