Since Becky brought her home, Molly couldn't do anything by herself. It was almost like being a baby again. She couldn't leave the cottage without Becky following or even play in her bedroom with the door closed. It's not fair, Molly thought. I'm a prisoner and I haven't done anything wrong.
Today she sat on the floor of the bakery with her dolls, staring at their fabric faces without knowing what to make them say or do. Ever since Veronica left, stories about Molly's parents in the kingdom of Dublin had lost their sparkle. She would never get there now with Becky watching her every move. She was trapped in Eternity for eternity because of Veronica.
Molly threw her dolls to the ground, kicking them across the floor. "You shouldn't be so rough with your toys, sweetheart. You could hurt them that way," Becky said.
"So? They're my toys. I'll do what I want."
"Molly, please, you have to stop this."
"Not until you stop treating me like a baby."
"I'll stop treating you like a baby when you stop acting like a baby. Now if you're not going to do anything, come over here and give me a hand." Molly thought about continuing the argument, but decided it wouldn't do any good. She went over to the counter, where Becky worked to roll out some dough.
"This dough looks funny," Molly said.
"It's unleavened bread, like they ate in Bible times."
"Yuck. I don't like unleavened bread."
Becky laughed at this and tousled Molly's hair. "You haven't even tried it yet, sweetie."
"Stop calling me that," Molly said.
"What?"
"I'm not your sweetheart or your sweetie or anything else. I hate you! You're mean and stupid and I wish you were dead!"
"Molly, you don't mean that-"
"I do so. Then I could find my real mommy and daddy."
"Sweet-Molly-I think we need to talk." Becky put an arm around Molly's shoulder and took her to sit down near the hearth. Becky cleared her throat and then said, "Molly, your real mommy and daddy are in Heaven."
"They're dead?"
"That's right. They died a long time ago, when you were a baby. That's why you live here with me."
"Nuh-uh. You're lying."
"Molly, honey, I wish they were still alive, but they aren't. You have to believe me."
"No! You're lying!" Molly started to cry because no matter how hard she protested, she knew Becky was right. Her parents weren't in any faraway kingdom; they were dead and in Heaven. Becky tried to hug her, but Molly pushed her away. "Leave me alone!"
"I know it's hard, Molly. It was hard on me to find out about my parents too. Even harder for your Aunt Samantha. But I want you to know I love you very much and I'm always here to take care of you. You're like a daughter to me and nothing's made me happier in these last five years than being like a mother to you."