Part 2: Chapter 1 Summary

The story returns to 1972. Sally is calling Larry from inside. He goes in and helps her dress and then brings her folding chair out onto the porch. They sit together on the cabin porch. Sid and Charity's daughter Hallie and her husband Moe come up to the porch and kiss Sally. They chat and then turn the conversation to Charity and her health. Today is Charity's birthday, and Sally and Larry have forgotten. Hallie thinks that Charity only has a week or two left, that she's holding herself together with willpower.

Charity has been preparing for the end. She's been having the grandchildren come to her bedside for individual visits, and she's given each of her children books she has kept about each of them since birth. One of Charity's sons is going through a breakup with his wife, which is...