Chapter 11: Community Dynamics Summary

On Groundhog's Day, Dellarobia contemplates if the butterflies can survive for six more weeks of winter. She also wonders what will happen to her life once the science team leaves and she returns to the role of a rural housewife, devoid of scope and meaning, where even a trip to the neighboring town of Cleary seems too far to manage. Dovey picks up Dellarobia and the kids in her convertible to shop at a massive new secondhand store, where Dellarobia is shocked by the quality of the items for sale compared to the cheap goods at the dollar store, and for lower prices. As the women peruse the merchandise, Dovey gently teases Dellarobia for information about Ovid Byron, sensing Dellarobia's crush, but Dellarobia can't bring herself to even discuss it, since her feelings for him are born from more...