Chapters 8-9 Summary

Chapter 8. On the way home from church late in November, May Amelia's mother goes into labor. Afraid she cannot make it home, Mother asks that they stop the boat immediately. May Amelia suggests the sauna on the Petersen's property. Mrs. Petersen delivers the baby and May Amelia names her Amy Alice. The baby is perfect and May Amelia becomes her caregiver when Mother suffers a fever in the aftermath of the delivery. Aunt Alice has come from Astoria to help, but she is so busy with Mother that she cannot care for the baby. Grandmother Patience insists that allowing May Amelia to care for the baby will lead to disaster, but Aunt Alice and Pappa both support May Amelia.

Chapter 9. On Christmas morning, May Amelia wakes to discover that Amy Alice has died in the middle of the night. The family...