Weeks after Pa leaves, Kya listens for any sign of him and scans the marsh for the fishing boy, Tate. She spots Tate from a distance but, torn between wanting contact and fearing it, hides and slips away. At home she toys with Ma’s surviving sundress, deciding it is too precious and too big to wear.

Searching Point Beach for shells, Kya hides when a group of town kids approaches. She recognizes Chase Andrews among the boys and is transfixed by the girls’ easy camaraderie, aching to be part of it. She retreats to the ferns, unseen, as they wander off.

At Jumpin’s wharf, Kya learns he cannot buy more mussels due to his quota, leaving her broke. She experiments with smoking fish and brings a small batch to Jumpin’, who agrees to sell them on consignment.

That evening, Jumpin’ tells his wife, Mabel, about Kya’s plight. Mabel resolves to help, planning to trade community-donated clothes and goods for Kya’s fish and to cook what won’t sell.

The next morning Mabel meets Kya, warmly arranging a barter of clothing and essentials, measuring her feet, and teaching her how to start a garden. Kya begins hoeing the old garden plot, finds Ma’s barrette, pins it in her hair, and wrestles with the truth that Ma may never come home.

When Kya returns, Jumpin’ presents boxes of clothing, shoes, and food gathered for her. Grateful, Kya accepts, promising more fish. She motors home wearing a lace-collared blouse over her overalls, buoyed by newfound support as she works to sustain herself.