Chương 25: Chapter 25

The party was as Zoey expected. Emma's parents spared no expense. There was enough cake, pizza, and pretzels for twice as many guests as filled the fully carpeted rooms. Freshly baked treats appeared with precision timing, and a never-ending stream of pizza flowed from the kitchen. A taller version of her daughter, Emma's mother shared her warmth and generosity of spirit. She filled the punch bowl, supervised games, and distributed party favors with genuine enthusiasm.

Although it was a Saturday afternoon, Emma's father was at work. Zoey heard Emma's mother promise her that he would be home as soon as he could get away. Zoey was curious to meet the man who Emma spoke of with unbridled adoration. She imagined him to be a tall man carrying a briefcase and wearing a business suit, attire she saw only occasionally on most of the men in town, except the undertaker.