Sam Decker is Evie's father. He is a quiet and withdrawn man, who seems to have been defeated by life, perhaps in large part by the death of his wife at Evie's birth. In the novel's early chapters, he seems to flit through the house like a shadow, paying little attention to Evie, and is so inconspicuous that even his name is not given. Indeed, throughout most of the book, he is simply called "Evie's father," and his job as a teacher at Evie's high school is of little consequence to her or to the story. Gradually, through his occasional conversations with Evie, it becomes apparent that Sam is a kindly man, with good intentions for his daughter, although he lacks the way or the will to emotionally engage with her. His reaction to her self-mutilation is one of helpless confusion, rather than anger or even despair. He feebly attempts to get her to wear bangs to cover the scars, and he offers to get a plastic surgeon, even though he allows it will be expensive. After her marriage, he lets her take whatever furniture she wants from the house, but his manner is confused and distracted. The most forceful and direct thing he does in the book is to give his old car to the couple after their marriage. Shortly after that, when he dies suddenly of a heart attack, it is as if his emotional absence has now progressed to the next logical step of permanent physical absence
