Summary

Chapter 23 opens with Pepper hiding a bird ornament behind her back. It is the first gift she has ever gotten for her mother. Pepper watches Ada unwrapped the tissue and Ada tells her it is pretty and Pepper is disappointed that her mother did not tell her it was something she would keep forever. On New Year’s Eve, Ada works at the pub and there is a large crowd. Pepper is keeping track of the time and a man tells her that the crowd at the pub is because of Ada’s cooking. Luke is there and he tells Pepper who people are in the restaurant, including Val’s brother, even though the siblings no longer speak to each other. Ray comes in and Luke tells Pepper he asked about the house. Pepper does not want to hear it.

Later Pepper wakes...