Chapter 96

“Sorry,” Josh murmured. And then he got a good look around the room. “Good grief!”

It was filled to overflowing, and not only with flowers. Partitions had been folded back, and three rooms were now one, large enough to accommodate the number of people there—at least a hundred and fifty—all looking shell-shocked.

“Who are all these people?”

“I know most of the men from work, and some of the wives from the Friday barbecues,” Mopp said. “And I think that group over there delivers the supplies Rush and JT order for the company.”

“I thought only the family was supposed to be here now,” Josh said to Auggie. Sitting on a long, low-slung sofa and the large chairs flanking it were JT, Tad and Rush, and Miss Becca, as well as Miss Abby and Miss Lizzie.

“So many people showed up early. Mr. Jackson was very well-thought-of, and when people began arriving, Mr. Weber agreed to cut short the family time.”

“Pardon us, please.”