Chapter 166: Hope and Despair

THE JOKES DIDN'T STOP there, and when Maverick and the doctor returned from the kitchen, we were still laughing. The expressions on their faces had us sputtering to a stop, though. There was a long, pregnant pause and then someone tittered, triggering the rest of us. Even Zander grinned.

"Did we miss something?" asked Maverick, carrying a pitcher and a stack of cups. Once again, he sounded like a schoolteacher. Wynona and Ruthie continued to sputter. Maverick might think we were young and immature, but it had been nice to take a mental break from the life-changing events of today.

While Dr. Frankler and Maverick had thrown together a small feast in the kitchen, the candy jokes had evolved into trick-or-treating memories. Halloween was just around the corner and stores were already decked out with ghoulish decorations, costumes, and endless stacks of candy. Ruthie wanted to throw a party and have Isaac scare everyone in his wolf form. That had led to the twins telling us about the tim