Chapter 69

The Wares only gave the Somners ten baskets of plastic Easter eggs. In contrast, Irene gave them a mountain of gifts. The Somners weren't concerned about the value of the gifts, but the difference underscored the Wares' stinginess. Easter was supposed to be about eggs, so ten baskets from the Wares seemed reasonable. In contrast, the Moores overwhelmed them with truckloads of presents. They brought a large basket filled with roasted chicken, honey-baked ham, and a variety of fresh seafood. The assortment of fruits, health supplements, and Easter eggs they sent was astonishing. Irene was floored by the generosity. She kept calling Lorraine, urging her to return from the orchards right away. "Listen, Vanessa. Use the Easter holiday to bring Joshua home for a while. Don't give in. You've set a precedent, and they'll keep pushing you like hungry wolves. They'll take things from you little by little until there's nothing left," Lorraine urged. The Moore family's generosity hinted that