“Me too.”

Without looking up, Emily said, “Do you and Cassie hang out a lot?”

“At school.” Ali tensed, wondering where this was going.

“I guess she hangs out with Murray most of the time.”

“I guess. I don’t know them all that well; we just met.” As soon as the words escaped her mouth, a pang of guilt made Ali wince. Why had she said that? Besides her family, Cassie and Murray knew more about her than anybody ever had.

Emily’s voice was neutral when she responded. “I guess they have a lot in common. Cassie and Murray, I mean.”

“I guess.”

“What’s your cousin like?”

“Nice. I don’t know him very well either.”

Emily sighed. “It must be fun, having a fresh start. I’d love to move somewhere new.”

Clearly Emily had never moved before, otherwise she wouldn’t romanticize what it was like to move to a new place and have to make new friends. “It can be hard sometimes,” said Ali.

Emily cocked her head, like Ali’s comment was unfathomable. “I think it would be great.”

Maybe it would be, if you were Emily. Ali suspected Emily would be popular wherever she lived. She realized she was still wearing Emily’s sweater and began to pull it off.

Emily held up her hand. “No—wait . . . you keep it. It looks so good on you!”

“I can’t.” Her parents wouldn’t want her to take other kids’ clothes.

“Yes, you can! You saw my closet; it’s stuffed with so many clothes I don’t wear half of the things in there! Wear it tomorrow. It’ll be like we’re twins!”

Ali left the sweater on. She wanted to tell Emily something interesting. “Guess what? I’m planning a birthday party for my great-grandmother. She’s going to be one hundred years old.”

“Really? I love parties! My mom throws parties all the time for my dad’s law firm, and sometimes she lets me help. What’s the theme?”

“Theme?”

“You know, is it going to be a circus party, a cowboy-themed party, a French-style party with all kinds of Eiffel Tower decorations, a movie-star party. . . .” Emily’s voice trailed off, and she gave Ali an expectant look.

Taken aback, Ali sifted through the suggestions. The only things she’d planned on were a birthday cake, balloons, and maybe a piñata. An image of the Walter Pidgeon shrine popped into her head. “Maybe a movie-star party?”

“I love movie-star parties! Mom throws one every year for the Academy Awards. All of her friends dress up in fancy gowns and tuxedos and she rolls out a red carpet for them. She even buys little toy Oscars at the dollar store. You can decorate the cake with gold stars.”