Margaret had been planning her husband Robert’s retirement party for months. At 68, after 45 years at the same accounting firm, he deserved a proper send-off. She’d secretly invited all his old colleagues, childhood friends from Wisconsin, even his beloved bowling team.
The morning of the party, Margaret woke at dawn to start cooking. Her famous pot roast simmered in the oven, three pies cooled on the counter, and the good china – wedding gifts they’d saved for special occasions – gleamed on the dining table.
Just as she was arranging the last floral centerpiece, the power went out. A storm had knocked down lines across their neighborhood. No electricity meant no oven, no lights, and – Margaret realized with horror – the refrigerated desserts would spoil.
Her hands shook as she called their eldest daughter. “Cancel everything,” Margaret said, voice breaking. But 30 minutes later, car lights flooded the driveway.
