Zoë hasn't seen Lara since high school, when Lara converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, following Zoë's invitation to attend a social. Zoë feels responsible for Lara in some ways, and Lara thinks she owes Zoë a debt of gratitude. Neither responsibility nor gratitude, however, are enough to keep their friendship from feeling forced when Zoë drops in for a duty visit. Their teenage animosities continue to simmer, and Zoë is quickly sucked into trying to break up what she sees as Lara's disastrous marriage, while, at the same time, she envies Lara her many friends and her home and children. Lara chafes at Zoë's interference, while wishing she could have Zoë's freedom and footloose lifestyle.

Beth lives in Walkersville, Maryland. She is thankful for her many children, children-in-law, step-children, foster children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and is happily engaged in family history research. She's the ward Primary pianist and director of the stake family history center. She's the owner and editor of Parables, which publishes realistic LDS-themed fiction.