Sarah put down her drink and rose to change for dinner. “I hope you don’t mind. He’s picking me up in the morning for the farmers market and then a drive to nearby Ojai. Apparently, the field hockey team at a prep school there needs a coach.” And with that, she floated out of the room.

“What fun! A romance happening right in front of our eyes!” Ming gushed.

“Yes, what fun,” Abigail lied, her head about to explode. One day in the state and Sarah was entertaining new job possibilities. What was happening to her children? First, Chase moving to Queens and now Sarah considering a cross-country relocation! Abigail had to take back control, first of her emotions and then of her family. Sarah couldn’t leave her, too.

Ming turned to Abigail. “There’s nothing like that feeling, is there? When I met my second husband, I knew from the very first minute we would be together. And we would be happy. And we were.”

“Nothing like it,” Abigail said, recalling the early days of her romance with George from so long ago. It was possibility and probability all rolled up into one. She was so grateful to have found someone who understood her and appreciated her. She knew he felt the same. From that very first night, they were connected, meant to be, on a path that would guide them the rest of their days. For better or worse, they had vowed. (Though lately, the scale seemed to be tipped toward “for worse” until they could sell that house.) Despite her current worries, Abigail wanted her daughter to have that kind of connection, too. But couldn’t it be with someone in Connecticut?

Chapter 19
The Miracle of La Mariposa

The Mother of the Bride