According to Abigail—who was using Sarah as her primary source—Chase had barely divulged any information except that the two of them were still not back together, by mutual agreement. They “decided to decide” about next steps once Penny had completed her work project and Chase had gotten the mayor and the city through the UN General Assembly. By Abigail’s calculation, that would be later in September. But as each week ticked by, Abigail evolved from hopeful to hope-adjacent to nearly completely without hope, texting to Alexa, “I’m going to have to let Aunt B know by the end of September. She’s making travel plans soon. I don’t want to lead her on any longer.”

The Merry Widows checked in from their summer retreats in Maine and Whidbey Island, filling the group text chain with questions and pitching ideas to reunite the young couple. Toots was convinced that this would require an all-hands weekend in New York to work their magic in person. She was formulating a plan to hitch a ride on her stepson’s corporate jet. (“The empty seats are just sitting there.”) Alexa knew there was a germ of an idea there, but what could they do that wouldn’t be labeled entrapment?

“You say entrapment like it’s a bad thing,” Ming texted back.

And the clock ticked louder.

Back in Montecito and aware that final deposits would be required in a few weeks, Alexa had tried to work, but it was no use. She was deflated, and jet lag was catching up to her. She knocked off early, went home, and poured herself an afternoon glass of wine, something she never did. Then she sought counsel.

“Is it my fault?” Alexa asked Simon Fox. She was once again at the island in her cozy kitchen on Zoom. It was nighttime in England and Alexa felt a touch guilty that she was interrupting his couple time with Hazel, but she needed his perspective. No one knew her like Simon and no one who knew her had spent as much one-on-one time with Penny. “Was I a selfish parent who never taught her about loving relationships?”

“Were those her exact words?”

“Very close.”

“That doesn’t even sound like Penny. I’ve never seen any large-scale resentment in her that would make her lash out at you like this. I’m not saying it doesn’t come from somewhere, but I don’t believe you’re the cause. She understands the choices you made. We’ve had that conversation.” Simon was succinct and to the point, as if briefing his constituents.

Penny’s lengthy stays at Simon’s orchards must had led to plenty of time for deep talks. Still, it surprised her to hear Simon reveal the content of their conversations with words like “large-scale resentment.” Alexa had to ask, “Is there small-scale resentment?”