“You’re not driving, are you?” her brother Nikos asked, immediately settling into old family patterns about her inferior road skills. Everybody laughed, even Alexa.

“Of course not,” she said, leading the group to a black Mercedes motor coach stocked with water, coffee, and snacks. “We do things first-class here in the Golden State. You have a driver all weekend. Meet Ricky!”

And with that, the family piled into the bus to start the two-hour drive north to Montecito.

*  *  *

After the long drive followed by a leisurely lunch at Jeannine’s, where Alexa’s family marveled over the generous California salads and all the people in great sunglasses, she delivered her family at Roxanne’s house and instructed them to make themselves at home. Roxanne was staying at the Miramar with Toots, but she had stocked the fridge for her guests, which was a lovely gesture. They immediately organized a late dinner at their place, contacting Penny and insisting she and Chase come. Ricky was tasked with taking the women to the grocery store to supplement their supplies while the men napped. They were resting up to do the cooking, her brothers claimed. Alexa could tell the chaos was going to grow from there, so she ducked out quietly. She loved her family but they were a lot.

Plus, she had one more guest to get settled.

*  *  *

Alexa was waiting for Timmo Lynch at the rental house she had secured for him, which was walking distance to her own place but in an entirely different stratosphere in terms of price and prestige. Set back off the street, it was an immaculate midcentury modern with ripe citrus on the trees, a heated lap pool, and a view of the Pacific Ocean from the dining room. It was the latest celebrity rental house, a trend that had infiltrated the neighborhood. The owner was a designer from Sag Harbor who had recently relocated and was trying to put his stamp on the town. He didn’t live in this house, but it was all part of his online presence. He was the type who not only had his own line at Target but shopped there, too. At least according to his social media. He’d offered the neighbors first dibs on the rental over the holidays at a reduced fee as a show of good faith and appreciation. Alexa snapped it up on Timmo’s behalf.

At first, the mayor had balked about not being at a hotel, but she informed him that many of the wedding guests and the Widows would be staying at the Miramar and she would hate to run into them in the elevator. A private home, she reminded him, would be more private. He signed on immediately. They wanted to make the most of their three nights together.