“Let’s get a photo! Mignette!” Abigail called out to the house manager as she waited for her family to assemble in the front hall of Toots’s house. That is, the whole family plus Lloyd, who was staying with them at La Mariposa for the festivities. It should have been awkward, seeing as he was Chase’s friend before he was Sarah’s boyfriend, but Lloyd was such a lovely man, so enamored of Sarah and her cankles, that he smoothed over any awkwardness. Abigail hoped Lloyd was a permanent addition but stashed that thought away for another time.

Tonight was about Chase, and when he descended the front staircase, ready for his rehearsal dinner the night before his wedding, it brought tears to Abigail’s eyes.

She loved being Chase’s mother. From the minute he was born thirty years ago to this moment right now. Watching him grow from the sweet blond little boy who’d loved watching the trash trucks on collection days and riding his bike while creating his own sound effects into this smart, sophisticated young man about to marry a lovely young woman and begin his adult life in full. What a good job she and George had done with Chase.

And, as if she needed any further proof, he had interpreted California Cowabunga as a chance to wear a custom blue blazer, pressed jeans, and a striped blue button-down shirt. His thick dark hair was freshly cut, and he smelled like salt and sand. Not a flip-flop in sight.

“You look so handsome,” she said, hugging him with an extra squeeze.

“Penny will only allow me to wear blue clothes for the rest of the wedding events, as per the theme. Damn good thing I look so good in blue,” Chase answered. And because he’d been particularly grateful since Abigail had staged the Chase and Penny Reunion, he added, “You look beautiful, Mom. This look is daring for you!”

“I have to move out of my comfort zone to keep up with these Diamandis women.”

“Don’t we all?”

George arrived in the front hall and tucked the notes for his toast into the pocket of his blue blazer. Not custom like his son’s, but a serviceable off-the-rack Brooks Brothers. Then Sarah and Lloyd bounded into the front hall, bringing that golden retriever energy with them. Leave it to Sarah to take California Cowabunga to its natural extreme. She was in a vintage 1980s Body Glove wetsuit dress, and Lloyd was wearing a wild pink and green floral-print Mr Turk suit. They looked like a couple on the verge of a costume, but not quite over the line. In fact, Abigail thought, they looked fabulous. Young, fun, and fabulous.

“Cow-a-bunga!” Sarah screamed, then started humming “Wipe Out.”

“Won’t you be cold at the bonfire? It’s freezing here!”

Sarah pointed to a backpack in the corner. “Sweats, beanies, and puffers for both of us.”