“Just you and me?”

“Yes. That’s why I waited until Abigail left,” Penny whispered, as if someone nearby were wearing a wire and might inform her future mother-in-law of the slight. Not that it was officially a slight in terms of proper wedding etiquette, but so many of her friends had included the mother of the groom in the dress-shopping experience that she felt a bit selfish for wanting it to be special for the two of them, mother and bride. She hid behind her groom, who knew nothing about dress shopping. “I feel kind of bad not including her, but Chase said she wouldn’t mind. Right, Chase?”

He nodded, oblivious to any devastation his permission would cause.

So was Alexa. She was happy to be included, but it wasn’t anything she expected. Alexa had watched the dress-buying shows on TV when she was at the hair salon and couldn’t believe the nonsense she witnessed as groups of friends and relatives, in sashes and drinking champagne, challenged the bride on her choices. Nobody needed ten people in a dressing room badgering the bride about her weight or her taste. At least Penny had retained enough judgment to know that.

As for Abigail, she rationalized to herself, but not out loud: Chase’s mother has Sarah. That’s her chance to go wedding dress shopping. “A Kalliope Moon dress would be a dream.” An expensive dream.

It was already starting, the expense creep. As soon as the words “wedding” and “dream” were said in the same sentence, the budget blew up another 25 percent. A budget they hadn’t even established yet. “I think you’ll look stunning in anything. But I love that you want a Greek designer. Classic but modern. And, of course, our heritage.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll see you in the lobby around nine. Is that too early?”

Penny understood the first morning on East Coast time could be tough for Californians. “Let’s say nine fifteen. I won’t be late.” She smiled at her daughter and then turned to her future son-in-law. “Thank you for dinner. It was delicious and eventful. Sleep well.” She glanced at her phone screen to sell the lie. “Four more minutes. Off you go. I’ll be fine.”

Chapter 8
The Cab Ride

The Mother of the Groom

“What were you thinking?” Abigail snapped as soon as they settled in the cab headed south on Park to Grand Central.

“I didn’t encourage him to run for Congress!” George countered.

“Oh, I can’t even speak about that now. I’m going to need some time to process, as young people say. I thought I knew what might be coming, but it was so much worse. Why on earth would anyone want to be a congressman? I don’t understand his need for attention.”