A few weeks later, Alexa learned that she wasn’t pregnant. She was disappointed, but Simon was distraught. How could you spend your whole life trying not to get someone pregnant and then fail in your first serious attempt to do so? Alexa made a quick decision before Simon got any crazy idea that they were a couple. A trip to the sperm bank and several home inseminations later, she was pregnant. She knew the baby wasn’t Simon’s and Simon knew the baby wasn’t his, but they acknowledged that he was the spiritual father, the impetus and the inspiration. Without Simon’s enthusiastic support, there would have been no Penny. So of course he was Penny’s godfather.

Back in the present day, more than thirty years since that week of the Maculata Conceptionis, Alexa had another favor to ask. “Can you do something for me tomorrow?”

“Of course. A toast. Or a proclamation. I’m very good at those, you know. Constantly proclaiming things now that I’m an MP.”

“Tell me what you think about Chase. And the family. I want to know your impressions.”

“You sound worried. Do you think there are issues?”

“Everything seems to be moving so quickly. And the decisions are so big, life-changing. Marriage, moving, becoming a political wife. Penny has never expressed any interest in a life of public service. Why now? And the fact that the district is heavily Greek, that makes me wonder if this union is about expediency. I feel terrible saying this. You know about these sorts of people. Old money, politics, WASPs. You’re them. I want you to tell me what you think of the Blakemans.”

“You know I love Penny like my own daughter,” Simon said softly, letting the words sink in. He would do as his old friend asked. “I’ll uncover what I can tomorrow at the engagement party and report back. Now I’ve got to run. I’m off to dinner.”

Dinner? Alexa was planning on room service and an early night. “There you go. There’s that secret life of yours again.”

From the Desktop of Dearly Beloveds and Betrotheds

Dear B & Bs . . .

Time to clear out that mailbox! This week, I’m answering your questions about engagement protocols. Are there any other life events where the journey from joy turns to tyranny in so brief a time as from the proposal to the engagement announcement? What starts as a profound moment between two people deciding to share their lives morphs into a nonstop question-and-answer period about everything from the style of your dress to the date you plan to procreate. If you can control the chaos, couples, you might have a chance of enjoying this liminal period between single and married.

Dear Aunt B,