Alexa stared at her daughter, wondering where this fiction had come from, then she turned to Abigail, who was clearly shocked. Of course, Alexa thought. Abigail expected to be invited to the dress hunt. That’s why she was trying on her dress; she was preparing for the invitation. Even Sarah looked a little forlorn to be left out, despite being asked to be a bridesmaid. Alexa felt awful, truly awful. She wanted to bail out Penny, so she used a little language trick. “Yes! Such . . . what’s the word that means good luck but is much longer?”

“Serendipity,” Abigail answered, not believing for one second this woman didn’t know that word.

“Kalliope Moon is quite an up-and-coming designer,” Bernadette said. “I heard that sale was a madhouse. I have people everywhere and they said the line was around the corner. Do you know her?”

“Yes, we both do. From Athens,” Penny explained. “We’ve taken clients to her shop when we do tours. It was great luck that Kalliope herself was there to do the fitting.”

“And you bought the dress?” pressed the reporter.

That seemed like an odd question, Abigail thought. Bernadette was a journalist, and it was her job to ask tough questions, but at an engagement party?

Penny did not miss a beat. She understood the subtext even if her future mother-in-law didn’t. “Oh, yes. I’m not an influencer or looking for trade-outs. I love Kalliope’s designs and I’m happy to support her work in any way possible. In fact, my mother found a dress, too.”

Abigail felt apoplectic. Her plan was to scour secondhand shops and hope to get lucky while her counterpart was being fitted personally by European designers? Why had they run out of money for this part of their lives, the fun years? All that cash they wasted on Legos and math camp and homecoming limos when they should have been stockpiling money for this exact occasion. “What serendipity indeed!”

Sarah, once again oblivious to her mother’s distress, said in a dreamy voice, “Do I get to wear a Kalliope Moon bridesmaid’s dress? I’ve never heard of her, but it’s got to be better than that Laura Ashley number Mom made you wear, Aunt B. Actually, I wouldn’t mind wearing this,” she said, indicating her sheath, which was both too casual and too raspberry.

“You’ll be in blue,” Penny informed her. The command was another blow to Abigail, who thought she might be consulted about what her adult daughter should wear. Though, it was hard to object to blue. Sarah looked lovely in all shades of blue.

“Care to share any details about your dress, Penny?” Bernadette asked, again in a voice that was far from innocent.

“How would you describe it, Mom?” It was the sweetest tone Penny had taken in days with her.