The entire crowd turned from the triumphant father on the patio to the harbor and began moving en masse toward the water’s edge to take in all the commotion. Approaching the dock in an antique Chris-Craft motorboat was the distinct figure of the mayor of New York, Timmo Lynch. He stood in the stern of the boat, tall and thin, dressed in a blue shirt, red pants, and dark sunglasses, bullhorn in hand. His thick head of gray hair was windblown, downright sexy, like the Platonic ideal of a head of hair for a seventy-year-old man. He put down the bullhorn and picked up the line to tie the boat off to the dock, letting the young man at the wheel do the real work of docking the boat.

One of Sarah’s friends, who had sailed at Brown, raced down the gangplank to lend a hand. She caught the rope, executed the knot, and the mayor of New York climbed out of the boat, hopped onto the deck, and declared, “Fine day for an engagement party. I come bearing sandwiches because Tony at Santini’s Italian market near my place in Northport loves love so much, he insisted on making up a couple of platters when he heard I was bringing the boat over here. Who can help me pass these?”

The famished partygoers burst into applause, as if the mayor were a magician who had completed his grand finale trick of producing subs out of thin air. But Abigail was horrified. Plastic trays? Common white deli napkins? Mortadella? She watched her son abandon his fiancée and his drink to sprint across the lawn to assist his boss. He was still the chief of staff even at his own engagement party.

Abigail scanned the partygoers to take in their expressions. Hadn’t it been George’s finest hour a second ago? Now all eyes were on Timmo. This was not what she intended. She wasn’t a fan of surprises. Or the mayor. She hoped to find sympathetic nods in her direction. But instead, she caught two distinct reactions to the arrival of Hizzoner: Bernadette’s mouth agape and Alexa’s intent stare. She knew in that moment that Bernadette was on board to cover the wedding. And that Alexa had more life in her than she suspected.

Chapter 14
The Engagement Party

The Mother of the Bride