The patio off the back of the house, overlooking the harbor, was a point of pride for Abigail. The blue-gray slate. The white vintage Brown Jordan furniture that she maintained herself because the professional refinishers were a fortune. The multitude of Gertrude Jekyll pink rosebushes surrounding the enclosure. And the view! The view led the eye down the rocky slope to the water and out across the harbor to the vibrant marsh on the other side. When visitors exclaimed that it was “a million-dollar view,” George always responded, “Let’s hope it’s a three-million-dollar view.” And there was knowing laughter all around.

Not only did Abigail hope, but she also prayed it was a three-million-dollar view. Every night.

“Do you want something stronger than iced tea?” George asked, alert and awake now, even though he was still in his pink golf shirt and lime-green shorts.

“Not right now,” Chase said, giving his sister, Sarah, a hug. She had arrived on the scene, fresh from the field hockey pitch. It didn’t matter what time of year it was; for Sarah, it was always field hockey season. “You reek,” Chase teased.

She put up her hands in an inviting gesture. “You want to see if you can do more burpees than me? Let’s go. In the grass. I am the champion of my league team, which is coed.” Nothing got Sarah more fired up than a squat thrust competition. Abigail hoped that someday, somewhere, someone would appreciate those thigh muscles.

“Sit, sit!” George instructed, and the entire group did as they were told. It was a lovely view. “What brings you out on a Sunday afternoon?”

“We have something to tell you,” Chase announced, then reached for Penny’s hand. “Last night I asked Penny to marry me and she said yes.” Chase could not have looked more pleased and Penny could not have looked more radiant. The announcement was more of a proclamation than an announcement. The mutual adoration seeped out of their pores. If love was a scent, these two would reek.

“Congratulations!” Sarah shouted, jumping up and moving to embrace the happy couple. “I’ll finally have a sister!”

George followed suit with some generic words of encouragement and went off to get a bottle of champagne.

Chase and Penny turned to look at Abigail at the same time, all anticipation. She knew that this response would set the tone for the rest of her relationship with her future daughter-in-law. And still, she couldn’t help herself. “So, you’re not going to law school?”

*  *  *