Gemma called Sanjay to tell him about the New York Times interview, and that she might need a tiny little favor: help getting her equipment and jewelry out to the Cape in time for the interview. “I’ll totally mention your photography,” she promised. “It will be good for both of us.” She said if he could bring her stuff to Provincetown, she’d find him a place to crash for a day or two.

After the phone call from the reporter, the interview was all she could think about. Alvie said they had five bedrooms at Maud’s and that Sanjay could absolutely stay for a night.

“I’m not sure that’s going to work, Gemma,” he’d said. “I have to look at my schedule.”

“Okay—no worries,” she said, thinking the exact opposite. “Just let me know.”

Before dinner, she took a walk to the edge of the bay and snapped a photo of her outstretched hand with two of her Rock Candy rings stacked on her forefinger. The water complemented the large, emerald-cut blue glass stones set in silver. She saved it to post to Instagram later.

Now, surrounded by Jack’s family at the dinner table, she tried to be in the moment.

Everyone seemed to be talking all at once—at one another, over one another. The only person not talking a mile a minute was the woman sitting next to her, Alvie’s girlfriend, Maud.

Maud was tall—close to six feet. Her silver hair was cut into a shag; she had deep-set blue eyes and smoker’s creases around her mouth. Her voice was husky, and her laugh was big. Gemma immediately understood her appeal to Alvie, no matter the age difference.

Celeste’s picnic table had a white and blue striped runner down the center and flickered with candles. At first, it seemed too large with only Gemma, Alvie, and Maud seated, but then the Barros clan arrived.

Lidia, wife of Jack’s cousin Manny, was attractive in a careless way, with thick silver-threaded hair and a cleft in her chin. She gave Gemma a hug in greeting, then introduced her husband. He was pleasant looking, with a broad nose and kind dark eyes.

“And this is my brother, Tito,” Manny said.

Tito was broad-shouldered, with the same dark eyes as the rest of them but with a thick head of white hair. Next to Tito was a young, gorgeous man with bedroom eyes and thick dark hair curling around his ears. She learned this was Lidia and Manny’s son, Marco. The pretty blonde next to him was introduced as his wife, Olivia.

Corks popped, wineglasses were filled, and Celeste and Jack served plates of takeout from Liz’s Café.

“So you’re here for the summer?” Olivia asked.

“I’m not sure for how long,” Gemma said. “I’ll be heading back to the city at some point.”