terms. The bride's decided her future mother-in-law is a dog hater."
"Is he wearing a tux?"
Parker's lips twitched "At this point, just a bow tie. She wants the dog, she gets the dog. So I'll ask the MOG to have a drink with me - as such matters are best done in person and with alcohol - and smooth this over."
"Good luck with that. I'm heading into town. I'm going to surprise Jack, cook him dinner, so I won't be back until morning. But I'm also going to see if you and Laurel left any sexy summer clothes anywhere in Greenwich."
"There may be a halter top left. Possibly one pair of sandals."
"I'll find them. I'm going to the market, and by the nursery. Is there anything you need? I can drop it back by in the morning."
"Are you going by the bookstore?"
"I'm going to town; what would my mother say if I didn't drop in?"
"Right. She's got a book I ordered."
"I'll get it for you. If you think of anything else, just call my cell."
"Have fun." As Emma left, Parker looked at her BlackBerry. Sighed. And picked it up to call Kevin's mother.
D ELIGHTED TO HAVE A FEW HOURS OUT AND ABOUT, EMMA stopped at the nursery first. She gave herself permission to just wander and enjoy before settling down to the business of selection. She loved the smells - the earth, the plants, the green - so much she had to order herself not to just buy some of everything. But she promised herself she'd take another swing through in the morning and pick up a few more plants for the estate.
For now, she debated on pots while envisioning Jack's back porch entrance. She found two slim urns in a rusted bronze color she decided would be perfect flanking his kitchen door.
"Nina?" She signaled to the manager. "I'm going to take these two."
"They're great, aren't they?"
"They are. Can you have them loaded in my car? It's right out front. And the potting soil? I'm just going to pick out the plants."
"Take your time."
She found exactly what she wanted, sticking with deep reds and purples with a few sparks of gold to set them off.
"Gorgeous," Nina commented when Emma pushed her cart through toward the cashier. "Strong colors, great textures. And that heliotrope smells wonderful. Is this for a wedding?"
"No, actually they're a gift for a friend."
"Lucky friend. Everything's loaded."
"Thanks."
In town, she wandered the shops, treated herself to new sandals, a breezy skirt, and thinking of the long-ago summer, a boldly printed scarf to use as a beach wrap. She swung into the bookstore, waved to the clerk ringing up a sale at the counter.
"Hi, Emma! Your mom's in the back."
"Thanks."
She found her mother opening a recent delivery of books. The minute she saw Emma, Lucia set the shipment aside. "Now this is the best kind of surprise."
"I've been out spending money." Emma leaned over the box to kiss Lucia's cheek.
"My favorite activity. Almost. Did you buy something that made you so happy, or . . ." She tapped a finger on Emma's bracelet. "Are you just happy?"
"Both. I'm going to cook dinner for Jack, so I still have to go to the market. But I found the cutest sandals, which - of course - I had to wear out."
Emma did a pivot, a turn, showing them off.
"They are cute."
"And . . ." Emma flicked her index fingers at her new gold dangles to make them sway.
"Ah, pretty."
"Plus a wonderful summer skirt just covered with red poppies. A couple of tops, a scarf, and . . . so on."
"That's my girl. I saw Jack this morning. I thought he said you were going to the movies tonight."
"Change of plans. I'm going to make him your flank steak. Mrs. G had one in the freezer so I begged it from her and it's been marinating all night. It's out in the car in a cooler. I thought I'd do those roasted fingerling potatoes with rosemary, maybe asparagus, a nice chunk of bread with dipping oil. What do you think?"
"Very manly."
"Good, that was the idea. I couldn't bring myself to hit Laurel up for a dessert. She's swamped. I thought maybe just ice cream and berries."
"A manly and thoughtful meal. Is this an occasion?"
"Partly to thank him for the incredible night in New York, and the rest . . . I'm going to tell him, Mama. I'm going to tell him how I feel about him, that I love him. It seems almost