“Well, that’s refreshing: a woman who likes to cook,” her father threw in, tossing his ex-wife a pointed look.

It had always been a bone of contention between her parents that her mother wasn’t an enthusiastic cook.

“Well, it didn’t help that you only liked hamburgers and steaks. What’s interesting about cooking those?” Sabrina’s mother retorted.

Before her father could respond, James interrupted, “George, why don’t you sit to my right? Then we’ll have a chance to talk a little more during dinner. I’m eager to talk to you about going out on the boat.”

Sabrina threw her future father-in-law a thankful look. He winked back at her and took his seat at the head of the table.

Her father sat down next to him. Knowing that her mother didn’t want to be near him, nor have to look directly at him, she motioned to a chair at the other end of the table, facing Daniel’s father.

“Mom, why don’t you take this seat?”

Sabrina exchanged a quick look with Holly, who sat down next to Sabrina’s father to create an adequate buffer, while Sabrina and Raffaela sat down opposite them.

With Daniel and Tim having left for the bachelor party, the chairs had been spaced farther apart and the two spare chairs had been removed so that it didn’t look like somebody was missing.

“I hope you all like veal,” Raffaela announced.

“Mmm!” her husband exclaimed, then motioned to Sabrina’s father. “My wife’s veal piccata is to die for. Make sure you fill your plate quickly, or there won’t be any left.”

Raffaela actually blushed at her husband’s compliment. “Ah, James, just because you like it, doesn’t mean everybody else does.” She tossed a look to the other dinner guests. “If you don’t like veal or would rather have something vegetarian, I also made eggplant parmesan.” She pointed to a casserole dish in the middle of the table.

Sabrina’s father speared his fork into a piece of veal and lifted it onto his plate. “Veal is fine for me. I eat more than just burgers and steaks.” He smiled at Raffaela, but Sabrina hadn’t missed the backhanded comment directed at her mother.

“Well, help yourselves!” Raffaela encouraged everybody.

The clanging of dishes and cutlery bounced around the room, while everybody filled their plates with meat, vegetables, and other side dishes. Sabrina looked at Raffaela, who sat next to her, wanting to apologize for her parents’ behavior, but didn’t dare say anything in front of them. Her future mother-in-law seemed to read in her gaze what she wanted to say and smiled. “Don’t worry, Sabrina. It’s fine,” she whispered.

“We have a boat out on the dock,” James said, looking at Sabrina’s father. “Maybe you and Ilene want to go out on the water tomorrow. I think I have a couple of hours, right, darling?” He smiled at his wife.

“If you think all the work with the tent is done, then I’m sure you have time, caro. I think it would be a great way of showing our guests the surroundings.”

Sabrina noticed how her father glanced to the other end of the table as if trying to figure out what his ex-wife’s reaction was. Sabrina’s mother looked delighted.

“Oh that would be wonderful!” she said. “I’ve always liked boats. Of course, we could never afford our own.” She tossed a disapproving look in the direction of Sabrina’s father. “Even though we had the San Francisco Bay right at our doorstep.”

Her father grunted and shoved a piece of meat into his mouth.

“Excellent!” James exclaimed. “How about you, George, do you want to join us for an hour or two sailing up and down the coast?”

“I don’t think so. I’m not into fancy rich people’s toys.”

Sabrina gasped and dropped her fork onto her plate. “Dad!”

“What? Do you find me too ordinary for your new friends now?” He motioned to the richly decorated room around him, the elegant paintings on the walls and the expensive vases in the display cabinets. “Are you ashamed of the fact that I’m not as rich as your fiancé and his family?”

“Dad, don’t!” She felt tears rise and pushed them down.

“Don’t what? Say the truth?” He snorted and motioned to his ex-wife. “Has your mother finally managed to turn you into a mirror image of herself?”

“That’s not true!” Sabrina said, raising her voice.

“Is it not? Look at you! You’re all dolled up, wearing expensive clothes like the ones your mother always wanted to have but couldn’t afford.”