She jumped out of the car, when she saw a woman getting out of the taxi, while the taxi driver sauntered to the trunk to open it.

“Crap!” she hissed below her breath. How could she have missed her mother’s arrival? Wasn’t she supposed to arrive tomorrow?

Sabrina ran around the car, throwing her arms around her mother. “Mom!”

“Sabrina!”

When Sabrina released her mother, the scowl on her face had not yet faded. “I was waiting at the train station. Nobody came to pick me up.”

“I’m so sorry, Mom! But I thought you were coming tomorrow.”

From the corner of her eye, she saw Daniel walk up to them, but he didn’t interrupt.

“I decided to come a day early so I wouldn’t be too jetlagged. I texted you. I figured it’s the easiest way to get ahold of you. You kids all text, don’t you?”

“I’m so sorry, but I didn’t get the text.” Not that it would be an adequate defense when it came to her mother. She would let Sabrina feel her displeasure for quite some time.

Her mother huffed. “Well, I was lucky to find a taxi.” She motioned to the taxi driver, who lifted her suitcase out of the trunk and shut it with a loud bang.

“Let me get the cab for you,” Daniel offered quickly and pulled his wallet from his pocket to pay the taxi driver.

Her mother let her eyes run over Daniel for the first time. An approving smile spread on her lips. “Well, at least somebody here knows how to treat the mother of the bride.”

Sabrina rolled her eyes. It appeared that Daniel had just passed Sabrina on her mother’s list of favorite people. Luckily, Sabrina didn’t care much. At least it would mean her mother would be appeased.

Daniel turned away from the taxi driver, who by the looks of it had received a generous tip, and put his wallet away.

“Mrs. Palmer, I’m Daniel, so nice to meet you.” He stretched out his hand to greet Sabrina’s mother.

“It’s Thorson actually. I took my maiden name after the divorce. But call me Ilene.”

“Ilene, we’re so sorry that we missed your arrival. Cell phone reception can be a bit sketchy around here.”

Daniel tossed Sabrina a conspiratorial look. Cell phone reception was perfectly adequate in the Hamptons. Sabrina smiled back. Daniel knew how to smooth-talk women, and it appeared that her mother had no defenses against his charm. Like mother like daughter.

“How was your trip?” Sabrina asked and reached for her hand luggage, while Daniel took the large suitcase, which appeared to contain not only the kitchen sink but also a ton of bricks if she interpreted Daniel’s facial expression correctly.

“The flight was fine. But honestly, it’s a hassle getting all the way out here from the airport. That train takes forever and stops at every hamlet.”

“For your return flight, we’ll drive you back to JFK,” Daniel offered quickly. “I’m sorry we weren’t able to arrange it this time, but there’s been so much to arrange in the last few days. I just wanted to make sure everything is set for your daughter’s perfect wedding.”

Sabrina’s mother chuckled, directing a coy smile at her future son-in-law. “Well, if you put it that way. Of course I want to make sure everything is perfect for my little Sabrina. Even if that means I’ll have to take a backseat.” She cast Sabrina a suffering look.

Sabrina bit her tongue. Her mother had never taken a backseat to anybody. And she wouldn’t start now. “Thanks, mom,” she said instead.

“Well, let’s get you settled.” Daniel motioned to the front door.

Before they reached it, a red convertible sports car pulled into the driveway, radio blaring. Everybody’s head turned toward it. Sabrina recognized her father’s dark head of hair immediately. Apparently he was still dying it, not being able to accept that he was going gray.

“Well, look at that,” her mother said quietly. “It appears that your father is still in the throes of his midlife crisis.”

Though her mother did have a point, Sabrina put her hand on her forearm. “Please be nice. I don’t want any fight to break out at my wedding.”

Outraged, her mother looked at her. “Don’t tell me that! Tell him! He’s the one who—”

“Please,” Sabrina interrupted. “Just this once. After the wedding you can fight all you want. I promise, I won’t interfere.” She would be on her honeymoon with Daniel and not care about the rest of the world, at least not for those two weeks.

Pasting a smile on her face, Sabrina set the carry-on luggage on the ground and walked to her father, who’d gotten out of the car. He greeted her with open arms, pulling her into a tight embrace.