By the evening, their modest flat had taken on the appearance of a staging station for a family reunion. Max's parents had arrived from San Francisco, bringing with them the special energy that comes from loving, well-meaning individuals who have strong beliefs about how significant events should be handled. Grace's father had driven down from Sacramento, carrying both wedding congratulations and legal documents pertaining to his continuing federal inquiry.
Mrs. Liv from next door brought a homemade apple pie and what she described as "advice for newlyweds based on sixty years of marriage," while Matt Jackson arrived with a bottle of champagne and stories about Max's college years that made everyone laugh and made Max visibly uneasy.
"I can't believe you're getting married in a courthous
