“It’s about time you started preparing for your wedding,” Sylvia said when they arrived at her house for the fitting of the Beethoven jacket. “It seems far away, but summer will be here before you know it.”

“Thanks for that information, mom,” Byron said, “Have you ever thought about becoming a fortune teller?”

“Very funny.” Sylvia started to unwrap the jacket, which was inside a protective layer of plastic, and another one of ...