The way my mind works, I'd be more inclined to think he was mom's boyfriend, or at least he was to mom, and they got a moment of freedom to make a run to the store together.

I'm way jaded these days on thinking stuff like that develops on its own naturally somehow. I'm sure it still happens, but I am also inclined to think it's much more rare.

Of course, if he's a loaded yachtsman of the one percent variety, everything is still possible in that world.

As for the wind you mentioned, it looks like some people were in for a helluva blow that night!