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The junior class had transformed the gym/cafeteria into An Evening in Paris, complete with a black cardboard Eiffel Tower, which was listing a little to starboard, but Emily didn’t want to be a critic. The gym was strung with copious strings of Christmas lights, making the space a little too well-lit to be romantic. There was glitter all over the floor, a snack table with requisite punch bowl, and a DJ playing horrible music too loud.
Emily had labored over what to wear: dressy enough to be respectful of the occasion, but not so dressy that she looked ridiculous. In the end, she was glad she had dressed down, as James was wearing what he wore to church: long-sleeved, plaid dress shirt tucked into dark jeans, and work boots. He looked scrumptious, but Emily thought she might be partial.
Emily was surprised to see the sheriff and Mr. Hogan at the door, and asked Kyle, “Are they checking for alcohol?”
“That, and many other things. Mostly just making sure no adults come in.”
“What?”
“Yeah, in years past, girls have brought dates that were just a little too hairy, and we also get parents who want to come in ‘just to watch,’ but then end up standing around all night being creepy and ruining their kids’ evenings. So that’s why people have to sign any non-student guests in at the office before today, and then Mr. Hogan makes sure no one else gets in.”
“That seems very strange,” Emily said because she didn’t know what else to say.
“I guarantee he’s had to turn some parents away tonight,” Kyle said. “They say they just want to take pictures, but what kid wants to dance in front of their mother?”
The small gym was filling up quickly. Sydney’s dress didn’t look any more expensive than anyone else’s, though her hairdo, which was piled a foot on top of her head, must have cost a bit. Hailey looked gorgeous in a fitted red dress with her usually straight hair down in flowing loose curls. The Vinalhaven beau on her arm was also very handsome. But when Chloe and Thomas walked in, Emily thought her heart would burst with affection. Thomas in a tux! Chloe wore a floor-length shiny emerald green dress that showed just a bit too much skin in Emily’s opinion, but she looked gorgeous. Perhaps the biggest transformation was MacKenzie—MacKenzie, whose freckled face never wore makeup wore enough that night to obscure her freckles completely. Her hair was also done up in a complex system of sparkles and braids. She looked meant-to-be on Noah’s tuxedoed arm, her royal blue dress complemented by the blue pocket square on Noah’s chest. It was hard to believe that girl had spent most of her spring rolling around in the dirt.
“They grow up so fast,” James said in falsetto, making fun of Emily’s shaky emotional state.
She elbowed him playfully. “Stop it. It is hard for me to see them all like this. I get so attached. I mean, they’re going to graduate soon, and then what am I going to do? How do I teach without Thomas?”
He put his arm around her and pulled her to his side. “You find another Thomas, and you love on that kid.”
She looked up into his downturned face. “There’s only one Thomas.”
“All right then. Maybe you stay home and be a mom. No one says you have to teach.”
She sighed. “Maybe. But I really love teaching.”
“Speaking of babies, have you given any thought to a wedding date?” She didn’t answer, because she was thinking, but her silence apparently made James nervous. “No rush, I was just curious. Totally up to you. Was just wondering if we were going to try for this summer, or if you were thinking long-term.”
All of a sudden Emily was overcome with a desire to marry James and would’ve done it right then and there if she could’ve. A flight to Vegas flashed through her mind. “I’m sorry, James. I hate that I’ve been paying more attention to softball than to wedding plans. Please don’t read more into that than is there. I just really don’t multitask well.”
“You’re a teacher, so I know you can multitask, but don’t worry, I’m not offended. I was just curious where your thoughts were.”
“My thoughts are that ... wanna go to Vegas?”
He laughed. “You mean to get hitched?”
“Why else would I go to Vegas? I’m too poor to gamble.”
“No, I don’t want to go to Vegas. You live in the most beautiful place on earth. Don’t you want to get married there?” He stopped, but then hastily added, “Unless you want to get married in your hometown. That’s OK too.”
“Actually, I have analyzed that part, and I don’t want to get married in Plainfield. I think my family would rather have an excuse to come here, and then I could share this part of my life with them. Besides, I don’t plan on inviting too many people. Are you OK with a small wedding?”
“Yes, just as long as it’s not Vegas-chapel-small.”
She giggled. “OK then. How about this summer?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? That doesn’t give us much time to plan.”
“How much planning can there be? I find a dress. We find food. That’s it, right?”
“Well, we need to find a place to actually get married. Did you want to do it in Abe’s basement?”
At first, that sounded absurd, but as she thought about it, the idea grew on her. “Maybe? You think he’d mind?”
James laughed loudly. “I don’t know, but I don’t think we should do that to him.”
“Let’s just get married outside. I could be a barefoot bride, with my toes in the ocean.”
“OK, let’s do it. I know just the spot.”
“Bacon Poop Point?” she guessed.
“How’d you know?”
