Corinne was at T.J. Maxx with Alicia, looking at discount-price pots and pans.
“I think you’d cook more for yourself if you had nice cookware…” Alicia said, pushing their cart slowly down the aisle. She picked up a clay slab. “I can’t believe you don’t have a pizza stone.”
“I never make pizza.”
“You can make anything on a pizza stone, Corinne. And they’re a breeze to clean.”
“I had no idea.”
Alicia put the pizza stone back on the shelf. “What are you doing this Friday?”
“Nothing that involves cookware,” Corinne said.
Alicia slapped her arm. “Silly. I want you to play cards with us again. I bought more decks, so we can play Hand and Foot. Enoch’s coming over, and I’m going to make nachos.”
Corinne made a face and pulled her chin into her neck. “Alicia…”
Alicia stopped pushing the cart. “Corinne, I know the two of you have history, but—”
“That’s not—”
“Just listen.” Alicia looked very sincere. “Whatever Enoch was like as a teenager … he’s been through a lot since then. He’s one of the kindest brothers I’ve ever met.”
“He was always kind,” Corinne conceded.
“And he truly loves God,” Alicia said. Like that was a selling point. (Maybe it was.) “He isn’t just phoning it in every Sunday morning.”
“Alicia…”
“And he likes you, Corinne, I could tell. I’ve never heard him laugh like he did that night.”
“Does Shawn know you’re planning this?”
“Shawn will come around.”
He wouldn’t. He shouldn’t. This was against the rules. Corinne wasn’t just metaphorically cast out—Alicia probably shouldn’t even be walking around T.J. Maxx with her. “Alicia … you know I’m not in good standing with the church.”
“You’re in good standing with Jesus Christ.”
“Am I?”
“He still loves you, Corinne. He’s already forgiven you.” She meant Jesus, not Enoch. Probably. “Please come.” She was pouting. She was wearing very shiny pink lipstick. Corinne wondered if she wore it to church.
“I—I just can’t,” Corinne said. “I’m sorry.”
Alicia sighed and pouted for a second. “Oh, don’t apologize, I knew it was a long shot. Shawn told me you’d say no.” She started pushing the cart again. “It’s just that—somebody’s going to snap up Enoch Miller. Any day now. Every single sister in town has her cap set on him. I don’t want him to end up with some dumb twenty-year-old who won’t play cards with me. He deserves better.” She stopped the cart. “You know what? I’m buying you that pizza stone, and you’re not going to argue. At least give me that.”
“You’re too good to me. Thank you.”