In an elevator with Enoch and Alicia and Shannon and Natalie.
Walking to the parking garage in heels she never should have thought she could keep on for more than five minutes.
In a filthy garage elevator with Enoch Miller, her husband. Her husband. All six-foot-who-knows-what of him. Her husband.
Enoch Miller trying to hold her close because she’d left her coat in the car.
(No one had spoken to him. Because he was cast out. But they would let him back in someday soon. And then it would just be Corinne on the outside. Corinne and Shannon Frank.)
Climbing into Enoch’s truck. Watching her new ring throw purple flares around the cab. Enoch, Enoch Miller. Enoch.
A stranger’s house. An actual fucking conservatory. So many flowers—on the table, hanging on the door. An extremely beautiful woman whom Corinne hardly knew taking photos.
Two different kinds of cake. And coffee. And Alicia un-burping a Tupperware container of cream cheese mints. “They’re so easy, Corinne, honestly. You could make them. It’s just cream cheese and butter and powdered sugar. Oh, and peppermint extract. It’s a good thing Shannon called me yesterday morning—they have to chill overnight.”
There were no speeches. There was music. All of Enoch’s not-quite-country indie rock. Corinne and Enoch, relieved to be sitting. Relieved to be married. Relieved to have finally pulled the trigger. To have crossed from one hard place over to a new one. To have settled something, finally, that had started between them when they were too young to sort it out.
“We don’t have to dance,” Enoch said. “I know it’s awkward.”
Corinne stood up. “I’m not denying you the only thing you actually asked for.”
“I asked you to spend the rest of your life with me.”
“Only after I already said that I would.” She pulled on his arm. “Come on.”
He went to cue up the music. Corinne waited for him.
“I’ve never been to a wedding with dancing,” Alicia said eagerly. “This is just like in the movies.”
Enoch had chosen “The Luckiest” by Ben Folds, something they could just sway to. It was extremely awkward, with only three people watching. When Corinne glanced over at them, Shannon and Natalie seemed lost in their own thing, thank God. Alicia was crying again.
“Is this song all right?” Enoch rumbled.
“It’s perfect,” Corinne said. (She couldn’t tell him that she would have chosen a Stevie Wonder song that he’d roller-skated to with someone else.)
“I’m so happy…” Enoch whispered. And it occurred to Corinne that he hadn’t had this the first time. That he hadn’t been to a wedding with dancing either.
“You’re all I want,” Corinne whispered back. And it was absolutely true.
There wasn’t any reason to stay long. No one had much to say. They all ate too much cake. Corinne ate so many mints.
Alicia hugged her for the tenth time when she left. “I’m taking credit for this,” Alicia said.
“Alicia, I’ve known Enoch for twenty-five years.”
“I’m still taking credit.”
Natalie went to pack up the extra cake. Enoch carried the card table back to wherever it came from.
That left Corinne with Shannon Frank.
“You should take all the flowers,” Shannon said.
“You and Natalie should take them.”
Shannon was unpinning a swag hanging from the door. “Don’t be stupid.”
“Shannon, I—”
“Corinne, we don’t have to have a moment. I swear.”
“I’m sorry I slept with your fiancé,” Corinne spat out anyway.
Shannon slowly turned toward her. Looking genuinely surprised. “I thought you were going to thank me.”
“Also, thank you,” Corinne said. “But mostly—I’m sorry.”
Shannon’s mouth was flat and mean. (Corinne always thought Shannon looked mean; maybe that was just her face.) “Corinne,” she said, “I’m sorry I married the love of your life.”
“That’s not really on you,” Corinne said. “You can’t apologize for that.”
Shannon cocked her head, taking that in. It really wasn’t on her. Marrying Enoch had been a mistake, but not because Corinne had any claim on him. “All right,” Shannon said, “how about this—I’m sorry I talked so much shit about you at church.”
Corinne pointed at her. “I knew it!”
Shannon laughed and shook her head.
The moment was over by the time Natalie and Enoch came back, and Corinne wasn’t ever expecting to have another one. Corinne thanked Natalie profusely. She thanked Natalie’s parents, who emerged from the kitchen to offer their congratulations.
She carried the leftover cake on her lap on the way home.
Home with Enoch Miller.
Her husband.