By nine, Adrian had drunk more champagne than he realized.

He wasn’t unpleasant when drinking.

He became affectionate, boisterous, and incapable of telling a short story.

Evelyn had always found it endearing.

Vanessa was seated with Adrian’s old university friends.

She wore burgundy silk.

Evelyn noticed because Vanessa usually dressed in black, gray, or cream.

The color made her look younger.

Or perhaps merely more conspicuous.

During dinner, Vanessa rose unexpectedly.

Adrian’s brother handed her a microphone.

Evelyn looked at her husband.

“Did you know about this?”

He shook his head, smiling.

Vanessa tapped the microphone.

“Am I allowed thirty seconds?”

Someone shouted, “You never stop at thirty seconds.”

The room laughed.

Vanessa smiled.

“I’ve known Adrian for fifteen years, which means I’ve had the misfortune of witnessing almost every questionable decision he’s made as an adult.”

More laughter.

Adrian raised his glass.

“Careful.”

“He was an insufferable student, an ambitious young architect, and for a while, the only man I knew who thought owning a sofa was a concession to domesticity.”

Evelyn smiled.

Vanessa looked toward her.

“Then Evelyn came along.”

The room quieted.

Vanessa lifted her glass.

“Evelyn, you’ve given Adrian something the rest of us never quite managed to give him.”

Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

“Furniture?”

Laughter rolled through the room.

Vanessa smiled.

“Stability.”

The word landed strangely.

Vanessa continued.

“You gave him a home. A place to belong. A reason to stop wandering.”

Evelyn looked at Adrian.

His expression had softened.

Vanessa’s voice grew quieter.

“And whatever happens, I hope you know how extraordinary that is.”

A few people murmured appreciatively.

Adrian looked down at his glass.

Vanessa lifted hers.

“To Adrian and Evelyn.”

Everyone applauded.

Evelyn drank.

As Vanessa sat down, she glanced briefly at Adrian.

He didn’t meet her eyes.

It was a small moment.

Almost invisible.

Evelyn stored it without understanding why.

For the next hour, she was happy.

She danced with her father.

She laughed when Sophie stole a piece of cake before the cutting ceremony.

She let Adrian pull her onto the dance floor despite her aching feet.

He held her close.

“You’re my wife,” he said.

“You’ve noticed.”

“It’s strange.”

“We’ve been living together for six years.”

“Still.”

He kissed her forehead.

She rested her head against his chest.

His heartbeat was familiar.

She knew the rhythm of his breathing when he was tired.

She knew the warmth of his hands.

She closed her eyes.

For a little while, there was nothing in the world beyond the music and the man holding her.

Then Adrian’s friends joined them.

Vanessa appeared with a glass of champagne.

Someone requested an old song from their university years.

Adrian shouted with delight.

Vanessa laughed.

Several friends crowded around them, singing badly.

Evelyn didn’t know the words.

She stepped aside for water.

Near the bar, Sophie appeared.

“You look tired.”

“I’ve been standing for eight hours.”

“Your husband looks drunk.”

“He’s Irish on his mother’s side. This is apparently a cultural requirement.”

Sophie smiled.

Then her expression shifted.

Evelyn followed her gaze.

Adrian and Vanessa were dancing together.

It wasn’t particularly romantic.

They were laughing with the others.

Vanessa stumbled.

Adrian caught her around the waist.

She rested her hands on his shoulders.

Sophie looked away.

Evelyn noticed.

“Don’t.”

“I haven’t said anything.”

“You’re thinking loudly.”

Sophie took a sip of wine.

“I don’t like the way she looks at him.”

Evelyn sighed.

“She’s had too much champagne.”

“So has he.”

“It’s our wedding.”

“I know whose wedding it is.”

Evelyn looked at her sharply.

Sophie lifted both hands.

“Fine. I’ll behave.”

“Thank you.”

But Evelyn could feel her sister watching.

Twenty minutes later, the band finished a song.

The crowd began dispersing toward the bar.

Evelyn was walking back to the dance floor when she saw Vanessa stumble again.

Adrian reached for her.

She caught his shoulder.

Then, instead of moving away, she remained close.

Her fingers rose to his cheek.

Evelyn slowed.

Adrian didn’t pull back.

Vanessa said something.

He answered.

Her expression changed.

Then Evelyn heard her voice.

“You promised.”

Adrian glanced around.

“Not here.”

Vanessa gave a small, unhappy laugh.

“That’s what you always say.”

“Vanessa.”

“When, then?”

He lowered his voice.

“I told you I’d handle it.”

She shook her head.

“You told me after the wedding.”

Evelyn stopped walking.

Adrian tightened his hand around Vanessa’s waist.

“Please.”

Vanessa’s eyes filled.

“You said when this was over, we could stop pretending.”

Evelyn could hear the music beginning again behind her.

A drumbeat.

A few notes from the keyboard.

Somebody laughing near the bar.

She looked at Adrian’s hand.

Then at Vanessa’s face.

The room seemed to move farther away.

“What,” Evelyn asked, “did you promise her?”

Adrian turned.

For one second, he looked like a man who had walked into a room and forgotten why he was there.

His hand remained at Vanessa’s waist.

Vanessa stepped back.

Adrian released her.

Too late.

Evelyn looked from one to the other.

“I’m waiting.”

Adrian took a breath.

“Evie, let’s go somewhere private.”

“No.”