Long Island

The day of Miriam’s wedding arrives, and Nancy greets Eilis but offers no smile, remaining very formal. She watches Eilis with a group of women and realizes that she is a completely different person now, glamorous and confident. As the ceremony begins, Nancy finds herself thinking of George and how we would be on this day. She grows emotional, and her daughter Laura nudges her not to cry, telling her to think of something happy. Nancy begins thinking of Jim, and for the rest of the ceremony she finds herself split between thoughts of George and Jim.

After the ceremony, Nancy listens to the speeches and continuously makes eye contact with Jim. As they dance together, Nancy thinks of how it is fate that brought her and Jim together, and she grows excited for their engagement. Later, Nancy speaks with Lily Devereux, who tells Nancy that her mother saw Jim in Cush. Nancy is confused, wondering why Jim, who shares every minute detail of his life with her, would not tell her about this. For the rest of the reception, Nancy is pulled in different directions, never having a real chance to see Jim again. When she decides that she will go home with him after seeing him with Eilis, her son tells her that Jim already left, though she finds his car still in the parking lot.