The evening room was smaller without people in it.
Tess stood just inside the door on Thursday afternoon, looking at the floor Mara had wanted to dance on. The string lights were switched off. A stack of chairs leaned against the wall, and their two boxes sat under the window where Ben had left them before the date changed.
They had brought some supplies before Mara decided to move the day. There hadn't been time to collect them then. Now Ben had arranged a quarter of an hour with the key, and Tess had offered to carry a box.
He was already crouching beside them.
“This one's lighter,” he said.
Tess took it. The handles had been cut into the cardboard, and the edge dug into her fingers.
“We can do them one at a time.”
“It's all right.”
She carried it toward the door, then stopped because the bottom shifted. Ben got up and put a hand underneath.
“Wait. Like this.”
They changed her grip. The box settled against her chest. Inside were folded cloths, packets of paper napkins and a few of the little jars. Something glass touched something glass.
“Slow,” Ben said.
“I am being slow.”
He let go. They carried the boxes to his car, set them in the boot and stood looking down at them.
“I said you cost the wedding,” Ben said.
Tess kept her hands on the edge of the car.
“You said I cost the dancing.”
“I meant all of it. I kept thinking it.”
She looked at him.
“That wasn't right,” he said. “I was angry. I thought if I could get the ring sorted, she'd want everything again.”
Tess brushed cardboard dust off her fingers.
“I did take it.”
“Yes.”
He didn't make that easy for her. She was grateful, although it hurt.
“But you didn't make us want different things,” he said.
She looked back toward the empty room. “No.”
Ben pulled one box farther into the boot.
“The shop's returning my deposit. I stopped it before buying the ring.”
“Good.”
“We lose ninety for this room and seventy-five for Monday. Mara paid Monday. I'll cover this.”
Tess opened her mouth, ready to offer. He shook his head before she said anything.
“Not you. We booked them. We're cancelling them.”
She closed her mouth again.
“No replacement,” he said. “Keep your two hundred and forty. You never sent it, and there's nothing to pay for now.”
She nodded. He shut the boot.
They returned the key through the office slot. There was no one there now to tell them they were sorry about the wedding, which suited Tess. She wasn't sure how either of them would answer.
Ben drove back to the flat. Mara was out. Tess had brought the few unused materials still at her own place, and she carried those upstairs too.
The kitchen table was clear.
That surprised her. For weeks there had been something on it: names, jars, ribbon, a room plan, the three sauce bowls. Now there was a folded tea towel and one spoon.
Ben set his box down on the floor.
“She put the cards away,” he said.
Tess nodded. She laid her packet beside the box.
In the fridge door she could see the edge of a sauce bottle. The orange-tasting one. Mara had fed them both almost a whole crisp at once and tried to stop Ben choosing too quickly. Tess remembered his mouth open, waiting, while Mara was still making Tess laugh.
“Are you staying here?” she asked.
“For now. She's finding somewhere for a bit. We haven't sorted it all.”
“Right.”
He put his hand on the table. “She's still here tonight. Tomorrow too, probably.”
Tess was glad, and then felt uncomfortable about being glad. She didn't want to imagine either of them alone in a strange room.
“Have you eaten?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He looked at the fridge, then at her. He could have asked her to stay for tea. She could have offered to make it. Once, either of those things would have happened without thought.
Neither happened now.
“Thanks for the boxes,” he said.
“It's all right.”
At the door Tess stopped. “The ring. Where is it?”
Ben touched his jacket pocket. “I'll give it back when we can look at it without starting again.”
She nodded. She didn't ask whether Mara should keep it, or what it was worth, or anything else that didn't belong to her.
Ben held the door. Tess put on her coat and went downstairs with empty hands.