Summary

In “The Widow Bride,” Chapter 1, on the way to the Lions Dinner, Imelda feels desperate to escape the car. Meanwhile, Maurice and Dickie talk “cool as can be” (167). PJ plays with his phone and Cass sulks about the Dublin apartment. When they arrive, Cass starts crying because Elaine took their classmate to the viewing. Imelda reminds her they need Maurice’s help for her future.

The hotel banquet room looks the same as it did 18 years prior. It is the same room where Imelda and Dickie were married. Throughout the night, Imelda’s mind slips into memories.

Imelda gets upset when she runs into Big Mike. She runs into others from the community, too. The women exclaim over the men who have been in love with Imelda over the years.

Imelda gets more upset when she sees “they’ve been...