In fall 1983, Joan accompanied Barbara to shop for supplies for Daniel’s neighborhood gatherings. While shopping, Barbara revealed she had not sent Joan a wedding invitation to save costs and declared Joan could not bring a guest, dismissing the idea of Joan bringing a woman as inappropriate. Joan was stung by Barbara’s insinuations. Back at Daniel’s house, Daniel overruled Barbara and insisted Joan could bring a guest; Barbara relented with a condescending apology.

Driving to Vanessa’s, Joan fantasized about openly dancing with Vanessa at the wedding but resolved not to ask her to attend. That night, as they got ready for bed, Joan recounted the incident. Vanessa, initially cautious about the attention their appearance might draw, decided to go anyway in solidarity with Joan, joking about dancing with Frances and minimizing concerns by noting that many women bring friends to weddings.

At the ceremony, Frances served as flower girl, and Vanessa wore a simple navy dress. Joan, as maid of honor, watched Barbara and Daniel exchange vows and shared a meaningful glance with Vanessa during the sermon on love, silently promising similar devotion. During the reception, Joan sat with Vanessa and Frances across from Joan’s parents and observed a tender moment between her parents, recognizing their love story and reflecting on the life she longed to claim openly.

When Frances expressed dislike for Daniel, Vanessa diffused the moment with a playful detour to sneak brownies. Joan’s parents praised Vanessa as a good friend, prompting Joan to consider disclosing the truth but recalling the hostile social climate and deciding against it. Barbara and Daniel celebrated exuberantly, and Joan and Vanessa took Frances to her hotel room to sleep.

On the balcony, sharing beers, Vanessa apologized for not being able to offer a public, conventional partnership. She worried she had taken an easier life from Joan, listing daily public gestures they could not safely share. She then confessed that attending the wedding clarified her desire to marry Joan and imagined a home together, while acknowledging the costs. Joan, moved to tears, affirmed her love. Vanessa pledged to choose Joan every day and asked if that could be enough.

A week later, Joan fell ill and stayed home. Vanessa, preparing to travel, left homemade soup and called from a pay phone to check on her. She shared career-changing news: Antonio had assigned her to STS-LR9 with Steve, Hank, Griff, and Lydia, scheduled for just after Christmas 1984, about six weeks after Joan’s slated mission. Both celebrated that Vanessa would be going to space.