Vince slumped forward with a sigh. It was subtle, but David Attenborough noticed. The American male is signaling defeat. The documents required for the dissolution of his union with the American female are in the satchel he carries. Will he hand them over? It is not uncommon for an American male in this position to retreat in the hopes he will live to fight another day. See how he pauses with his hand in the satchel? But . . . there are the papers. He hands them over. He tries to catch the American female’s hand as he does so, but she’s too quick for him. The papers in hand, she retreats, moving to stand near to the European male and the small canine.

“Thanks, Vince,” Dani said, and suddenly her voice had more emotion in it.

“So this is it?” Vince said, holding out his palms as if she were robbing him. She was, in a way, Max supposed. She was taking herself from him. Her presence, her attention. Her all-around amazingness. Max had been gloating earlier, reveling in Dani’s obvious preference for him over Vince, but this was it. The end of a marriage. The culmination of a lot of struggle. And even though Dani was getting her wish, it was bound to be caught up in some mixed emotions.

“This is it,” Dani said quietly. “Goodbye, Vince.”

Max had the momentary fear that Vince wasn’t going to leave. He and Dani had nowhere to retreat, what with the mime upstairs. But Vince gave a little nod, said, “I’ll see you at work,” and turned to go.

They watched him in silence for what felt like an eternity. When he disappeared around a corner, Max turned to Dani.

She burst into tears.

Oh, shit. He closed the space between them and took her in his arms. He thought about saying something meant to comfort but decided not to. He simply held her.

After a few seconds, she pulled back and started trying to apologize.

“None of that.” He led her back to the ledge she’d been sitting on before, settled them both on it, and slung one arm around her shoulder.

“But why am I crying? I’m glad.” She shook the papers she was still holding. “I’m relieved. This is what I want.”

“Well, it’s still the end of an era, isn’t it?”

She blew out a breath and swiped at her eyes. “I guess it is. I’m mostly still so mad at myself. I wasted so much time with him. What was the matter with me? Where was my judgment?”