"Sounds like they were right, from what I can tell." She smiles at him, then her expression sobers somewhat. "You're back to butchering here, right? This place has really thrown a wrench in our lives. I wonder how many other Marci's and Dan's were left behind, how many other goals are now made fruitless."

She stops for a moment and looks down at the kitten before continuing, "Mr. Belevedere was about an English butler in an American household, and the mother of the family was pursing a law degree. That was all I wanted. House, husband, career, maybe kids down the line. Maybe just a couple of cats." Her expression sombers and she tugs the kitten up against her, where it licks her chin. "I got so close with Eddie. I guess, it's a blessing that things happened when they did, and not after the wedding." When it would have been harder to cut ties. "Is it foolish to hold onto that endgame here? When - the people here might leave at any moment, is it worth trying to chase that dream anymore?"