Paul meets her gaze with his own, grey and steady.

He hasn't told Jen; it's in his look now, but then, he thinks, Kim knows that already.


There's silence for a moment, after that.

And eventually it's broken; Kevin makes a joke, and Dave asks a question; there's news to convey, and things to discuss, endlessly, as they've been discussing them all autumn -

- but the important things have been said.

His name is Darien.