"Awkward," Ellie responds with a kind of cheerful sarcasm, raising her eyebrows. But she can see the connection for what it is, and appreciates it. Hey, another thing we have in common.

"Kind of a nuclear exit strategy, but happy to help," she adds, in a tone of casual needling. They're there now. Stephen can hang.

The joking passes, though, and Ellie finally fully sits down, leaning back against the crumbling wall.

"Your ex's wedding, though. That's rough."