Summary

The night after her miserable dinner date with Cory (and her fortieth birthday, Merit goes to Jane’s house for their usual meetup. The pair call an Uber, which brings them out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Merit finds herself thrilled at the opportunity to act as a couple in public, and the pair share a number of intimate kisses while at the dinner table together. Jane invites Merit to her native country, Denmark, then gives her a birthday present, a small embroidered ring that has a design of a hummingbird on it in reference to Jane’s nickname for Merit, “Little Bird.” Overwhelmed with gratitude, Merit daringly suggests to Jane that she wants to divorce Cory and marry her instead. Although Jane is clearly flattered by this suggestion, she also cautions Merit that they are still early in...