I figured if I told it to myself often enough, I would start believing it.

My parents never said it. They thought you shouldn't wear out the words

Anyone who had ever read a novel knew that governesses were supposed to be meek and downtrodden.

Dane was shaking his head firmly. "Don't bring it here, Ella. No babies." I gave him a dark look. "What if it were a baby polar bear or a baby Galapagos penguin? I bet you'd want it then." "I'd make an exception for endangered species," he allowed. "This baby is endangered. It's with my mother.

Sometimes silence was easiest, when the only word left was good-bye.

The feelings cut too deep for them to be put on display.

I lacked some essential skill for attracting people, for giving and receiving love easily. It meant too much to me. I seemed to be driving away the people I most wanted. Finally I had realized that getting someone to love you was like trying to coax a bird to perch on your finger . . . it wouldn't happen unless you stopped trying so hard.