After a universal silence, Leo was the first to speak. “Did anyone else notice—” “Yes,” Catherine said. “What do you make of it?” “I haven’t decided yet.” Leo frowned and took a sip of port. “He’s not someone I would pair Bea with.” “Whom would you pair her with?” “Hanged if I know,” Leo said. “Someone with similar interests. The local veterinarian, perhaps?” “He’s eighty-three years old and deaf,” Catherine said. “They would never argue,” Leo pointed out.

This is how we court girls in America. We grab them and kiss them. And if they don't like it, we do it again, harder and longer, until they surrender. It saves us hours of witty repartee.

I never take advice, good or bad. That would only encourage more of it.

I had to let go of him. But I knew that as long as I lived, I would feel the phantompain of his absence.

Nature had squandered an unreasonable quantity of male beauty on this undeserving creature.

Sometimes when we're not paying attention, relation-ships happen. There is no rule that requires two people in love to be exactly alike.

I loved him so much, loved his fearlessness, his strength, even the ambition that would someday take him away from me.