If relationships were hard, mariage was even harder... it seemed like most couples struggled. It went with the territory. What did Nana always say? Stick two different people with two different sets of expectations under one roof and it ain't always going to be shrimp and grits on Easter.

People were destined for one another; that's the romantic idea that young girls have, and I guess part of me still believes it.

When a person sets a thing in motion, there's a feeling of unease, almost regret, until you learn the truth.

I write 2,000 words a day when I write. It sometimes takes three hours, it sometimes takes five hours.

She was everything I wanted. She was beautiful and charming, with a quick sense of humor, and she supported me in everything I did.

So, it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? Thirty years from now, forty years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him- go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again, if I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out.

Not everything," he said. "Not the important things. My kids are safe. You're safe. That's all I really care about. This" - he said motioning - "is just stuff. Most of it can be replaced. It just takes time.