I tend not to think about the reading public at all, or the business, when I'm writing.

They grew fat and happy--the horses, not the children, or Marlena for that matter.

Do you have any idea how much an elephant drinks?

But it all zipped by. One minute Marlena and I were up to our eyeballs, and the next thing we knew the kids were borrowing the car and fleeing the coop for college. And now, here I am. In my nineties and alone.

I stroke her lightly, memorizing her body. I want her to melt into me, like butter on toast. I want to absorb her and walk around for the rest of my days with her encased in my skin. I lie motionless, savoring the feeling of her body against mine. I'm afraid to breathe in case I break the spell.

I want her to melt into me, like butter on toast. I want to absorb her and walk around for the rest of my days with her encased in my skin. I want.

I stare at her for a long moment. I want to kiss her. I want to kiss her more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.