Blank-slate friendships were thin and temperamental. She knew that. There was no history there to cement people together, for better or worse.

When you're happy for yourself, it fills you. When you're happy for someone else, it pours over.

Every life needs a little space. It leaves room for good things to enter it.

Some men you know are Southern before they ever say a word," Julia said as she and Emily watched Sawyer's progress, helpless, almost as if they couldn't look away. "They remind you of something good--picnics or carrying sparklers around at night. Southern men will hold doors open for you, they'll hold you after you yell at them, and they'll hold on to their pride no matter what. Be careful what they tell you, though. They have a way of making you believe anything, because they say it that way.

We're connected, as women. It's like a spiderweb. If one part of that web vibrates, if there's trouble, we all know it, but most of the time we're just too scared, or selfish, or insecure to help. But if we don't help each other, who will?

You can't change where you come from, but you can change where you go from here. Just like a book. If you don't like the ending, you make up a new one.

I spent so much time telling myself that this wasn't home that I started to believe it," she said carefully. "Belonging has always been tough for me." I can be your home," he said quietly. "Belong to me.