There was a certain power beautiful mothers held over their less beautiful daughters.

But relying on one person for your every need is so dangerous. One set of hands isn't enough to keep you from falling.

Her life was monotonous, but it kept her out of trouble. . . . This, her father would say, was called being an adult.

When people believe you have something to give, something no one else has, they'll go to great lengths and pay a lot of money for it.

I should let people in. If they leave, they leave. If I break, I break. It happens to everyone. Right?

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.

Children always know when their mothers are crazy - they just never admit it, not out loud, to anyone.