It was early evening when they walked outside, the sky the color of pink lemonade.

Not every man was sorry when he hurt a woman.

But surprises were nothing new to her. Like opening a can of mushroom soup and finding tomato instead; be grateful and eat it anyway.

Coffee, she'd discovered, was tied to all sorts of memories, different for each person. Sunday mornings, friendly get-togethers, a favorite grandfather long since gone, the AA meeting that saved their life. Coffee meant something to people. Most found their lives were miserable without it. Coffee was a lot like love that way. And because Rachel believed in love, she believed in coffee, too.

When your cup is empty, you do not mourn what is gone. Because if you do, you will miss the opportunity to fill it again.

He had a smug smile on his lips like he knew, even in his sleep, that women all around him were dying from love because he'd taken their hearts and hidden them where they'd never find them.

Some of the best people i know are fools', Evanelle said. 'The strongest people I know.