“and sure enough, emmett's voice rose above the din. at some point, though, a mistake becomes a decision, whether you like it or not. in this, my husband and i were fundamentally different. in my opinion, a mistake required a getaway. ”

“also, i wanted to kiss you, said lola. come here, said emmett. ”

“as she walked back to her husband, lola thought about lying on her expensive sheets and holding a baby - their baby - to her breast. to the baby, lola would smell like a mother, and the ridiculous chandelier would look like stars. ”

“she had to admit the essential difference between Iain and herself: he believed in the possibility of a carnation-strewn, uncomplicated life, and Lola did not. perhaps Iain had thought he could convince her, but grew weary of the endeavor. ”

“When you are small, if you reach out, and nobody takes your hand, you stop reaching out, and reach inside, instead.”

“Is reading a sport?”

“Over time, the grueling job of a mother requires one to learn everything from patience to clinical psychology.When you are "in the fire," it is sometimes hard to recognize the value of what you are learning. But the da-to-day refining process--the problem solving, crisis resolution, mental stretching, mess clean-ups, sleep deprivation, and loving more than you thought possible truly makes you into a smart, aware, beautiful refined individual.The great secret is appreciating the refined person you are becoming through your trials.”