“Novalee watched his lips shape the words...the sounds, like whispered secrets, hanging in the air.”

“Come on, Forney.'Novalee, it's a parasite.'But it's a tradition.'It's a parasite! And you expect people to stand under it and kiss?'Yes! it's what people do with mistletoe.”

“The money" The girl stiffened at something she heard in his voice, something jagged and sharp, like words torn by the blade of a knife.”

“You're dying right now. Right this minute.' He looked at his watch, said, 'Right this second,' then tapped it with his finger. 'See there? That second passed. It's gone. Not gonna come again. And while I'm talking to you, every second I'm talking, a second is passing. Gone. Count them up. Count them down. They're gone. Each one bringing you closer to your dying time.”

“Never act like you want it, darlin'. Act like you wouldn't own it if they paid you. Tell them it's dirty, broken...a useless thing. Then make an offer.”

“And the needles of the pine trees, freshly washed to a deep, rich green, shimmered with droplets that blinked like clear crystals.”

“Tell them that our lives can change with every breath we take. Lord, we both know that. Tell them to let go of what's gone because men like roger Briscoe never win. And tell them to hold on like hell to what they've got- each other, and a mother who would die for them, and almost did.”