“She spent so much of her new life wanting to get a break from the kids, then the rest of her time impatient to get back to them.”

“She began to sacrifice that old identity to live in her new one. It was the new life, after all, that everyone wanted.”

“The new man was again staring at her, staring at him, challenging her, knowing that she was considering him, wanting her to know that he was considering her. She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be with a man who absolutely didn't need her, but merely wanted her.”

“A liar doesn't want to think that other people are liars, because then the other people should suspect her of lying too, because she is, and she'll get caught.”

“Plus she had to admit that a small part of her secrecy was that she was holding something back, for herself. If she never told Dexter the truth, she was still reserving the right to return to her old life. To one day be a covert operative again. To be a person who could keep the largest secrets from everyone, including her husband, forever.”

“Back before her life had begun to unravel. Or before she knew it was unraveling.”

“So she forgave him. And instead she berated herself for her suspicion, for her snooping. For the things she promised herself she wouldn't do, the feelings she wouldn't have.”