“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.”

“That was not her husband; she knew him, and that was not him. But of course she didn’t really know him.”

“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.”

“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.”

“People who were too outgoing made her suspicious. She couldn't help but presume that all the loud noise was created to hide quiet lies.”

“Whatever her husband had done, it couldn't be as bad as what she herself had done.”