“she thinks about lying in here with alex, of the tangle of arms and rope, or lips. ”

“she thought about being held to the woman's chest, and lying there hair-smoothed and quiet until she felt she'd found home. ”

“jenna preferred to think of alice that way - like an art project, colors swirling inside her, rather than of how sick she was. ”

“he can see alice in wet leaves, first as kids, when they'd jump in them, then as teenagers, when she would lie on the cold ground and he'd cover her with red, orange, and yellow fallen leaves and he would wait for her, wait for her with his heart racing, hoping he hadn't covered her up so much she couldn't jump up, bringing them both to action. ”

“she uncurls danny's small fists and clasps his hand to hers and notices the way even in his sleep his fingers seem to know their way around hers; their hands together form their own organ, or an x, like on a map that insists you are here. ”

“You did respond—your response was the worst kind—you did nothing.”

“The task of any good cook, of any parent, is to be present- in the kitchen and out. To taste all the items, absorb each child's day, all those moments, and form them into the day's meals.”