“Ah!' said David, twiddling his fingers with glee as she poured him a cup. 'May the sun shine upon your splendid bosom in all eight kingdoms, Sarah lass!”

“He tossed the deck to David. 'You get first deal.''I've got one hand.' 'Right, then. Deal those cards, Max, and let's have ourselves a game.”

“Beware the flatterers of the world...for what is music to the ears may be poison to the soul.”

“Once upon a time, out of nowhere a car appeared and headed straight for Mal Bennett. 'Long time, no see,' the engine roared, and the clanging muffler agreed. The car embraced Mal, really soul-kissed him, then said 'Farewell,' tossing him back onto his beloved, sacred lawn.”

“Sarah wonders if whatever secrets Grace is protecting feel the same as her own, sometimes just fuzzy and ticklish, like a littler of kittens trying to climb and paw their way out, and sometimes with claws bared, kittens grown to tigers, camouflaged but always ready to spring.”

“His was cancer of the left lung; she had lost two breasts. Her grey eyes narrowed but did not tear when she said brightly, 'I'm not forgetful, they're not misplaced boobs, you understand. They're gone.”

“Bruised, she spent the night with him; bruised, too, he held her as close as he could. It was all done, promised, and decided on.”