“I live to make you smile, Josephine.”

“I couldn’t possibly love you any more than I already do. Josephine, my heart resides with you forevermore.” He remembers the quote on the back of my mother’s watch. The same quote my father said to my mother. My heart squeezes painfully and I swear I could die of contentment.”

“If you’re looking for lollipops and rainbows while you shop for the latest best seller, you best not come to me. I won’t chat you up and tell you how cute your kid is. I won’t smile and flirt. I won’t stroke your ego about the jewelry you are wearing or the shirt you have on. I will help you find what you need. I will recommend books and hell I even talk about what I liked about one book over another but all that other shit is just not my thing.”

“I am ashamed to admit that I have contemplated living versus ending it all.”

“The only thing I want from you is you.”

“Books are what you love. They are what you know. It's obviously your passion. I didn't want you to lose that. You've lost enough”

“You may not realize it yet, but you’re mine. Not because I am claiming you. You’re mine because that’s how it is.”