“Blue was awfully fond of her father, considering she'd never met him.”

“She liked to imagine him stealing a glimpse of her over the backyard fence, proudly watching his strange daughter daydream under the beech tree. Blue was awfully fond of her father, considering she'd never met him.”

“She remembered when they were kids and he'd caught the rock that the bullies had thrown at her. At six, she'd considered him a hero.At sixteen, she considered him a heartbreaker.”

“Her father sagged as relief spread through him. “I thoughtsomething awful was happening.”She frowned. “Something awful was happening. It could havegot stuck in my hair.”

“And now here Annie was, allowing her day to become gloriously colored by a communication from a man she'd never even met.”

“She just laughed in his face and told him she'd sooner crawl in a bed with his father's leeches before she'd crawl in one with him. She stopped laughing when he put his knife in her.”