“He looked at her in complete devotion. “We made a little baby…”She smiled and giggled. “It wasn’t that hard either, was it?” “I don’t know about you but I was working pretty hard.”

“Christopher, baby, I love you. Completely. I love your looks and everything else about you.” She felt his hand enclose around hers. “I know you do. Ashleigh…I love you so much that it scares me. Everything I do, I have you in mind.”

“Christopher…you are the one that’s beautiful.” She lifted her head. “And not just on the inside. You’re beautiful on the outside, too. To me…you’re perfect.” She could see several emotions move across his face before his eyes half closed...“You say that to me…and if you’re not careful you might end up stuck with me.” It was a warning.”

“I never thought I’d have this.”

“We know you didn’t make it as a cop. We know you have a small gambling problem and a big drinking problem.” “Actually, it’s vice versa, Mr. Greenwal. But the good news is I don’t smoke. My mother smokes. Now that is a filthy habit.”

“I guess it's like James Joyce when he was a kid, you know. He hung out with all the great writers of the day, and he was a little kid, like, with tennis shoes on, and they said 'Look at this lame!' They didn't use those words in those days. They said 'God, here comes this nut.' And he told them, 'I'm great!' And he sat with them, and he loved to be with them, and it ended up that he was great.”

“An old expression--'she looks like she was weaned on a pickle'--came to my mind.”