“I'm beginning to perceive motherhood as a long, slow letting go, of which birth is just the first step.”

“In the world outside this glass room, songbirds are feeding and resting in the trees. Some will take off tonight and not land until they reach Venezuela. Sandpipers, plovers, and broad-winged hawks have already left for Patagonia and Panama. Bats are headed for caves in Kentucky and Tennessee. Out in the Atlantic, humpback whales pass by on their way to the Caribbean. Even now, Canada geese are honking toward us from Quebec. It is a good day for the beginnings of journeys.Every time I look at you, I think, Now I cannot die.”

“From the right to know and the duty to inquire flows the obligation to act.”

“Dodge, I'm going to tell you something.""Judging by your tone, you're going to have to kill me after. Frankly, I'd just as soon not known.”

“every night i say prayers for him just so he knows that when my dayends and i'm ready to dream he will always be one of the last wakingthoughts i have and perhaps one of the first dreams of my sleepingnight...”

“i'm going to marry you. i thought you'd like to know in case you wanted to buy a dress or something.”

“From what I know of you already, you have quite a reputation for providing customer satisfaction."Julie's cheeks burned. For Kate's benefit she said, "I try." "Oh, I'm certain you do more than try. You go all out." He paused for several beats. Then, "I've driven past the gallery thousands of times and always admired the works displayed in the windows. But I haven't had a reason to stop.""And now you did?""Now I did."She drew herself up. "Well, I'm sure Katherine will find the perfect piece for you. She's very knowledgeable.""He came to see you.""That's right, Ms. Rutledge. Not that Ms. Fields isn't perfectly charming and, I'm sure, knowledgeable." He shot Kate a smile over his shoulder, which she returned before he came back around to Julie. "But I'm placing myself in your very capable hands.”