“I turned my face to let his nose rub my cheek. "Mason, let's just stay here," I told him breathlessly.He chuckled, huskily and dangerously. "Oh, no, absolutely not. I'm not to be trusted with you alone right now.”

“I rubbed my face with my hands. “Oh, God, what are You getting us into?” Olivia chuckled. “That’s an interesting way to put it. But I think sometimes the Lord puts us into impossible situations—or lets us get into them ourselves—just so He can show His might and power as He pulls us out.”

“How did you know I was here in town?""The old quarter here in Cadence is my neighborhood now," she said smoothly,"Let's just say I have my sources.""Right", He nodded, evidently satisfied and picked up his sandwich. "your mother phoned and told you I was on my way here to Cadence.”

“Gennie, let me tell you something." In an uncharacteristic gesture, he stroked his knuckles gently over her cheek. "I wouldn't be here right now if I could stay away from you.Is that enough for you?”

“Joel’s face swam across my vision and I blinked, goose bumps running up my arms. I shook his memory away, determined to stay focused, although my heart caved at the thought of his last words to us, right here in this very spot: Take care of each other. I’d be damned if I was going to let him down now.”

“...You're going to stay here and help Daran in every way you can. Don't let him sink into melancholia the way his father has...Now, pull yourself together. Blow your nose and fix your face. Daran's talking to the Rivan Warder right now. I'll take you to where they are, and then I have to leave.""You're not even going to stay for the funeral?""I've got the funeral in my heart, Pol, the same as you have. No amount of ceremony's going to make it go away. Now go fix your face. You look awful.”