“Something I'm not ready to name works itself under the grip of Charlies death and loosens it, and keeps the nightmare at bay when I fall back asleep.”

“Does this public display of affection with my daughter on my front porch mean I'm stuck with you now?" he asks, opening the screen door for Harper.I'm not sure if I should laugh, so I hold back. "I'm afraid so.”

“Hey back,' I say, my voice low beside her ear. She shivers. I love that.”

“You should probably stay away from me," I say, resting my head on my knees. "I'm a mess.”

“I don't know if my life will ever be completely normal again, but something like normal is a good start.”

“He was the person all of us should be, but most of us aren't. And if I could have taken his place to buy him a little more time in the world, I'd have done it. I'm sorry I couldn't.”

“Yeah, well, I don't really want to kick you when you're down, but mostly for some crazy reason"- her face tilts up and she gives me this shy little grin-"I think you might be worth it.”