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

“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.”

“I thought I was having a fucking stroke," I say as they free me from my coated elastic prison, making them laugh even harder.”

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

“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.”

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

“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.”