But that would leave Paxton to fend for herself, and the last thing any woman wanted in this kind of situation was to look around and see all the people who could help her to do nothing.

— Sarah Addison Allen

By knew all too well that there was a fine line when it came to grief. If you ignore it, it goes away, but then it always comes back when you least expect it. If you let it stay, if you make a place for it in your life, it gets too comfortable, and it never leaves. It was best to treat grief like a guest. You acknowledge it, you cater to it, then you send it on its way.

— Sarah Addison Allen

By wanted to say so much to her. She wanted to say that waking up is the most important part of grieving, that so many women in their family failed to do it, and she was proud of Kate for fighting her way back. But By didn't say anything. She could fix a lot of things, but family wasn't one of them. It was one of the hardest things she'd ever had to come to terms with.

— Sarah Addison Allen

Coffee, she'd discovered, was tied to all sorts of memories, different for each person. Sunday mornings, friendly get-togethers, a favorite grandfather long since gone, the AA meeting that saved their lives. Coffee meant something to people. Most found their lives were miserable without it. Coffee was a lot like love that way. And because Rachel believed in love, she believed in coffee, too.

— Sarah Addison Allen

Did I ever tell you about the day I finally let go of him? That day that led me to you?

— Sarah Addison Allen

Did you get rid of that sweater like I asked?"" Yes, Mother," José said." I wasn't trying to be mean the other day. It just doesn't look good on you."" Yes, Mother," José said. The truth was, that sweater, that color, looked good on her daughter. And every time she wore it, it hinted at something that scared Margaret. Josey was growing into her beauty. Margaret watched José leave. She used to be a beautiful woman, the most beautiful woman around. She brought out the photo again. But that was forever ago.

— Sarah Addison Allen

Don't be vain. What you look like doesn't matter. It's the deed that matters.

— Sarah Addison Allen

Every life needs a little space. It leaves room for good things to enter it.

— Sarah Addison Allen

...everyone knows that road, the one leading out of town into a deep green expanse of pastures and old farmhouses, which at first makes it seem like you're entering a fairy tale, something sweet and old-fashioned and lost in time. But, like all fairy tales, the beginning is always beautiful, a ruse to draw you into something you aren't anticipating.

— Sarah Addison Allen

Fate never promises to tell you everything up front. You aren't always shown the path in life you're supposed to take. But if there was one thing she'd learned in the past few weeks, it was that sometimes, when you're really lucky, you meet someone with a map.

— Sarah Addison Allen