“Christ can forgive you," he whispered, though he didn't believe it. There wasn't a hint of compassion in those ice-blue eyes. "That's grand," she said. Her features became again those of the pleasant brown-haired nurse. She smiled, pulled the pillow… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
“I need to ask, are you afraid of spiders?" Nicholas blinked, suddenly caught off guard, "Yes, I'm afraid of spiders." "Were you always?" "What are you, a psychiatrist?" Pritam took a breath. He could feel Laine's eyes on him, appraising his line of questioning. "Is it possible that the trauma of losing your best friend as a child and the… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share
After Nicholas hung up the phone, he watched his mother carry buckets and garden tools across the couch grass toward a bed that would, come spring, be brightly ablaze as tropical coral with colorful arctotis, impatiens, and petunias. Katherine dug with hard chopping strokes, pulling out wandering jew and oxalis, tossing the uprooted weeds into a black pot beside her.… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share
“She put her tongue out and felt the raw edges of the torn silk. She looped her tongue around them and drew them into her teeth. Just a little bit, she thought, that's all I need to free my eyelids. She pulled the tasteless web between her teeth and ground, pulling her jaw down in a grimace - it felt… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share
“Laine slowly rolled out of bed. The queen size was one of the few new things in the house. But now, even the new bed felt tainted. It was an inner-spring monument to lies, a petri dish of mendacity she had shared with her faithless husband, and shared now with creeping dreams that flew from the light but left harsh… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share
“Laine taped the last box shut. That was it, then: All of Gavin's belongings put away; some for charity, some for the dump, some… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
“It's easy to love men when you're sixteen. Every year after that, it gets just a little bit harder. Or maybe men just get… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
“Laine had been very proud of herself last night. Nicholas had talked about ghosts and magic and woven a bit of a spell himself. He'd sounded so convincing, so logical, so sad, that she'd found herself wanting to believe him. But testing prods at his argument had made him angry, and long years with Gavin had taught her that angry,… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share
Hannah expected this to make her sob even more, but instead she found her tears drying up and her tummy growing warm. How dare… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
“A month ago, Gavin had given his employer four weeks' notice. "I'll get a job around here," he'd told her. "Something low-stress, part-time, maybe.… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
“And the kids?" "Quincy, nothing. All she wants to do is look for Saturn's rings and bring home every creature from the pound. Nelson,… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
“The rain thundered down so heavily that Pritam could imagine that space itself was made of water and was pouring through rents in the… — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
“Tears sprang from her eyes and she bit her lip to stop herself from howling at the bright pain.” — Stephen M. Irwin Copy Share Image
