“I pinched tendrils of periwinkle at the roots until they hung in long, limp strands, and grabbed a dozen bright white spider… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“Have you ever given anyone a red rose?" Grant asked. I looked at him as if he was trying to force-feed me… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“When my hunger grew to the point of distraction, I climbed onto buses and rode to the Marina, Fillmore Street, or Pacific… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“I would keep her, and raise her, and love her, even if she had to teach me how to do it.” — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“Sitting under a tree, I studied my options. The fall flowers were in full bloom: verbena, goldenrod, chrysanthemum, and a late-blooming rose.… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“At the end of each day, Elizabeth read to me. She had shelves and shelves of children's classics, dusty hardcovers with stamped… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“I could have hired someone else. Someone less flawed, perhaps, or at least better at hiding it. But none of them would… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“Bowing my head, I dipped my nose into the bouquet I'd assembled. There was flax, and forget-me-not, and hazel. There were white… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
“Meredith Combs, the social worker responsible for selecting the stream of adoptive families that gave me back, wanted to talk to me… — Vanessa Diffenbaugh Copy Share Image
