"His leaving had been like snipping off the end of a rope - leaving two unraveling strands."
- Sarah Blakley-Cartwright
"Maybe Father Auguste is right," Henry started thoughtfully, rising from a bench. "Maybe we should wait."From the back of the tavern, Peter stifled a burst of laughter. Henry gripped the edge of the ta..."
"His face was glistening with cold. He was beautiful, the snow in his eyelashes like diamonds, the cool pink of his cheeks, the wet red of his lips. He was staggering toward her."I have to leave you." ..."
"He had held out shakily, like a tree that had been hacked down to its breaking point. But that kiss was the last swing, the final impact, and he gave in finally, felled."
"Take it easy, friend," siad Peter, regaining his balance, quickly understanding the condition Henry w"
"Henry...your father was a brave man."He continued attacking the metal with a sledgehammer, brutally hacking at the anvil. She wasn't sure he had heard her. Then, he stopped short, the hammer hanging h..."
"Valerie, I love you so much. I wanted you to have a normalchildhood—so I lived a double life. Hiding in plainsight. Living modestly.” He began to pace the room, thewords tumbling out of him. “I tried ..."
"Peter," she began. He looked up at her, and she could see the pain in his eyes. "I love you," she said freely. With Peter, she was laid bare; he extracted her from herself.Peter didn't know what to sa..."
"What was that about?" Henry's voice came out higher than he would have liked."Shh." Peter's eyes shifted around the square."I thought you cared about her," Henry said, careful to steady his voice this..."
"She didn't want to be considered a woman yet, wasn't ready to be the recipient of jewelry from men."