“There, on the far side of of the Atlantic, would be Maine, but despite the shared ocean, her island and this one were worlds apart. Where Inishmaan was gray and brown, its fragile man-made soil supporting only the hardiest of low-growing plants, the fertile Quinnipeague invited tall pines in droves, not to mention vegetables, flowers, and improbable, irrepressible herbs. Lifting her head, eyes closed now, she breathed in the damp Irish air and the bit of wood smoke that drifted on the cold ocean wind. Quinnipeague smelled of wood smoke, too, since early mornings there could be chilly, even in summer. But the wood smoke would clear by noon, giving way to the smell of lavender, balsam, and grass. If the winds were from the west, there would be fry smells from the Chowder House; if from the south, the earthiness of the clam flats; if from the northeast, the purity of sweet salt air.”

“The important part of growing older was the growing part. Resisting change meant forever standing still, which was a sad way to live.”

“So where does that leave me? I like hosting the show....It’s become my identity. If that’s gone, where am I?”

“Home development is about wishful thinking. It's about capturing a dream.”

“It feels like forever, like he's lived through the same things as me, like our lives ran parallel for years until last week, when they finally intersected and fused.”

“What she did have, after raising two children, was the equivalent of a PhD in mothering and my undying respect.”

“The question was whether James would love me if I was someone else.”

“Especially at a time when one's life was new, roots helped.”

“When the truth emerges, it can’t be ignored. Nor will it wait.”

“Confrontation is what happens when you are less than honest and you get caught.”

“Some women are born with an instinct for knowing how things work—and what to do when they break.”