Shame on you, she said to Jack. I’m sorry, Melinda. But someone had to knock the shit out of this asshole at least once, and if Preacher had done that, this idiot would never walk again. Well, if you...
Oh, my God, she said, looking at Jack’s face. It’s much worse than it looks, he told her. What in the world happened? I got too close to the rear end of a mule.
Not much that happened on the beach got by Charlie Simmons. He was fourteen and his mother was the nurse who tended Winnie Banks, a lady with ALS who lived on the hill overlooking the beach. Charlie c...
No one should make you cry like this. Tell me who he is. I’ll kill him for you. I wasted so much time on him, she said with a hiccup of emotion. He kissed her eyes. He’s a dick, he said. Worse. He’s a...
No one deserves cruelty of any kind. Not on their worst day. Just
Nikki— I had a wonderful weekend with you. You left too soon and broke my heart. I want to talk to you again, see you again, and according to Vanni, you don’t want to be contacted by me. I don’t know...
My God, thank you for bringing her. It’s like a trip into the past. Hannah looks just like her. My sweet little Terri. And Vanni was reminded, not for the first time, that the loss of a child is proba...
Mel was fascinated by the way they talked about their women with lusty smiles and glittering eyes. No jokes about the old ball and chain here. Rather, they sounded as though they couldn’t wait to get...
Mel came into the bar, the baby on her hip. She passed the baby right across the bar to Jack. Jack hefted the baby and said, Mr. Hadley, meet David, your future student. David laughed, put a finger in...
Maybe you can’t see the potential here, he said. I’m going to impress you, in that case. I’m already impressed, she said. It looks like a monumental job. Where I grew up, there were a bunch of old cab...
Mac, my dear friend, here is something you should probably know about women without being told. We don’t want to have to tell a man we need to be wanted. We’d really like that to come naturally. We’d...
Luke was ready to put down roots. He was just scared to death to ask anyone like Shelby to take that on. Because she might change her mind. And that would kill him. So
Listen, I was wanting to ask you a couple of things. Like about your daddy. What do you know about your daddy? She turned back to the stove again, very busy, very intent on her imaginary project. He h...
Let me stay over, he said. No. I have things to get ready for tomorrow. I teach a couple of classes on Monday and Thursday mornings and keep office hours for students in the afternoons. Then I work my...
Jack, she said breathlessly. You’re going to have to take a look. Get the flashlight and shine it right on my pelvic floor. See if the birth canal is opening. Tell me if you see him coming. How will I...
Jack threw back the shot and when he brought back his head, his eyes were misting over. My wife, he said in a whisper. You have no idea the strength that took. She was amazing. I watched her face—she...
Jack scowled blackly as Nick came up behind her. He couldn’t see what was happening through the crowd, but he noted that a smile grew on Nick’s face just as Mel’s chin rose up, her eyes grew round and...
I’ve been trying to think of the best way to get in touch with you. I found your address, but no phone number, and I— You know where I live? He looked around a little nervously; she made it sound as i...
I’m hoping for a girl, he said. Are you? I have an idea you might cut me off at two. I’m not wild about throwing up or waddling, but I sure love carrying around a little piece of you. You’re right—you...
I’m going to do that, you know. I’m going to be with Paige when the baby comes. I’m dying to do that. Well, I hope you’re more prepared than I was. It really took me by surprise. But you don’t regret...