Jennifer

“Sophia," he said softly. "Come here."
She ignored the command and fled, her high-pitched voice floating behind her. "I'll return soon..."
Despite his acute frustration, Ross could not prevent a rumble of moody laughter in his chest. "Go, then," he said, dropping his head back on the pillow. "You can't avoid me forever.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Lady Sophia's Lover

“I know what it does to you, I know. Maybe that's why we hold on as hard as we do. We just can't believe that such a miracle can happen to us twice. But it can, someday you'll find it again.”
― Laura Zigman, Animal Husbandry

“I hope you do not let anyone else's expectations direct the course of your life.”
― Julianne Donaldson, Edenbrooke

“I don’t know why Eleanor had to die in such a manner,” Sophia said. “It wasn’t her fault, and it certainly wasn’t yours. It was beyond your control. Until you stop holding yourself responsible for what happened to her, you will continue to be haunted by the past. And in punishing yourself, you will punish me as well.” “No,” he breathed, clumsily stroking her hair, her neck, her back. “Your guilt does her no honor.” Sophia drew back to stare into his contorted face. “Eleanor would have hated to know that you were worse off for having loved her.” “I’m not!” “Then prove it,” she challenged, her own eyes misting with emotion. “Live as she would have wanted, and don’t blame yourself any longer.”
― Lisa Kleypas, Lady Sophia's Lover