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““Love is a stream of water,” says Ask. “It can erode a mountain into grains of sand. But a stream of water is also easily broken. Don’t take love for granted.” Linda tries to perceive the wisdom of this. But love can be taken in so many ways, too, and she is thinking not of the passion of a woman for her man but of the bond between a mother and her daughter left behind.”

“Carmen reached out and tucked back a strand of Nina’s hair. The dachshund had ears like heavy silk. Everything in Carmen’s life had slowed down all of a sudden in the presence of this small child. She saw water lapping the sides of the Espinas’ tub, spilling onto the tiled floor, and slipping into the basement through imperceptible cracks. She felt it moving in currents above Danny’s apartment…”

“She calls him honey. He calls her hey. Her voice is a lynx coat. His hands go to his pockets. She murmurs into his hair. Rainey watches like she knows them. The wife glances at Rainey and Rainey smiles at her, a slowball smile that says, There is no house I can’t break into.

She can’t wait to tell Tina: My God, it was like the first kiss ever. It was like we had the same mouth.”

“Rainey takes Howard’s bomber jacket off a hook in the foyer. Her father is now tearing his hair over the piano damage. In his jacket pockets are Kools and a yellow BIC lighter, keys, and a bunch of bills. Jammed in a sleeve is a thrift-shop ruby cashmere scarf, a gift from Rainey’s mother. This jacket could nurture her for days.”

“King Jupiter whips his hand up as if to slap Rainey’s face, then freezes it inches from her skin. But Rainey doesn’t blink. She picks her father’s pack of Kools from the mess on the rug and lights one. Two things make her proud in this world: what she achieves, which is her art, and what she denies to others, which is satisfaction. She’s not giving him a damn thing.”

“His gaze slid over to her. A bridge formed between them, gold and silver strands shining in the watery sun. He looked older than her by at least several years. He would be skipping class too…He did not take his eyes off her. She tipped her head and smiled down at him. After a moment, he …ambled up the steps slowly till he reached her. The silvery bridge collapsed into thin air. They did not need it anymore.”