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it's not what you've done that will fill you with regret, but what you haven't done?
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Debbie Macomber |
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I wish you and Dad had known him the way I did," she said wistfully. "He's such a contradiction. Rough and surly on the outside, but gentle and compassionate on the inside." "It sounds as though you're describing your father." She pondered her mother's words. "Nolan is a lot like Daddy. Principled and proud. Independent to a fault. I didn't realize that in the beginning, only later."
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Debbie Macomber |
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And Marvin is?" "Oh, that's Elaine's husband." "Was Earl in the service?" Mary Jo shrugged. "She doesn't say. It's sort of hard to follow because each entry is only three or four lines. Joan writes in this shorthand way. 'Busy today,' 'no letter from Jacob,' that kind of thing." "Can I see the diary when we're finished eating?" "Oh, sure." They continued their meal, with Noelle--finally content--in her baby seat. Mack had obviously changed ..
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Debbie Macomber |
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To his credit, Cain had resisted as best he could, but it was as if she were the sun, spreading her glow and warmth over him. Without him ever meaning for it to happen, he found himself caught up in the centrifugal force that was Julia. He'd been swept up by the happiness he felt when he was with her, the feeling of belonging, which was something he hadn't felt in a good long while. It was like an elixir he was fast coming to crave.
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Debbie Macomber |
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At times he could be charming and gracious, which was what had made it so hard to leave him. His ability to be tender and loving was equal to his capacity to be deceptive and underhanded. He could rip out my heart and then be the first one to pick it up and hand it back to me.
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Debbie Macomber |
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hoped. Apparently Harry Dickinson's
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Debbie Macomber |
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I'm being very selfish with myself right now. Taking care of me, feeding my own soul.
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Debbie Macomber |
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Once she had her mind set on something she became an unstoppable force, forging ahead.
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Debbie Macomber |
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if he'd learned anything in his four-year marriage it was that women were rarely practical when it came to matters of the heart.
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Debbie Macomber |
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Sam snickered; the kid
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Debbie Macomber |
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Sadie was waiting in
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Debbie Macomber |
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Mine said I'd be good as new if I did something for someone else... (she) swore that showing kindness to others was the cure for any kind of unhappiness.
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Debbie Macomber |
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I feel claustrophobic. I need more than a couple of hours' light a day. I'm sick and tired of watching the sun set two hours after dawn. I need more light than this.
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Debbie Macomber |
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That was the problem, she no longer knew what she wanted. (Shrouded in grief and lost dreams, her joy had vanished, the same way laughter and singing had.)
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Debbie Macomber |
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she felt a quiet joy, an awareness that she could be happy again.
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Debbie Macomber |
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words, you want me to get an abortion.
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Debbie Macomber |
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Trying to discern what was different about them, she decided it was a new sense of life. They seemed to shimmer with it.
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Debbie Macomber |
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to her hair and makeup. This
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Debbie Macomber |
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The first," Elise repeated, and for reasons she could only guess at, being first gave her a sense of pleasure. She decided to buy those flowers for Aurora, after all."
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Debbie Macomber |
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Your mama did. We sat
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Debbie Macomber |
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aplomb. Sometimes the sheer bravado of her actions astonished
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Debbie Macomber |
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Norah, her younger sister, had managed to call her in Italy nearly a week ago about their father's heart attack. The connection had been bad and she'd had difficulty hearing, but Norah's sense of urgency had come clearly over the wire. Their father was gravely ill, and Steffie needed to hurry home--something that turned out to be much easier said than done.
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Debbie Macomber |
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one of the saddest things in life is to die with the music still inside us. There's tremendous talent in Peter that has been long denied. When I knew him, he was one of the most promising artists in college. His work was praised by staff and students alike. His potential was breathtaking.
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Debbie Macomber |
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Ellie," Phillip added forcefully. "Sit down and keep your mouth closed for once in your life. Our daughter loves a good man."
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Debbie Macomber |
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Beth's father waited until he had everyone's attention and then instructed them to join hands. He bowed his head. Sam did as well, although he had no idea what had concerned both of the women in the other man's life. "Good friends," Phillip said, "good meat. Good God, let's eat."
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Debbie Macomber |
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The gathering with Sam and Beth's parents had gone relatively well,
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Debbie Macomber |
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Men, especially sick ones, are the biggest babies on earth," Barbara said wryly. "They get a little virus and think someone should rush in to make a documentary about their life-threatening condition. My advice to you is let him wallow in his misery all by himself."
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Debbie Macomber |
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Not knowing what else to try, she got out her heavy cast-iron skillet and banged it against the top of the rad in hopes of reviving the ageing pipes. The noise was deafening, vibrating through the room like a jet aircraft crashing through the sound barrier.
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Debbie Macomber |
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In case you hadn't noticed, there isn't any heat in this place." Nolan set the baseball bat aside and moved to the far wall to look at the radiator. "What's wrong with it?" How like a man to ask stupid questions!"
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Debbie Macomber |
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Sam," Beth said, as she placed her hand on his arm. Looking at him, her eyes were full of love. "This is the Christmas surprise I mentioned. That beautiful young girl with that gift for music is your daughter, Luci."
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Debbie Macomber |
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Her life was her own now and if there was happiness to be found, it was up to her to seek it. She couldn't, wouldn't rely on anyone else ever again.
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Debbie Macomber |
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I've lived most of my life trying to please others. I don't think I can do that anymore.
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Debbie Macomber |
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Their relationship wouldn't be easy and the realities of a future with him were intimidating. Yet the strength of her attraction overcame her doubts.
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Debbie Macomber |
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It didn't take her more than a couple of seconds to realize that Nolan treated his car the same way he treated his raincoat. The front and back seat were cluttered with empty paper cups, old newspapers and several paperback novels. Mysteries, she noted. The great Nolan Adams read mysteries. A container filled with loose change was propped inside his ashtray.
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Debbie Macomber |
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I continued with my morning runs, avoiding the house on Bethel Street for the first few days. Another encounter with Nick Schwartz wasn't something I welcomed. Seeing how adamant he was, I had no wish to trespass on his land. I'll admit, though, I missed seeing Elvis.
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Debbie Macomber |
8b34d36
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Maryanne was much too furious to stand still. She paced her living room from one end to the other, her mind spitting and churning. A slow painful death was too good for Nolan Adams.
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Debbie Macomber |
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Furious, she grabbed his tie and jerked him into the apartment. "You can come inside," she said."
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Debbie Macomber |
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The mushrooms were grown in the shadow of the Washington rainforest, hand-picked by altar boys.
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Debbie Macomber |
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I once read that during the Civil War women of the south would soak these cloth buttons in perfume and then sew them into the collars of their men's shirts. That way the scent was a constant reminder of their loved ones waiting for them at home.
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Debbie Macomber |
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and loved and needed you. He begged me, Cathy, he begged me to set you free. A man doesn't do that kind of thing lightly. He loves you." "No, he doesn't," she contradicted forcefully. "If Steve had really cared for me he would never have married my sister." Grady's look was hard, resolute. "I didn't expect to love you. After the letter arrived I knew I should probably do the noble thing and send you to Steve. I guess these past weeks I was ..
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Debbie Macomber |
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rather write a letter, my mailing address is P.O. Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366. P.P.S. Special
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Debbie Macomber |
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a smile that would melt concrete.
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Debbie Macomber |
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Monica was deeply religious and had yet to distinguish the differences between faith and religion.
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Debbie Macomber |
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I fear Monica's steeped in the juices of her own self-righteousness. She struggles to be good under her own power and ignores all the help made available to her through faith.
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Debbie Macomber |