Identity

by Nora Roberts

Graves and stones and words and music weren’t for the dead, but the living they left behind.

“Now, you can take as much time as you need to wallow, to sleep late, to rage, to curse whichever deity works best for you. You were victimized, and for a strong, smart woman—and you’re both—that’s devastating as much as it’s a pure pisser. When you’re finished, you’ll figure out what to do next.”

Trust me, I’m plenty pissed for you. So’s your mother, in her more delicate way. I’d like to kick that bastard’s balls blue before I twist his dick off at the root.” With a shrug, Olivia drank more coffee. “But that’s just not-so-delicate me.” “I can’t say exactly why,” Morgan said after a moment, “but that really helps.”

Karma’s not just a bitch, she’s a righteous bitch. And he won’t break you, because you won’t let him.

“I half expected him to tell me he’d go with me and make the deal so I didn’t screw it up. Instead he said taking responsibility for something that’s your fault means you’re not an asshole, but taking it for something that’s not makes you stupid. Or something like that.”

“Why bartending?” “Well, I get to hang out in bars—and stay sober. I like bars. I like people. You have to when you’re in hospitality.” “I’m in hospitality. I don’t especially like people.”

“That’s not fair.” Those eyes, those tiger eyes, went jungle fierce. “I don’t care about fair. I have no fucks to give about fair. I thought about what it would be like to lose someone I cared about, someone who mattered. I don’t like it, so it’s not happening. You matter.” “That’s really not fair.” She turned away, scrubbing her hands over her face. “I agree there. I didn’t want you to matter, but you do. So this is happening. It’s pushy, it’s not fair. Deal with it.”

I’d rather have hard truth than a gentle lie.”

“Fall’s bounty, winter’s waiting, spring’s beginning. But summer? It’s fruition.”

He didn’t slide out of affection into love, didn’t slip from attraction into forever, but fell long and hard. No safety system could have stopped the fall. It left him breathless, stunned, and a little bit pissed off.

Wasn’t it miraculous, Morgan thought, to have someone love who you are, and never stop?

“When you love someone, and love him hard, and you’re ready for him, you go after him. If he doesn’t love you back, and love you hard, if he’s not ready for you, that’s his loss. Love’s brave, Morgan. Love stands up.”