A Fountain Filled with Blood Quotes

“Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion in joy.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“I’m trying to think…are you the florist?” Malcolm’s voice was slightly off, as if it were coming from someplace other than his own throat. ...

She took a sip from her own drink. “Nope. I like flowers as much as the next woman, but I can’t tell a dahlia from a daisy.”

“Or a lupine from a lobelia?” Hugh Parteger said.

“Or a carnation from a chrysanthemum.”

“You’re obviously not into floral sects,” he said.

She almost spit out a mouthful of kir royale laughing. ... “Mr. Parteger, I don’t discuss what I do in my garden bed with anyone.”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” he said. “For most women, it’s just a matter of finding the right tool.”

She took another drink, enjoying herself immensely. ... “Yes, but it’s such a tedious process, finding one that fits and works really well. Better just stick to hand weeding. Fewer complications that way.”

“Ah, so you’re a master gardener.”

She actually giggled. How mortifying. She took a long swallow from her drink. “As Voltaire said, we must cultivate our garden.”

“I believe he also said, ‘Once, a philosopher, twice, a pervert.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“And as for people shunning us because of our known association with homosexuals”—here she wiggled her eyebrows, because she sounded ridiculously like Joseph McCarthy—“I say we don’t want new members who would think like that. We want people who will admire us for taking a stand and who will say, ‘Yes, that’s Christianity; that’s how I want to live it and that’s the church I want to belong to.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“So you worked for the war industry but came to your senses!” [Margy Van Alstyne] darted a glance at her son. “What rank were you?”

“I was a captain when I resigned.” [Clare]

“Ha!” Margy Van Alstyne’s elbow caught Russ in the solar plexus. “She outranks you, son! Finally, a woman who can boss you around!”

“Every woman in my life bosses me around,” he muttered, rubbing his stomach.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“There are no agnostics in foxholes, she thought after hanging up, and I’m meeting a lot of folks in foxholes lately.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“I’m calling you from the booking room. There are about a dozen cops and guards here, and every one of ’em knows I arrested my own mother for disorderly conduct. You know what she kept calling me in front of the bondsman?” [Russ] dropped his voice further. “ ‘Sweetie!’ I’m never gonna live this down.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“[Clare}: “I am a very safe driver. And you’ve never had me drive you anywhere, so you can’t say otherwise. Can you?”

“I’ve let you drive me crazy,” [Russ] said. The second it was out of his mouth, he felt the tips of his ears go red. God! What an asinine thing to say!”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“Never mind. Just wondering when Lycra became the national fabric.” On the other hand, he thought, his attention riveted by one woman bending way over to retie her laces, there was something to be said for Lycra. He hadn’t seen that much of Linda until after they were married.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“You heard me. Bull. It’s that sort of attitude that allows homophobia to flourish. ‘They’re different. They’re not like us. We don’t know any. Don’t ask, don’t tell.’ ” She pushed away from the wall and pulled her hair back in both hands, twisting it. “I saw the same sort of crap in the army. Force people to hide who and what they are and then act surprised that you’ve created a culture where it’s okay to make fag jokes and harass people who act ‘funny.’ How do you convince Joe Six-Pack that being gay’s not a fate worse than death when it is a fate worse than death if you’re found out?”

“Clare, I’m trying to solve a pair of assault cases here. I’m sorry, but eradicating prejudice and stupidity are beyond the scope of my job. As is reforming the U.S. Army.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood

“Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to reach out to God the Comforter if you feel the urge. You can always go back to being an agnostic after Emil is well. I won’t tell on you.”
― Julia Spencer-Fleming, A Fountain Filled with Blood