The Contract Quotes

“When you get older, Richard, you realize life is made up of moments. All sorts of them. Sad ones, good ones, and great ones. They make up the tapestry that is your life. Hold on to all of them—especially the great ones. They make the others easy to take.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“Without her, it was nothing.
Without her, I was nothing.
~Richard VanRyan”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“If you call me sweetheart, do I get to call you something, ah, special, too?”
“I’m not one for nicknames. What did you have in mind?”
“Something simple.”
I could live with that. “Like?”
“Dick,” she stated with a straight face.
“No.”
“Why not? It’s a short form of your name, and it, ah, suits you, on so many levels.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“When you get older, you realize life is made up of moments. All sorts of them. Sad ones, good ones, and great ones. They make up the tapestry that is your life. Hold on to all of them - especially the great ones. They make the others easy to take

-Penny”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“When you get older, you realize life is made up of moments. All sorts of them. Sad ones, good ones, and great ones. They make up the tapestry that is your life. Hold on to all of them - especially the great ones. They make the others easy to take.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“Love doesn’t make you weak. Real, honest love—it makes you strong.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I had fallen in love with her by building one small, new positive habit at a time. She had slowly replaced the bad ones, until they were gone, by simply being her.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, a mischievous smile curling her mouth. “Are you . . . are you pregnant, Richard?” “No,” I scoffed. “I was thinking one day, you would be.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“A voice spoke in my head, whispering maybe what she needed all along was someone to hold her up, rather than tear her down. That brought”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“How had I not noticed how deeply she’d become embedded
into my life? When our arrangement first started, the lines
were clearly drawn. Bit by bit, they disappeared until they
were non-existent. It all became as natural as breathing—
me watching her cook, her chatting with me over the desk,
sitting beside her while she watched TV, or even the quick
kiss she would drop on my head on her way up to bed. It
was simply a part of my daily life, just as making sure my
door was open so she could hear me snore was something I
did without thinking.
I had fallen in love with her by building one small, new
positive habit at a time. She had slowly replaced the bad
ones, until they were gone, by simply being herself.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I followed him to the car reflecting that without Katy there,
it wasn’t my home. It was the place where I lived.
Wherever she was right now, that was my home. Beside
her. I had to find her and bring her back. Then I could call
it home again.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I don’t know how to find Katy.”

“I suggest you do the same thing as you did with me today.
Start at the beginning.”

“What?”
“She and I talked a lot the day of Penny’s memorial. I think
I know where she may be. If you look hard enough, you’ll
find the answer in your home.”

“Tell me,” I urged. “Please.

“No. You need to figure this out. Get to know your wife
without help. If you try, if you think, you can do this,
Richard.” He squeezed my shoulder. “I have confidence.”

“What if I can’t?”

“Then you don’t want it badly enough. If you love her, if you
really love her, you’ll figure it out.” He paused and
regarded me thoughtfully. “I’m going to ask you a question.
I want you to answer me without thinking. I want your first
thought.”

I straightened my shoulders. I was good at that.

“Shoot.”

“Why do you love Katy?”

“Because she makes me look at the world in a different
way. She grounds me.” I lifted a shoulder in frustration of
how to explain.

“She makes life brighter. She showed me
what real love meant.”

He nodded. “I’ll drive you home now”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“She pulled me down, my head resting in the crook of her
neck. I couldn’t remember the last time I cried—most likely
when I was a child—but I cried now. I cried for the loss of a
woman I only knew for a brief time, yet came to mean so
much to me. Who, with her stories and fractured memories,
brought to life the woman I was married to—her words
showed me Katy’s goodness and light.

She and Katy showed me it was okay to feel, to trust,
and to love.
Because, in that one moment, I knew I was in love with my
wife”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I panicked when I realized she wasn’t referring to wanting
to go to bed. She was tired of life and being trapped in a
body that no longer worked, with a mind that left her
confused and forgetful.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I don’t dislike you. Far from it. I regret every nasty word, every lousy fucking errand I sent you on, and every dirty job I got you to do. I think you’re incredibly brave to have agreed to do this with me, and the reasons you did it are astonishing to me. You are selfless and kind, and the fact you’ve become so important to me is a testament to how special you are.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“Why did you marry her?”
“I couldn’t be without her.”
“And you didn’t say anything because?”I had no idea what Katharine had said, but I sensed I
needed to stick close to the truth.
I crouched down, meeting Penny’s eyes. “I married her fast
because I didn’t want to lose her. I need her in my life. We
were worried you wouldn’t approve, but I hoped once you
got to know me, you might be okay with the thought of her
marrying me.”
“She’s too good for you.”
I laughed because it was the truth. “I’m well aware of
that.”
“You should have asked me first.”
“You’re right, I should have. I apologize.”
“She says she’s happy.”
“I am, too.” I glanced over at Katharine, surprised at the
fact it was the truth. “She constantly amazes me.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“Forgive me
for that.”
“I did.”
I rolled her onto her back, hovering over her, staring down
into her face in the darkness. The lightning flashes lit up
her pale face, and the tears stood out in her eyes. “Forgive
me for all of it, Katharine.”
“I have.”
“How?” I whispered. “How can you be this forgiving? How
can you even stand to be around me?”
“Because you’re trying.”
“It’s that easy for you? A little effort on my part and you
forgive?”
“I had to forgive you to do this with you.”
“In order to make sure Penny was looked after.”
Hesitantly, she lifted her hand, cupping my cheek, her
fingers stroking my skin. “That was one reason.”
“What was the other?”
“I saw something—the day you told me about meeting with
Graham. I saw a different side of you. I thought . . .”
“Thought what?” I asked when her voice trailed off.
“I thought if I could help you get away from the poisonous
atmosphere of Anderson, maybe you could find the real
Richard.”
“The real Richard?”
“I think . . . I think you’re more than you let people see.
More than you let yourself see. I see more and more of thereal you coming out.”
I leaned into her touch, letting her words soak in. Idly, I
twisted a lock of her hair in my fingers, brushing the
silkiness of it between my fingers.
“What is the real me like?” I asked, my voice low, almost
pleading. I wanted to know her feelings—what she thought
of me.
“Strong, caring. Capable. Talented.” She paused and
sighed. “Kind.”
“You see things that aren’t there.”
“No, they are. You aren’t ready to see them yet. You will,”
she assured me.
I stared at her in wonder. Gentle didn’t describe her soul.
Not even close. I wasn’t sure I knew a word that did.
Angelic, maybe? Whatever it was, whatever she was, I
didn’t deserve her forgiveness, the high opinion she had of
me—and I certainly didn’t deserve her.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“Remembering how his mouth felt on mine. The way our bodies joined perfectly, the warmth of his form surrounding mine, and the way his voice sounded as he groaned out my name. Unable to take the barrage of memories, I stifled a sob and stood up, brushing off my jeans. Turning, I stopped, frozen. Standing in the waning light, tall and stern, hands buried in his coat pockets, staring at me, with an unfathomable expression, was Richard.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“had fallen in love with her by building one small, new positive habit at a time. She had slowly replaced the bad ones, until they were gone, by simply being her. With a groan, I let my head hit the back of my chair. I needed her back.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“You miss her, too.” Unable to speak, I nodded. She pulled me down, my head resting in the crook of her neck. I couldn’t remember the last time I cried—most likely when I was a child—but I cried now. I cried for the loss of a woman I only knew for a brief time, yet came to mean so much to me. Who, with her stories and fractured memories, brought to life the woman I was married to—her words showed me Katy’s goodness and light. She and Katy showed me it was okay to feel, to trust . . . and to love. Because, in that one moment, I knew I was in love with my wife. I yanked Katy to me, holding her tight. When my tears dried, I lifted my head, meeting her gentle gaze. The air between us changed from one of comfort and care to something charged and alive.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I didn’t spend money on clothes or fancy shoes because I didn’t have it. As good as it was, all my salary went to pay for Penny’s room. I lived in a tiny, awful place because it’s what I could afford. I shopped at discount stores and second-hand places because that was what I had to do. I made sure I was neat and presentable every day for you. I took all the horrid things you said and did, and ignored them, so I could keep my job, because by doing so, I made sure Penny was safe. “I agreed to be your fiancée because the money you’re paying me guarantees, until she dies, she will never be afraid or cold or not properly cared-for. I don’t care what you say or do, because your opinion means nothing. This is simply a job to me. As much as I hate it, I have to let you be the ass you are, because sadly, I need you as much as you need me right now.” She turned to leave but stopped. “Do I hope I can make you a better man and somehow fantasize you’ll fall in love with me? Not once has the thought even crossed my mind, Richard. You need a soul to love—and even an ‘emaciated scarecrow’ such as myself can see you don’t have one.” She drew in a deep breath. “And when this farce is over, I’ll walk away and start again somewhere else. When I no longer have to be subjected to your cruel jibes and uncaring ways, my life will be a much better place.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I want to keep it—act as if you can’t wait to get me home and fuck my brains out, and we can leave soon.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I stroked my chin with my finger. “Well, since fucking for fucking sake is off the table, I guess we need to figure that out. Unless you want to try?”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“My mother was like a dog with a bone, refusing to give an inch. She would harp away at my father who would eventually explode.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I think, if you try, you could be a great man.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“looking man, I know my way around”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“Anything I wanted I could have—even growing up, I was denied nothing material. Yet, I was never satisfied, because the one thing I wanted most, they never provided.

Love.”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract

“I didn’t have everything! Not without you! I had nothing, and without you, it all meant nothing! The one real thing I had, the one honest, real thing was you!”
― Melanie Moreland, The Contract