When She Returned Quotes

“The problem with having a fairy-tale relationship story was how much other people were invested in keeping the fairy tale alive. It wasn’t just our story—it was everyone’s.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“It's just the small-town mentality of people not liking change and being resistant to anything that doesn't fall within their traditional ideologies.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“Once you’ve told a story so many times, it just becomes the truth.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I didn’t need to have a background in mental health to see she’d been brainwashed and indoctrinated with their propaganda. She’d obviously been coached. She was like an automaton trained to respond to certain trigger words.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“One of the worst things you could do to someone in the midst of tragedy was to give them a cliche because the intensity of the loss was too big.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I want to rid myself of my cancer,” I recited, like I’d heard others do so many times before at retreats and in meetings.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“One of the worst things you could do to someone in the midst of tragedy was to give them a cliché, because the intensity of the loss was too big. I’d heard it all after James died. Sometimes it was better to say nothing.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“Sometimes it was better to say nothing.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“There were things you told your best friend that you didn’t tell anyone else.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“He always said they had the kind of love that only came around once in a lifetime.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“Becoming a mom felt like I had forfeited all my rights in favor of others. It was my own idealistic view of perfect motherhood that got in my way, but still it felt like I never stopped cleaning or picking up after someone. I longed to do something besides the mundane tasks that made up my to-do list. I never really settled in to the stay-at-home-mom gig, even though I’d never admit it.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I don’t know who I am without him. I’ve always wondered who I might be on my own. But I feel like the world’s most terrible person for even having the thoughts.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I have no clue. Our conversation lasted all of two minutes. I’m not kidding. He said he’d fill me in on the details once I got down to the hospital.” He wasn’t any less choked up, falling to pieces still. “I need you there. You have to meet me down there. I can’t do this without you.” I slid my key into the lock. “I’m on the way.” No matter what had happened, they were still my family, and Abbi would need me as much as he did right now. She’d been too young to feel the devastation of her mom leaving before, but she’d feel the impact of this hit, and she would need me to help her through it, even if she didn’t know that yet.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“She’d never felt permanent to me, and I’d been collecting memories of my own as we went along, because I wasn’t getting stuck without any this time.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I don’t know anything about the law and babies,” I said. How could she have a baby with that monster? What did that make her? At least Shiloh was going to be with a family that would keep her away from them. Dean said there was a list a mile long of people who wanted to adopt babies.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I’m okay,” I lied. What did people do after their mother kidnapped them? Her arraignment was tomorrow, and they were charging her with kidnapping and obstructing justice, both felonies. They’d offered her a plea bargain for any information she gave them on Ray, but she had refused. No surprise.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I reached out and took his hand. “She’s delusional, Scott. That’s what you’ve never understood. I’m sure she used to be a rational and logical human being, but she’s been warped. But right now, we can’t focus on that. We need to go to Abbi. She needs us.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“Scott didn’t look convinced. I shared his skepticism. She couldn’t leave her abuser, but she could plan her daughter’s kidnapping?”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“It’s not that simple. You have to think of her as a domestic violence victim. Most women never leave their abusers, or if they do, it takes them an average of seven times before they’re successful,” Dean explained.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“Because she saw a picture? That’s all it took?” Scott asked. I couldn’t tell if he was disgusted or hurt. Maybe a combination of both.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I stopped midstride. “Wait? What are you saying? That she helped kidnap Abbi?” “Yes.” His voice cracked, thick with emotion. “How could I have been so stupid? I should’ve listened to you.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“They tried to kidnap Abbi. Oh my God. I can’t even believe this. How could I be such an idiot?” he sputtered. “Are you driving? It sounds like you’re driving. Why don’t you pull over and talk to me?” I flicked on the light above the nightstand. “I can’t pull over. I have to get down to the hospital. How did I not see this? You were right, Meredith. You were always right.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“Where were they taking me? The realization that she’d brought me to them on purpose hit me again and again, hardening my stomach into knots. I shook so hard my teeth chattered. Her betrayal hurt too much for tears. Why were they doing this to me?”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“I screamed No! so hard behind my tape it felt like my eyes would burst. “Hurry—we’ve got to move, Abner,” Mom said. I froze. It was the same voice she’d used in her home videos. “I told you I could do it,” she said. “I made the Lord proud. You know I did.” He laughed. “I missed you, my love.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“For a second, I almost followed her, but Shiloh’s breath against my chest gave me the courage I needed to turn and run into the night.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“She took a sip. “I still love him, you know. Even after everything that’s happened. All this time.” I assumed she was talking about Abner, because I shared the same conflict, but I followed her eyes to the gathering area and found them centered on Will.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“You should hear Will. He’s just like, ‘I don’t see what the big deal is; they’ll be back.’ Uh, they’re babies?” She rolled her eyes. “He would’ve let Abner get him pregnant if he could have.” I twisted toward her in shock. “Margo!” “You know it’s true.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“My skin stung as my teeth cut through my lower lip. He grabbed me by my hair and yanked me up, tightening his grip. “You do as the Lord commands. Do you understand me?”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“Abner, she’s just a baby. She doesn’t understand what you’re saying to her,” I said. “Nonsense. She knows exactly what’s going on. She’s willfully disobeying.” A knot of anxiety balled in my stomach. “I said, be quiet, child,” he told her another time, but her cries didn’t relent. Before I could stop him, he slapped his hand over her mouth, so big it covered her tiny nose and mouth. She quieted instantly. Her body writhed underneath his. “Quiet now. There you go. Quiet.” “Give her to me!” I screamed, ripping her from his hands. His hand smacked me across the face.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned

“It’s for when I’m away with the children. I have one too. Do not use it unless it is an emergency. I do not want to be interrupted during this critical period,” he said. “If something should happen to one of the children, then I will call you. Write both of these numbers down.”
― Lucinda Berry, When She Returned