"The fact they couldn't cross over shouldn't be your problem. Let them find their own way."

"I'd like to, but that's not possible. I've explained this a million times."

"I know you have. But it would sure make it easier if I could see them. It's embarrassing when I sit on them all the time."

"That's not going to change. I'm not going to be given an assistant, either. When the day comes someone else is designated to take over, I'll probably be long gone."

"How are you going to deal with the crossers if we lose the resort?"

"I don't know. I just don't know,” Sadie said. “Why can't you be more like me and quit worrying."

"I don't want to be like you. I don't want people thinking I'm crazy because I talk to imaginary friends."

Glaring at her sister over the rim of her orange frames, Sadie said, “I think somebody messed up at the hospital when we were born."

"Oh not this again,” Jane said. “I'm tall. You're short. Big deal. That doesn't mean we're not twins."

"At least I don't have your fat ass."

"At least I'm not a boobless half-pint. And don't tell me you're not jealous. I know better,” Jane said.

Sadie stood and hurried to the door as Belly let out a high-pitched yelp. One end of the dog wagged frantically while the other end poked through the porch railing and whined at the man behind the Norway pine. A briefcase corner protruded from the edge of the tree.

To the right of the tree, several children in bathing suits jostled for position in front of an ice cream cart. Sadie winced with compassion when a child's chocolate ice cream tumbled from its cone and landed on the ground at the girl's feet. Heat waves rippled up from the pathway. The youngsters licked as fast as they could to catch the drops of melting ice cream before they trickled down their arms. The man peered around the tree at the children.