She had never been without a book for as long as she could remember. An only child never is. - Kate Atkinson

Afterwards — because it turned out that there was to be an afterwards for Teddy — he resolved that he would try always to be kind. It was the best he could do. It was all that he could do. And it might be love, after all.

(“An eye for an eye,” Mac said at the squadron reunion. Until everyone was blind, Teddy wondered?)

I'm always so glad,' Sylvie murmured, 'that I don't have to take a turn at being other people.'
'You're very good at being yourself,' Ursula said, aware that it didn't necessarily sound like a compliment.
'Well, I've had years of practice.