She has heard the story innumerable times. How no one knew her mother was pregnant, including her mother. "My age, who thought about being pregnant at forty-six? My baby days were over. So I thought. But somebody else thought otherwise." A flirtatious little look at Rachel's father. "And then I'm heavyset and my weight goes up and down all the time, so I thought I was gaining a little weight. Until you began kicking inside me. Was I surprised!" Chapter 1, p. 8.

"He wouldn't have to be a waiter right now if he'd graduated from Harvard. Well, knowing Jeremy, he might have ended up being the best educated waiter in the United States." Chapter 3, p. 15.

"Ms. Sycora" - saying Ms. had been her first mistake - "Ms. Sycora, in your opinion, is it possible for someone young to break into the writing field? Or do you need to be...