For Nora, Ricky was one of the two linchpins of a daily existence that, between the house, the twins, the dog, and the job, was always in danger of tumbling out of control in some minor but annoying way, like a persistent itch.
-- Nora (chapter 2)

Importance: In this quote, Nora reflects on how much she needs Ricky in her life due to the daily maintenance tasks he performs around the house and in the neighborhood. The second linchpin is Charity, her nanny-turned-housekeeper. Both of these people are working class people of color, and this comment signifies that the affluent rely on the less affluent to stay afloat in their daily lives. This taut relationship between the classes is one of the major themes in the novel.

One of the things Nora hated about Charlie's new space was that it had made him friendlier with George. The trade-off was that it had made Charlie...
-- Nora (chapter 2)