Marriages tended to harden like arteries, and she was more than thirty years into this one.
-- Willa (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote signifies the immense difficulty and strain on a person that a marriage presents. Willa often reverts to struggling with her role as the "fixer" in her marriage alongside Iano's penchant for being the more fun, free-wheeling parent.

Rose's temper had stung him before, but the renunciation of Boston was new.
-- Thatcher (chapter 2)

Importance: This quote signifies how much Rose keeps her true feelings to herself early on in their relationship. Rather than share how little she wishes to move to Boston, she keeps it to herself until the prospect is so unattractive that she must voice her opinions.

She’d offered to help with babysitting if Zeke wanted to look for work, but so far he seemed unable to look beyond the next hour. This was a mother’s torture, watching bruise-colored shadows spread beneath...
-- Willa (chapter 3)