Jose Rivera

Dear Claire. "What" and "If" are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What... if? What, if? What *if*...? I don't know how your story ended, but if what you felt then was true love, then it's never too late. If it was true then, why wouldn't it be true now? You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feels like - a love to leave loved ones for, a love to cross oceans for - but I'd like to believe if I ever were to feel it, that I'd have the courage to seize it. And, Claire, if you didn't, I hope one day that you will. All my love, Juliet.

Charlie doesn't approve, which makes it all the more fun.

Oh, of course it is. Her mother chose to leave her. You always knew your parents loved you.

He loved the earth. He loved talking to me about the rain and the springs of fresh water, and we'd walk for miles and miles. We'd lie in the dry grass. l can still remember the smell of his sweet, hot sweat and...

Charlie's just like my husband. Both skeptics. My husband always insisted that love was nothing but hormones. But you see, underneath, he had such a warm, passionate heart. And Charlie's just the same.

An angel brought you to me.

Because the truth is, Sophie, I am madly, truly, deeply, passionately in love with you.

Listen. Listen to me very carefully. I live in London, a gorgeous, vibrant, historic city that I happen to love living in. You live in New York, which is highly overrated... But since the Atlantic Ocean is a bit wide to cross every day, swimming, boating or flying, I suggest we flip for it... And if those terms are unacceptable, leaving London will be a pleasure, as long as you're waiting for me on the other side. 'Cause the truth is, I am Madly, Deeply, Truly, Passionately in Love with You.

Well, wouldn't this be nice, Gran? Going from a boy who works the fields to a man who owns them. And you got to skip the messy bits.

It's over! We're done! We've found Nemo!

You're not here 'because you're some romantic who wants to believe in love lasting forever! You're here for the story. Here to see how it all ends! It doesn't matter to you if it's a happy ending or a sad ending as long as it's compelling, right? As long as there's drama.

I'm just looking out for her!

She's dealt with enough grief in her life! She's lost her husband, her daughter and her son-in-law! Now, *you* come along and set her up to lose someone she already lost fifty years ago! But why should I expect you to anything? You don't know ANYTHING about loss!

l honestly think she has no interest meeting a woman that can manage to jam, ''Oh, my God'' and ''awesome'' into the same sentence.

Oh, you mean - oh well, at least l'm not Romeo.

No, no, no, because you see, if l found the love of my life, l wouldn't stand there like an idiot whispering in a garden. l would just grab her from that blasted balcony and be done with it.

lt's nearly tomorrow and l don't want to go.