Well of course I'm concerned," she said with a pout, "because if we don't get that little hovel shipshape in less than a week, I won't inherit it. And then you'll go home and I'll have to live under the same roof as my mother.
-- Ev (chapter 4 paragraph 8)

Importance: Ev is a spoiled rich girl and she manipulates May into helping her clean her cottage, Bittersweet, for the summer. May later learns from Ev's father that Ev has a history of lying and using people and she has done this to May in order to get her cottage cleaned.

She's just--she's not--she's everything I'm afraid of becoming," I said finally, trying to explain something I'd never said out loud.
-- Mabel (chapter 4 paragraph 6)

Importance: Mabel can't stand her mother and is very impatient with her. Being able to spend the summer with the Winslows is a huge relief to Mabel who dreaded going home to be with her mother...