But bottom line is you still a mother, Miss Lay. You still a mother.
-- Iris (Chapter 1)

Importance: The author enacts this quotation to further her thematic inspection of motherhood. While Laila Danville has been unable to carry a successful pregnancy, Iris assures her that the miscarriages were not her fault and do not make her any less of a mother. Both carrying her pregnancies and experiencing the pain of losing her children are valid experiences of motherhood.

Don't try to console me. I won't have any of it.
-- Josephine (Chapter 2)

Importance: Throughout the novel, Josephine identifies with her grief and does not work to move through it. She becomes frustrated with Landon for trying to comfort her because the grief contextualizes her role inside of the Melancon family. She knows how to be the disappointing daughter and unsuccessful successor to the family business. If she were to process her grief, she would be forced to confront...