The Sinclairs are athletic, tall, and handsome. We are old-money Democrats. Our smiles are wide, our chins square, and our tennis serves aggressive.
-- Cadence (Part One: Welcome — Chapter 1 paragraph 5)

Importance: In her introduction to her story and her family, Cadence gives the basic requirements for the members of her family.

My story starts before the accident. June of the summer I was fifteen, my father ran off with some woman he loved more than us.
-- Cadence (Part One: Welcome — Chapter 2 paragraph 13)

Importance: Cadence believes the tragedy that ended in the fire at Beechwood Island began when her father divorced her mother. This divorce left her mother dependent for her living on the trust fund money that was allotted to her, and, thus, desperate to stay in her father’s good graces.

One day I looked at Gat, lying in the Clairmont hammock with a book, and he seemed, well, like he was mine. Like he was my particular person.
-- Cadence (Part One: Welcome — Chapter 5 paragraph 38)

Importance: Although Gat and Cadence are...