The Ship of Brides

the only people who still have all the answers are those who have never been faced with the questions

Very few troubles in life couldn’t be lessened by a nice smile—that was what her mother always said.

the only people who still have all the answers are those who have never been faced with the questions.

Margaret laughed. “Sure thing. Sorry, Ave. I’ll go and get the tea.” Ave. If Avice had been feeling less awful, she would have corrected her: there was nothing worse than an abbreviated name.

I suppose I hadn't believed in Fate until that point. But it's hard not to [...] when you think that there was no way, across miles, continents, vast ocean, we were meant to see each other again.

bunched formation of fighter planes, it

His wife, rather irritatingly, raised an eyebrow, as if she could no longer be bothered to make an adequate response to his observations.

I don’t think he’ll be able to see you over the radio,” Frances ventured. “But I still want to look nice for him.” Margaret

He was met by a collective shriek as the brides parted like biblical waves around him.

None of us lasts forever, do we? If I'm honest, seeing her like that was an unwelcome reminder of my own mortality. Of what I had been. Of what we all must become.

Directly above the starboard engine room, it was also in a state of almost constant vibration, the noise juddering away below their feet with an awesome, leviathan constancy.

The young are right to be fearless, she reminded herself. Remember yourself at that age.

Captain,” she said, “the only people who still have all the answers are those who have never been faced with the questions.