Nothing seemed to satisfy her. She couldn’t commit to a relationship—not in college or since she’d become a teacher. She had realized that something was missing in her life right after Nanny Lucy’s funeral, but nothing she tried seemed to satisfy the longing for change. When the court ruling finally came down and she and her two cousins owned their grandmother’s property, a peace had settled over her heart and soul. She was going back, at least for the summer, to the only place where she’d ever felt free and happy—to her perfect grandmother’s house.

“Y’all ready to order?” a waitress asked.

Her voice startled Nessa and jerked her right back from her woolgathering.

“I’d like the double meat cheeseburger, fries, a root beer, and a couple of those apricot fried pies,” Flynn said.

The waitress looked over at Nessa. “And for you?”

“Chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and white gravy, corn, and green beans, sweet tea, and a cherry pie, please,” Nessa said.

“I want the fish dinner and a slice of coconut pie,” April said before the waitress got finished writing. “And could we have an order of onion rings for an appetizer?”

“Next time, I won’t be so quick to offer to pay.” Flynn grinned.

“I haven’t eaten a real meal in two days,” April said. “I’ve been living on potted meat sandwiches and water, so thank you for the meal, Flynn, and thank you for calling me when you did to tell me about the will, Nessa. My phone service was cut off pretty much right after you made that call.”

“What happened to you?” Nessa asked.

“Bad choices, bad men, bad everything.” April shrugged. “I’m hoping that this move will give me a new start.”

“Me too,” Flynn said.

April cut her eyes across the table at Flynn. “You’ve had women falling all over themselves to get at you since you were a teenager. You’ve had a good job, and I figure one of those big dual-cab trucks out there belongs to you.” She pointed out the window. “So why do you need a new start?”

“That’s a conversation for another day, but yes, the black truck is mine,” Flynn answered. “I see the waitress coming this way with our onion rings.”

Like April, Nessa wondered what the mystery with her male cousin could be. Had he gotten hurt by some woman, or was he truly tired of being like his father?