“I’m sorry that you don’t like the genes you got, Son. And if you want to change, then I wish you nothing but the best,” Matthew said, “but you do need to remember that you really are the last O’Riley male in the family. I promise I’ll quit giving you hell about turning your life around if you’ll just keep that in mind.”

“I appreciate that, Dad, and I never thought about being the only male heir,” Flynn said. Talk about a burden! Not only was he trying to turn his life around, but now he had to think about perpetuating the family name.

Maybe it would be best if the O’Riley name died with me, he thought.

“Well, think about it, and the best of luck to you in finding a good woman and staying with her for fifty years. Your Mama was a good woman and deserved better than she got. Maybe when you figure things out, you’ll be more like her than me,” Matthew said. “I’ve got to go now. Delores needs me to look at a wedding venue. It would be nice if you’d come to the wedding, even if you are too stubborn to be my best man again.”

“We’ll see how things go.” Flynn felt like he was becoming more like his mother, and he liked the difference it was making in his life. Just a little more work, and maybe, just maybe, he would be ready to really fall in love for good.

“Bye, then,” Matthew said, and he ended the call.

Flynn put the phone back in his shirt pocket. “Well, how about that? I can’t believe that my father admitted that Mama deserved better.”

April was fifteen minutes early to work, but she sat in the car for a while, trying to still her mind. It had done nothing but run in circles since the night before. Finally she pushed open the door and inhaled the hot air as she crossed the gravel parking lot.

Now I understand why Nanny Lucy was the way she was, but why couldn’t someone love me unconditionally in my life? she asked herself as she opened the door into the clinic.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve got a chamber of commerce meeting.” Maudie already had her purse thrown over her shoulder and was heading for the door. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Yes, ma’am,” April said, and then she headed back to the shelter area. “Good morning, my pretties.” She took a fluffy yellow kitten out of the first cage. The little thing cuddled down in her arms like a baby and began to purr.

“I love you,” she whispered.

The kitten purred even louder.

“And you love me no matter how bad I messed up in the past.” She almost smiled.