“My daddy would have told me that he could counsel me better than anyone outside the church. I heard him tell other people that. You do know that he’s got a place reserved in heaven at the left hand of God. Jesus has the chair on the right hand, and Daddy respects him enough that he won’t ask him to move over.” Nessa laughed. “I guess y’all want a confession from me now, right?”

Flynn nodded. “We’ve bared our souls, so tell us why you’re not married and producing a bunch of little red-haired kids.”

“I want the whole enchilada when I get married.” Nessa thought again of the night before and the pure contentment and happiness she’d felt when she was with Jackson. “I want the bells and whistles when he kisses me, and enough in common with him that we can almost finish each other’s sentences. And then I want to trust him so much that I’m sure down deep in my heart that he won’t ever cheat on me.” Hopefully, that was what this relationship with Jackson would bring her.

“I guess neither one of us is going to get that quilt we’re working on, Flynn,” April giggled. “From the glitter in Nessa’s eyes, I think she’s taken the first steps toward getting it and the hope chest.”

Nessa ducked her head, but that didn’t prevent a blush from turning her cheeks bright red. “One can only hope,” she muttered.

“As for me, I don’t think there’s a man out there that’s wonderful enough to make me blush,” April said. “I’ve been stung too many times, and I may never get over the pain or the feeling of stupidity when I turned around and let another man that was just like the last one into my life.”

“I plan on being one of those guys that women can put their trust in someday, so don’t say there aren’t a few good men left,” said Flynn.

“I’ll believe that when I see it,” April said.

“What’s your plan?” Nessa asked Flynn.

“Just what I’m doing now. Stay away from dating until I feel like I’ve got something worthwhile to offer a woman. Be a gentleman and be honest. If I don’t feel any chemistry on the first date, then call the lady and tell her. I’m not going to sweet-talk my way into bed with a woman on the first date, and maybe I won’t even kiss her until the second date,” he said, “and if it takes me a year or two, I want to be a guy like you just talked about, Nessa, not one of the jerks April just described.”