“No, but one thing Mama used to say feels pretty good right now. She said that all your problems look better at sunrise than they do at sunset. I’m going to believe that tonight,” Nessa answered.

“If you can’t sleep tonight, just wake me up. We can talk more if you need to,” April offered.

Nessa stood up and gave April a quick hug. “I like having you for a cousin, but I like having you for a friend even more.”

April beamed. “Thanks. Right back at you.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-One

The third’s the charm,” Nessa said when she finally got thread through the eye of the needle. “I can’t believe we’re finishing this in three weeks.” A part of her was glad to have the quilt done so she could get busy on her own quilts for the craft shows, but on the other hand, she would miss the time the three of them had spent together every morning. Now the others would go off to work every morning, and she would be alone.

“Seems like we’ve been here months instead of weeks.” Flynn put the last of his stitches in the quilt. “We’ve finished this job a full week ahead of time. I’m glad to have it done, but I’m going to miss the times we’ve had together. That does not mean I want to make another one, but . . .”

“But we need to be careful that we don’t wind up going our own ways and forget to set aside time to talk to each other,” April suggested.

“Be home in time for supper,” Nessa said. “I read that in a book. That was the writer’s secret to a happy family life. Her kids could have their friends over or play outside, or whatever, but when it was suppertime, they had to be home. They all sat around the table, just the family, not a bunch of friends, and talked about their day. They vented if they had problems, told funny stories or jokes. That’s what we need to do.”

“Yes!” Flynn and April said at the same time.

Then April shook her finger at Flynn. “Don’t get out your bragging britches just yet. We still have to roll the backing up over the edges and do the hemming.”

“Can we do it tonight after supper?” Flynn asked. “I’d like to be able to go to work full-time tomorrow morning.”

“I’m willing if y’all are,” Nessa agreed. “I want to get this out of the frame so I can begin one for the craft shows this fall.”

“What are you doing first?” April asked.

“The double wedding ring one that fell out of the closet on Flynn’s head. While I’m quilting it, I want to think about the good times I had when we were kids,” Nessa answered.