Nessa noticed that April took a little longer than necessary to open the rear door, pick up the quilt, and get out of the vehicle. Could it be that she was serious when she talked about what could be in the hope chest? Nessa rounded the back of the SUV and waited for her cousin. “It’s going to be all right,” she reassured her. “Whatever is in there can’t hurt you now.”

“Probably not, but I still don’t want that hope chest. If I get married first and have to take it, I’ll give it to you or Flynn or make a bonfire out of it,” April declared as she hugged the quilt to her chest. “Guess I’ve still got a long way to go before I’m completely healed.”

“We can’t expect to be over the past in only three weeks, but we can close the door to it and choose to be happy one day at a time.” Nessa gave her another sideways hug.

“I can do that.” April nodded in agreement.

Jackson held the door for the two women and took the quilt from April. “Flynn told me this morning what you’re doing with the quilt you just finished. I think Miz Lucy would like that. So are we ready to open this thing, or should we have a beer and some kind of ceremony?”

Nessa glanced his way and saw as much confusion in his eyes as was in her heart. Good Lord, she thought, what if I judged him wrong? What if not simply asking him about the woman has ruined any chance of a relationship we might have had? I could just have asked.

“Let’s have a beer,” April answered.

“I’ll bring them out.” Jackson smiled and headed to the kitchen. “Take a seat anywhere you like. I’ll drag the hope chest out into the middle of the floor to open it so you can all see what’s inside. Once we’re done, I can scoot it back in the corner again.” He brought a six-pack of cold beers out and set them on the scarred coffee table.

April had taken the rocking chair, and Flynn sat on one end of the sofa. Since there were only two places left, and they were both on the sofa, that meant Nessa and Jackson would be side by side until someone opened the hope chest. She chose the other end so that at least she wouldn’t be between the two guys.

Jackson twisted the cap off a bottle and handed it to Nessa, and then did the same for Flynn and April. When he sat down in the middle of the sofa, his whole right side was pressed against Nessa. She was surprised that the sparks didn’t light up the whole room.

“Does anyone want to guess what might be in the chest?” he asked.