Yep, Flynn thought, he’s got a type, and she’s it to a T. Talks too much. Lots younger than him. Dad, what are you doing here? You hardly ever visited Nanny Lucy, and when you did, it was only for an hour or two. Flynn looked up from the picture and caught both Nessa and April staring at him. Nessa slid a sly wink his way. April raised both eyebrows. No doubt they were wondering if his dad had gotten tangled up with a black widow, because he was thinking the very same thing.

He handed the phone back to Delores. “Maybe someday I can meet them.”

“Christmas would be great. They always come to see me wherever I’m living for Christmas. We’ll have a huge family dinner, and . . .”

And you may not even be around by then, Flynn thought as he tuned out both her and his father and sipped his coffee. I don’t think Dad’s ever married a ready-made family, and he might figure out really quick that this isn’t what he wants.

“Why don’t you and Flynn take a short walk around the place while the girls finish breakfast?” Delores suggested. “I’ll just step out on the porch and have a cigarette while y’all are gone.”

Matthew leaned over and kissed her on the lips.

“Breakfast will be ready in ten minutes,” Nessa said.

The front door swung open, and Isaac came into the house. A big man with blond hair and blue eyes, like his brother, he had a presence that filled the small living room. He glared first at Matthew and then at the woman at the table.

“What are you doing here?” Isaac asked.

“Daddy?” Nessa asked, her face going ashen. “What are you doing here?”

Matthew stood up, and tension engulfed the room like a wildfire. “I might ask you the same thing, Isaac.”

Flynn started across the living room floor. Nessa came from the other side.

Cora stepped out from behind Isaac and got between the two men. “Y’all act like brothers. You’re going to grieve the heart of God acting like two tomcats squaring off with each other.”

Matthew dropped his chin a notch and glared at Isaac, who returned the icy-cold stare.

“I came to have a face-to-face with my daughter, to talk her out of this crazy notion of staying in this godforsaken place.” Isaac knotted his fists. “Evidently you brought your new woman for your wild son’s approval.”

“I did, but that’s not a damn bit of your business,” Matthew answered.

Flynn hadn’t even had so much as a phone call from his father in weeks. Was he there to ask for any money that Flynn might inherit, to claim what he thought was his inheritance by right?