Matthew laid a hand on Flynn’s shoulder. “Too bad, but look on the bright side. There’s always more fish in the sea.”

“Dad, why are you and Uncle Isaac so different?” Flynn shook off his father’s hand and raked his fingers through his dark hair. “And why do you hate each other? You’re brothers, for God’s sake, and you acted like you could kill each other up there at the house.”

Matthew turned to look at Flynn. “If you think living in that house was a picnic for any of us, you’re badly mistaken. The stress in the place was always so thick you couldn’t cut it with a knife. Isaac and I just took the religion and . . .”—he paused a minute before he went on—“and everything else in different ways. My brother couldn’t wait to go get close to Jesus four times a week. I couldn’t wait to go get in some girl’s underpants. We both got what we wanted in the same place—at the church. He was constantly on my case about religion. That’s why I decided to never have but one child. I was afraid I’d produce a throwback like him and Mama. You should be thanking me, not acting like I’m the devil and Isaac is Jesus.”

“Maybe, but I’m trying to figure things out about myself,” Flynn replied. “I have to understand why in order to change.”

“Why in the hell would you want to change?” Matthew was visibly taken aback by Flynn’s words.

“Because I don’t want to be your age and still be thrill seeking. I want to settle down and have a family. I want to be more like Mama and less like you. I went to a therapist, and he told me that what we both have is a form of addiction. We’ll always be afflicted with it, but we can overcome it with time. We just have to want to change, and I do,” Flynn answered.

“If that’s your reasoning, it might be best if you aren’t my best man at this one. Your attitude would spoil the whole party.” Matthew’s tone went downright icy. “I don’t think Delores and I will stay for breakfast after all. We’ll get something at Weezy’s and get on up the road.”

“Probably for the best.” Flynn wasn’t one bit disappointed. “I won’t be coming to the coast for Christmas.”

“You going to get religion like Isaac?” Matthew threw over his shoulder as he turned to walk away.

“No, just hoping to get my life on some kind of sane track.” Flynn sat down on the grass and let the bubbling sound of the water falling over the rocks calm him. “I wish you luck this time.”