“I take my coffee with two sugars.” Isaac’s back was ramrod straight when he sat down. His blond hair, as ever, was in place. Nessa had always wondered if he used gel or spray to keep it that way.

“This is an intervention.” Isaac tucked his chin down a notch and glared at Nessa.

“For which one of us?” Nessa could feel the heat of his eyes, but she refused to turn around and look at him. “If it was for Uncle Matthew, I guess it failed.”

Matthew pushed his way into the house. “I heard what Nessa just said. You and Mama tried that intervention crap too many times for me to remember. Give it up, Isaac. I’m not changing my ways.”

“I gave up on you years ago,” Isaac growled. “The demons in you have made a home, but I do pray for you every day.”

“Don’t waste your breath, Brother.” Matthew grinned. “I own my demons. You just cover yours up with self-righteous robes. I came in to tell my nieces goodbye. It wouldn’t seem right to run off without saying thanks for the coffee and the warm welcome. I probably won’t come back to this place again. The hate seems to come right out of the walls. Come see me if you’re ever in Houston.” He turned and headed out, then stopped at the door and turned around with a frown on his face. “Take my advice and burn this place to the ground, then run as far away as you can.”

“That’s not my advice,” Isaac growled as the door shut behind his brother, “but I do think you are wasting your lives even thinking about staying here.”

“Maybe we’re finding out who we are by living here,” April said as she set their coffee on the table.

April had looked a little like a deer in the headlights when both of the O’Riley brothers were in the living room, but she’d done some kind of a turnaround to be able to say that to Isaac. Nessa gave her a brief sideways hug.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

April’s head bobbed once in a quick nod.

“That’s crazy talk, but then I wouldn’t expect much more from Rachel’s kid,” Isaac said.

“That’s uncalled for, Daddy,” Nessa said. “April can’t help who her parents are, any more than I can help who mine are. You can say the same about Nanny Lucy and Grandpa. What happened in this place anyway to make you and Uncle Matthew hate each other?”