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     thing is to get there at some point, and sadly, some never get there. It’s a tragic thing for a man to live his whole life
     and not know how good it is to love and be loved by a good woman.”
    J.P. nodded his head affirmatively. “I want what you and Mom have. A life of commitment to each other. Sharing, loving, and
     working together, serving God together, going on vacations and just experiencing life together. You raised us up to be reasonably
     productive adults, and Lord knows I don’t know what I would have done if ya’ll hadn’t been around to help me with Patrick.
     It’s taken me some time, but I now appreciate what you have together and it’s definitely what I want for myself.”
    “Well, what are you waiting on? You’re not still licking your wounds over Vivian?”
    He gave his dad a dirty look. Vivian, J.P.’s ex-wife, had left him for an older, wealthier man when his son, Patrick, had
     been a toddler. “Heck naw! That’s way behind me. But like I said, I want the right woman. One who wants the same things I
     want. I’m nearly forty-four years old, and I’ve already wasted too many years. I don’t relish the thought of one fruitless
     relationship after the other, or spending the rest of my life alone. It’s finding that elusive woman that’s proving to be
     a challenge. Most of the women I meet these days turn me off. If they’re not fickle, fake, and immature, they’re hard, calculating
     gold diggers. Some of ’em are just plain old, low down, and dirty. But whatever group they fall into, they seem to lack the
     desire or the ability to build a meaningful relationship, and they all leave a bad taste in my mouth.”
    “So what makes you think this woman is any different?”
    “I guess it’s the way she carries herself, and some quality or trait in her that reaches me on a level that no woman has touched
     before. Every time I see her I want to touch her, kiss her—something! Beyond that, I can’t pinpoint what it is, and it’s driving
     me crazy! Usually by this time, most women are throwing themselves at me. But beyond being helpful, she hasn’t. That intrigues
     me. And there’s nothing funny about her either. The man in me wouldn’t react to her this way if she weren’t all woman.”
    Big Pat laughed, enjoying his son’s distress. He had waited a long time to witness it. “Yep. That’s how I felt about your
     mother when I first met her. She had me crazy, too.” He laughed again, remembering, before saying, “Well, I’m sure the woman
     realizes you’re interested. Maybe she’s just smart, biding her time just to string you along a little.”
    “No,” J.P. answered thoughtfully. “Frankly, I don’t think it’s even occurred to her that I may be interested. And anyway,
     I don’t think that’s her style. Since she’s not an easy woman to approach, I’m a little stumped, but believe me, I’m just
     waiting for the right opportunity.”
    “Well, son, whatever you do, pray about it. Let the Lord guide you. That way you’ll know you’re moving in the right direction
     and won’t be making a mistake.”
    “Yeah, I’m doing that, Pop.”
Jaci
    T
wo weeks later, Jaci hurriedly gathered files and placed them into a portable filing cabinet, while she laughed and talked
     with her coworkers. Relieved that another hearing was behind her, she noticed frowningly that a few people were still mingling
     around the large room.
    “These stragglers must really be pleased with the decisions they got on their properties,” she whispered to her assistant,
     Gloria. “They act like they don’t even want to leave.”
    The hearing had been reasonably uneventful, and that always made Jaci breathe a sigh of relief. The worst-case scenario would
     be to present incorrect information at the hearing and cause the city to lose the case. Some owners would stoop to any level
     to discredit the city’s case in hopes of holding off the demolition of their condemned