Free To Have and To Hold by Ruth Ann Nordin

mind another month.” He kissed Mary on the cheek.
    Unable to hide her pleasure at his words, Mary giggled.
    While he took Jasper to the backyard, Sal y waved her forward. “Come on in.”
    Mary obeyed and took off her bonnet.
    Sal y left the door open but let the storm door shut behind her as she put her arm around
    Mary’s and led her down the hal way. “You and Dave look happy.”
    “Weren’t we happy before?” Mary wondered, surprised. She got the impression she and Dave
    already loved each other.
    “Of course, you were. He’s adored you ever since he first saw you. He says that you’re the
    best thing that’s ever happened to him.”
    Relieved, she relaxed.
    “I just meant that it’s as if you two are fal ing in love al over again, like you did when you were
    first married.”
    “I suppose that’s because I’m learning about him again.”
    Sal y sighed wistful y. “Isn’t that the most wonderful feeling in the world? I often think if I could
    just meet Rick and fal in love with him one more time, it’d be so romantic. Not that he isn’t stil
    wonderful, but there’s nothing like the first time you realize you love someone and know he
    loves you back.”
    “You’re probably right.” Mary reasoned that Sal y had to be since she was so certain about it.
    They entered the kitchen, and Sal y motioned to the pretty brunette woman who was at the
    cook stove with a coffee pot. “That’s April. Over there are her children, three-year-old Nora
    and six-month-old Tess.”
    Mary glanced at Nora who was playing dol s with Sal y’s daughter, Laura, before she looked at
    Tess who was in the highchair, content to bang two spoons together. Rachel ran over to join
    the older girls who were sitting on the floor.
    “How are you doing, Mary?” April asked.
    “Fine,” Mary replied, offering a smile to someone she knew she should know but didn’t.
    “I heard you lost your memory,” April said as she left the cook stove and walked over to the
    table where Sal y motioned for Mary to sit. As Mary obeyed, Sal y sat down and April fol owed
    suit, sitting across from Mary. “I bet it was a scary experience when you woke up and couldn’t
    remember anyone.”
    “It was,” Mary admitted.
    “Where’s Greg?” Isaac asked.
    “He’s outside with the dogs,” Sal y told him. “Do you want to play with him?”
    Isaac nodded, so Sal y said, “Take some cookies for you and Greg and go out there, but don’t
    give any to the dogs this time, alright?”
    Isaac hastened to obey, making Mary chuckle. “I don’t think he enjoys playing with girls.”
    “Al boys are like that at his age,” Sal y said. “They think girls are gross.”
    “Wel , just wait until he’s older,” April added. “He’l change his mind.”
    “And too soon,” Sal y mused. “It’s real y not fair they have to grow up.”
    “Come now, Sal y,” April began, tapping her friend on the arm, “you wouldn’t have wanted to
    stay a child forever, would you?”
    Sal y grimaced. “And have my brothers bothering me al the time? I don’t think so. I’m ever
    grateful Rick got me out of my parents’ house. But don’t worry, Mary. Your husband never
    gave me any problems. He was the only brother I could tolerate while I was growing up.”
    “Joel turned out alright, though,” April protested.
    “Yes, he did. You’re a good influence on him.” Sal y winked at Mary. “Men need wives. For
    sure, they’d never find their hats or ties if it weren’t for us. How Rick can be looking right at his
    tie in the closet and not see it, I’l never understand.”
    April giggled. “You’re awful, Sal y. Rick isn’t that bad.”
    Sal y lifted her eyebrows in a way that implied Rick was, indeed, that bad.
    “You’d be miserable without him,” April chided good-naturedly.
    “Yes, I would. Despite their quirks, husbands are good to have around.” Her eyebrows
    furrowed and she stood up and peered out the window. “I’m surprised David hasn’t