reached for his hand, seeking to bring him back to the present. âCouldnât what?â
âI couldnât be⦠in the house. I would sit⦠on the porch. All day.â
Father and son were so much alike, Julia thought. Both trying to escape places containing endless could-have-beens . âIâm sorry.â
âGrace would come and sit with me,â John continued. âWe talked. I fell in love with her. I wasnât sure she would ever⦠take a chance. After everything.â
âWith my father, you mean?â
John nodded. âHe hurt her⦠She was not⦠the same. Sad. Lonely.â
âBut you wore her down and convinced her?â
A dry chuckle rumbled through his chest. âI did.â
Julia sat back and rested her chin in her hand, regarding him with a smile. She wished now sheâd paid more attention to the man across the street, back in the day. She had few memories of John as a solid, healthy, and vital man. âIf it means anything, I think you make Grace very happy.â
The lopsided question mark that made up his smile returned. âThank you.â He glanced at the clock on the wall. âChurch will be over soon.â
John struggled to stand, and she jumped up to help him to his feet. âAre you running away?â Julia asked.
âPeople will⦠come for lunch. It is⦠hard⦠with so many people talking. Wears me out.â
âNo kidding.â
He gestured to her clothes. âYou should go⦠get ready. People will not just come⦠for lunch. Come to⦠see you.â
Julia looked down. Her jogging outfit was sweaty and gross. She had a feeling greeting visitors smelling like a wet, odorous dog wouldnât make the best impression. âRight. Iâll go shower and change.â
âDo not let them scare you,â he said, with a wink.
âI donât scare easily.â
He patted her cheek. âJust remember⦠most of them⦠mean no harm.â
Her mind latched on to the most important word. âMost of them? What about the rest?â
âThey have⦠nothing better to do than⦠get in your business.â
Forty minutes later Julia was showered, dressed, and ready to do battle with anyone not included in the âmostâ category. For the past fifteen minutes sheâd heard a chorus of car doors slamming. A glance out the window revealed a packed driveway, along with more cars parked down the street.
Julia heard voices as soon as she left her room. She didnât get halfway down the stairs before being spotted. The lookout was a short, round woman with snow-white hair. Dressed in a navy, polka dot dress she looked like the grandmother from Little Red Riding Hood . Julia wondered if Granny had big teeth to eat her with.
âThere you are,â Grandma Riding Hood said as Julia approached. âGrace told me to be on the lookout for you.â
âWas she afraid I might get lost?â
âI think she was worried you might take one look at the horde in the living room and run right back up the stairs,â the other woman said.
Grace wasnât far off. Juliaâs hands felt clammy, and sweat had started to form on her brow.
Get a grip, Julia. Theyâre church members, not hit men.
âIâm Edith Austin,â the older woman said.
âAustin? Are you related to Sarahâs husband?â
âIâm his mother,â she said, weaving a hand through Juliaâs elbow and heading toward the living room. âIâm so grateful you agreed to help out my son and daughter-in-law. Itâs an incredible thing youâre doing, especially considering everything.â
Julia glanced over, wondering if this was where she caught it for being related to the no-good scoundrel who broke poor Graceâs heart. âWhat do you mean?â
âI canât imagine itâs easy to come back here after what happened between