Free Marry Me by Kristin Wallace

reached for his hand, seeking to bring him back to the present. “Couldn’t what?”
    â€œI couldn’t be… in the house. I would sit… on the porch. All day.”
    Father and son were so much alike, Julia thought. Both trying to escape places containing endless could-have-beens . “I’m sorry.”
    â€œGrace would come and sit with me,” John continued. “We talked. I fell in love with her. I wasn’t sure she would ever… take a chance. After everything.”
    â€œWith my father, you mean?”
    John nodded. “He hurt her… She was not… the same. Sad. Lonely.”
    â€œBut you wore her down and convinced her?”
    A dry chuckle rumbled through his chest. “I did.”
    Julia sat back and rested her chin in her hand, regarding him with a smile. She wished now she’d 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. “If it means anything, I think you make Grace very happy.”
    The lopsided question mark that made up his smile returned. “Thank you.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Church will be over soon.”
    John struggled to stand, and she jumped up to help him to his feet. “Are you running away?” Julia asked.
    â€œPeople will… come for lunch. It is… hard… with so many people talking. Wears me out.”
    â€œNo kidding.”
    He gestured to her clothes. “You should go… get ready. People will not just come… for lunch. Come to… see you.”
    Julia looked down. Her jogging outfit was sweaty and gross. She had a feeling greeting visitors smelling like a wet, odorous dog wouldn’t make the best impression. “Right. I’ll go shower and change.”
    â€œDo not let them scare you,” he said, with a wink.
    â€œI don’t scare easily.”
    He patted her cheek. “Just remember… most of them… mean no harm.”
    Her mind latched on to the most important word. “Most of them? What about the rest?”
    â€œThey have… nothing better to do than… get in your business.”
    Forty minutes later Julia was showered, dressed, and ready to do battle with anyone not included in the “most” category. For the past fifteen minutes she’d 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 didn’t 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.
    â€œThere you are,” Grandma Riding Hood said as Julia approached. “Grace told me to be on the lookout for you.”
    â€œWas she afraid I might get lost?”
    â€œI think she was worried you might take one look at the horde in the living room and run right back up the stairs,” the other woman said.
    Grace wasn’t far off. Julia’s hands felt clammy, and sweat had started to form on her brow.
    Get a grip, Julia. They’re church members, not hit men.
    â€œI’m Edith Austin,” the older woman said.
    â€œAustin? Are you related to Sarah’s husband?”
    â€œI’m his mother,” she said, weaving a hand through Julia’s elbow and heading toward the living room. “I’m so grateful you agreed to help out my son and daughter-in-law. It’s an incredible thing you’re doing, especially considering everything.”
    Julia glanced over, wondering if this was where she caught it for being related to the no-good scoundrel who broke poor Grace’s heart. “What do you mean?”
    â€œI can’t imagine it’s easy to come back here after what happened between