Free Here to Stay by Margot Early Page A

and far less accessible by car.
    Elijah dreaded Sissy’s parents’ reaction to their marriage. But for him, once they had become lovers, there was no going back.
    He couldn’t imagine what the rest of their life together would be like because he seemed to think about making love with Sissy twenty-four hours a day. She was the only woman he’d known so intimately, and hefound her to be the most amazing creature he’d ever encountered. He supposed that on some level he worshipped her. In any event, he made every effort to treat her as though he did, especially when they were in bed. He thought he’d kissed, venerated, every part of her body, and he felt satisfaction that she wasn’t so much his as part of him. They had truly become one person.
    Despite his intense feelings for her, he wasn’t looking forward to her parents’ reaction. And he had other concerns. He didn’t make much money with the Humane Society. Sissy wanted to teach Obedience in Kansas City, and Elijah agreed she would probably find plenty of students in the city, more than she could in Echo Springs, for instance. But they would still be poor, and he didn’t think Sissy Atherton had ever been poor in her life.
    Well, he would find additional work to earn more money. They’d be happy. And if he had to, he’d return to law enforcement.
    Sissy’s parents knew they were coming because Sissy had called from a pay phone north of Osage Beach. He’d heard her say, “Elijah and I are coming by. We have something to tell you.” A pause, then, “Elijah Workman, of course. Who did you think I meant? The prophet?” Already getting snippy.
    Elijah had tensed, not wanting Sissy to feud with her family, wanting them to be pleased by the marriage rather than offended by it.
    Sissy seemed to have her mind on other things, though.
    They were nearing the fudge shop and the dock, and she said, “Pull over!”
    He did, into a conveniently vacated parking space. “You want chocolate this badly?”
    “Not chocolate! We have to do this.” She jumped out of the car, pulling Whiteout after her by his leash. Elijah followed her across the street to the fudge shop.
    Outside, she put Whiteout’s lead in his hand, then she pushed open the door. He saw her remonstrating with a teenager behind the counter.
    A moment later, he saw her approach the jukebox.
    Then he heard the opening strains from outside.
    She rushed out, laughing, beautiful and giddy, kicking off her white high-heeled sandals and moving into his arms and singing with the words. He sang them back to her, sang of only and always and the greatest blessing of his life.
    Sissy said, “We get to hear it three times.”
    Elijah threw back his head, laughing, and Whiteout jumped up on them both, kissing Sissy’s face.
     
    E LIJAH PARKED next to Sissy’s mother’s car outside the big white house with the kennels shaded by a canopy of trees. Sissy called, “Hi, Teddy! I missed you. Hi, China, sweetheart.” Tossing the end of Whiteout’s lead in Elijah’s lap, she leaped out of the convertible and hurried across the grass toward the dog runs. The dogs seemed divided between ecstasy at the sight of her and sheer rage at Whiteout’s presence.
    Elijah cut the ignition, got out and glanced toward the front door as the screen opened.
    Heloise Atherton stepped out, dressed in white slacks and a white sleeveless blouse, her hair up in French twist so rigid it seemed like a helmet. She said nothing, just glanced at Elijah and gazed under lowered eyebrows at her younger daughter.
    Sissy looked up from petting one of the German shepherds to see her mother. She straightened and emerged from the kennel again, looking toward Elijah.
    Elijah said, “Whiteout, stay. No chew.” He shut the driver’s door and joined his wife, and they walked up the steps together.
     
    H E COULD COUNT on one hand the times he had been in the Athertons’ living room. On the occasions he’d visited Sissy’s house as her boyfriend, the