Marry Me by Kristin Wallace Page A

must have said something right. Meanwhile, he was losing his mind.
    And it was all Julia’s fault.

Chapter Five

    The day after Sarah was released from the hospital, Julia showed up at the apartment bearing gifts. She knocked and heard Sarah call out.
    â€œCome in!”
    She twisted the handle, and the door swung open. “I know this is a small town, but is an unlocked door a good idea?” Julia asked, as soon as she spotted Sarah on the couch.
    â€œI asked Eric to leave it unlocked because our neighbor is supposed to come by to check on me every hour or so.”
    Julia sat on the end of the couch. Dropping her gift on the floor, she took Sarah’s hand. “How are you?”
    Sarah squeezed back. “I feel fine. Mary is kicking up a storm and not letting me sleep.”
    â€œWell, you certainly look better. The color is back in your cheeks. Where is your husband, by the way? Isn’t he supposed to be making sure you don’t get up? What about when you want to fix lunch? Or need to go to the bathroom?”
    â€œMy neighbor is coming over. Between my husband, my mother, Seth, my mother-in-law, and nearly everyone in this building, someone should be here twenty-four-seven to make sure I don’t move from this spot without supervision.”
    Julia nodded in satisfaction. “Good.”
    Sarah smiled. “So, I hear you came through in the Ashley wedding. Betsy called and told me everything. I can’t believe you sewed Maureen into her dress.”
    â€œI think Maureen’s mother about had a heart attack when I suggested cutting the dress,” Julia said, with a grimace.
    â€œBe glad her mother was one of the reasonable sorts. You wouldn’t believe how crazy some of them get when it comes to weddings. Speaking of Maureen’s mother, she called and told me to relay a message to you.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œMaureen says you were right about her husband cutting off the dress. Then she thanked you for suggesting it.”
    Julia laughed.
    Sarah gave her a quizzical look. “I guess you know what she’s talking about?”
    â€œI think you had to be there,” Julia said, still chuckling.
    â€œAll right, changing the subject. How is everything going at the house? Eric told me your first meeting with Seth was pretty tense.”
    Julia glanced away. “I think he takes his role as surrogate big brother very seriously, and I’m not sure he trusts me. We’re managing not to kill each other, though.”
    â€œI was hoping you’d get along better.”
    â€œI don’t think we’ll ever be best friends. We have nothing in common.”
    â€œI wanted things to be different, so we could all be a family of sorts. Only a better one this time because—”
    â€œMy father isn’t around to muck it up?”
    Sarah gave her a stern look. “You should work at getting past your anger at him. Your dad wasn’t perfect, but then none of us are. He did have good qualities.”
    â€œSure, he was charming when it suited him or got him what he wanted.”
    She rapped Julia’s hand like a prim schoolteacher. “He was also kind to me. He knew how much I wanted a daddy, and he obliged. He never brushed me off when I wanted attention or treated me like I was an annoying kid. Was he different with you?”
    Kind? Yes, her father had been kind. He’d also been charming, funny, and sweet. He’d had a way of looking at you like you were the only person on the planet. When she’d been a little girl Julia had adored him.
    She supposed it wasn’t uncommon for girls to adore their fathers, but she’d had a serious case of hero worship. She’d always sensed a distance with her mother. Even as early as the toddler years Julia had understood that her mother didn’t like to be mussed. “Mussed” as in hugged, which led to wrinkles in skirts, stains on blouses, or a hair out of place.