Iris (Suitors of Seattle Book 8) by Kirsten Osbourne Page A

Petunia sat alone at the back of the church.  When Iris invited her to join them, the older woman shook her head with tears in her eyes.  "No, you have a family now.  You need to be with them, not this crazy old woman."
    Iris started to tell her she wasn't crazy, but she didn't believe in lying, so she'd simply squeezed the older woman's hand before joining Francis at the front of the church.
    She shared a hymnal with Francis, the two of them each holding one of the pages open to the right song.  Katie sat to her left, proudly gripping Iris's arm, as if to stake claim on her new mother. 
    After the service, people lined up to meet her.  "Aren't you the new doctor in town?  Did you know Francis before you arrived?" One of the older ladies in the church peered at Iris as if she was trying to figure out exactly what had happened to make Iris the new fiancé of someone she'd known for years. 
    Iris shook her head.  "No, ma'am.  I met Francis the day Mallie broke her arm.  I'd never set eyes on him before that."
    The woman frowned.  "Francis isn't one to just run off and marry the first pretty face he sees.  How'd you get him to ask you to marry him?"  She crossed her arms over her chest.
    Iris shrugged, feeling annoyed.  "I'm not sure.  Maybe he took one look at me and knew I was the perfect mother for his children."
    The woman humphed.  "If it was that easy, he'd have married my daughter Beulah Mae years ago.  She would do the right thing and stay home with her family, not try to have a career ."
    Iris looked at the younger version of the crotchety old woman she was talking to.  The younger woman was so thin she looked unhealthy, and her nose was huge.  Iris knew that looks weren't terribly important, but she certainly wouldn't have wanted to wake up to that face every morning.  "I guess you'll have to ask Francis then.  I'm not sure why he'd choose me."
    Francis had a hard look on his face.  "I chose Iris because she's a beautiful intelligent woman who's good with my children."  His hand reached for hers, squeezing it softly.  "I also didn't grow up playing with Iris.  When you've known someone since you were both in diapers, it's hard to think of her as a potential wife."  He gave Beulah Mae an apologetic smile.
    Beulah Mae blushed.  "I don't think I could parent another woman's children anyway.  I'd always be asking myself if Katherine would do something the same way I'm doing it.  Or if she'd approve of how I'm doing things."
    Iris hadn't thought about those things, but she was secure enough in herself that she wasn't terribly worried.  She didn't think Francis would be comparing her to his dead wife, so she simply smiled at Beulah Mae.  "Have you lived here your entire life, Beulah Mae?" she asked softly. 
    The older girl nodded.  "Sometimes I wish I could go somewhere else, but Mama needs me."
    The old woman smiled, patting her daughter's hand.  "That I do.  Every woman should be so blessed as to have a daughter like you."  She frowned at Iris.  "Good day."
    Iris looked at Francis, trying to figure out what had just happened.  He leaned down to whisper, "Mrs. Pinkston always had the notion that Beulah Mae and I should marry, even though neither of us were at all interested.  She just can't let go of the idea, though."
    Tracy and Andy stopped in front of them.  Andy grinned at Iris.  "So, I get a new sister, do I?"
    Iris blushed.  "Yes, you do."
    "And you couldn't wait until next month to get married?"  He turned his attention to Francis.  "What's your all-fired hurry there, Francis?  You couldn't wait another minute to get her to...be your wife?"  His pause was deliberate enough that Iris blushed.
    Francis shrugged.  "I didn't marry her within minutes of meeting her like you did Tracy."
    Tracy ignored the men and hugged Iris.  "They're both crazy.  Welcome to the family."
    Iris smiled.  "Thank you.  I'm happy to be part of it."
    "What will your companion do?" Tracy asked,