Chapter 1: The Man Who Walked Faster
I protected a young woman from a man who was following her down the street — an hour later, I saw him sitting at our family dinner table.
Yesterday, I was on my way to my daughter's house for dinner.
I was finally going to meet her fiancé, the man she had been telling me was perfect.
I didn't want to be late, but something happened along the way that I couldn't ignore.
"Excuse me, ma'am," said a girl who looked about eighteen.
"That man has been following me.
Could you help me?"
Her hands were shaking, and she was close to tears.
Before I could answer, a man in an expensive coat stepped out from behind her.
Looking at him, you never would have imagined he could behave that way.
"There you are," he said with a smile.
"You walk fast.
But I walk faster."
"She doesn't want to talk to you," I said.
He looked me up and down and laughed.
"Looking for trouble, Grandma?
Stay out of young people's business.
I bought her a coffee.
Is a phone number too much to ask?"
"I didn't ask you to buy me anything," the girl said, crying now.
"You're scaring me.
I told you no."
He reached for her arm, but I placed my cane between them.
"Touch that girl and I'll call the police," I said firmly.
"A man ought to know how to take no for an answer."
He sneered and muttered something vile.
Then he walked away.
The girl's name was Hannah.
She cried as she thanked me.
I stayed with her until her father arrived so she wouldn't have to walk home alone.
By the time I reached my daughter's house, I was terribly late.
The whole family was already seated at the table.
"Mom, I was worried!" my daughter said.
"Is everything okay?"
I was about to answer when I saw the man standing behind her.
The same man who had followed Hannah down the street.
His eyes widened the moment he recognized me.
"Something happened," I murmured.
"And this is…?"
"This is my fiancé, Greg!
I've told you all about him.
Isn't he wonderful?"
Wonderful.
The man who had frightened a young woman on the street was my daughter's fiancé.
I decided not to make a scene.
I would tell her privately.
She needed to know what her "perfect" fiancé was hiding.
Dinner went smoothly.
Greg was attentive and polite.
If I hadn't seen him with Hannah, I might have been charmed by him myself.
I held my tongue for as long as I could.
Then the conversation turned to men who treated others badly, and Greg said with a self-satisfied smile,
"I can't stand men who don't respect others.
I'm always a gentleman.
I don't understand why everyone else can't be."
That was when I couldn't keep quiet any longer.
I picked up my glass.
"Before dessert, I'd like to make a toast."
Greg went pale.
"My dear Greg…" I began with a smile.
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What did she say next — and will Greg's mask finally fall in front of the whole family?
Comment **"NEXT"** if you want Part 2.
