As BD said, which model Spec are you looking at, if you have any specific one in mind as of yet? My wife is short, too, she is 5'-3", and she rides a WSD (Women's Specific Design) Trek 7300 Hybrid. Unless its a structural issue you have that keeps you from raising your legs over the top tube of a diamond frame bicycle, the conventional frames are available in fairly low top tube dimensions.

Depending on which model you look at, step over heights can be pretty low, especially on a compact geometry/sloped top tube frameset. It sounds like you have gotten beyond what the Townie type bicycle offers, maybe a straight bar, hybrid set-up, is what you should look at. Most all the manufacturers have such a bicycle in their line-ups, and in a Women's, or Feminine, geometry design.

Best of luck, your husband was right about cycling, as you seem to have found, too. It worked for a lot of us here in the 50+. Welcome to the Forum, also.

Bill