Page 47 of The Soul Never Forgets

“When did it happen?”

“I’m pretty sure it was our last night together before you were taken to jail.”

This is my fault. I didn’t take care of things as I should have that night.

What are we going to do? We’re on the run from her parents, and we don’t have a place of our own to live. It isn’t even safe enough for us to live in the same place. I’m forced to sneak over in the dead of night to a lended house where my wife is staying rent free. Now is the worst possible time for a baby to be on its way.

“You aren’t saying anything. Aren’t you happy?”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m very happy.”

“Why aren’t you upset with me?”

She reaches out and cups her hand around the side of my face. “Why would I be upset with you?”

“Because I took you over and over that night. I didn’t stop when I was supposed to.” I wanted to pull out. I was supposed to pull out. But I didn’t. Not once. I didn’t because it felt so good, and I was selfish.

“You took me over and over that night, and I wanted it each and every time. And I recall more than one time locking my legs around you and not letting you stop when you told me you needed to because I wanted you to finish inside me. You didn’t do this alone. It took both of us.”

“It’s bad timing, Gussy.” Really bad timing.

“I’ve had longer than you to think about it, and I’ve decided that it’s perfect timing.”

“In what world, my love? We don’t have our own place to live. I was in jail for two months, which means I had no income during that time. I haven’t won a pot in a while.”

August had nothing when she left her parents’ house that night. All of our money has had to go toward feeding and clothing her, which I’m happy to do. But now there’s going to be another person, a tiny human being, depending on me for everything.

My family back home will need money soon.

So many people depend on me to take care of them.

“Don’t you see? Being pregnant means that I’m of no value to my parents anymore. They won’t have any interest in bringing home a pregnant daughter. I can’t be married off to someone in their circle. This baby couldn’t have happened at a better time.”

A pregnant daughter. No, I suppose the Lebeaus won’t have any interest in bringing her home now. None of their fancy socialite friends are going to be interested in welcoming her back into the fold with a swollen belly.

“I’m going to write to my parents and let them know about the baby. I’m certain they’ll leave us alone after that.”

We can be together again. No more hiding.

Has this little baby really saved us from the Lebeaus?

I place my hand on her stomach and rub the lower area of her abdomen. “There’s a tiny baby inside you right there. My baby.”

“Everything is going to be all right, Frank. You’ll see.”

Chapter11

Caroline Beaumont

New Orleans,Louisiana

Present Day

My back is pushedinto the mattress by the weight of his body lying on top of me. Warm breath exhales against my mouth and then his silky-smooth tongue enters my mouth where the most beautiful waltz between partners takes place. Perfection.

My legs part and his weight shifts, his body adjusting so it fits perfectly between my thighs. All of those little tingles of desire are firing away in my lower abdomen.

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