Page 62 of The Soul Never Forgets

And I love it.

“I suspect the feeling will be mutual, but I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt because it’s the right thing to do.”

I think Dawsey is that kind of man––one who always does the right thing.

“I’ve been thinking about what you said, and I’m ready to cut her out of my life if she tries to sabotage our relationship.” Which I already know that she will. It’s only a matter of time.

“She’s your mother. I would never encourage you one way or the other. The decision must be yours.”

It’s actually up to her. “My decision will depend on how she treats us. I won’t have her talk down to you or disrespect our relationship.”

I have no reason to fear her anymore. Going forward, disrespect from her is a hard no for me.

“You must set boundaries and tell her what will happen if she chooses to not adhere to them. That’s a reasonable course of action.”

It’s such a blessing to be paired with someone who is emotionally intelligent. It’s too bad that my mother has the emotional intelligence of a toddler.

“I wouldn’t have to set boundaries if she was a reasonable person.” You can’t force someone to be respectful when they have no desire to be.

“You’re doing your part. The rest is up to her.”

“She’s never been known for meeting me halfway on anything.” I’ve always been the one to toe the line.

“We were all once children who wanted to be loved, and we grew into adults who want to be loved. It’s okay to be cautiously optimistic.”

“Cautiously optimistic gets a kid hurt when it comes to Lilly Beaumont.” I’m always recklessly pessimistic so I can be pleasantly surprised when she doesn’t knife over the last wound she caused.

“Okay, my love. No matter what, you have my support.”

“I adore hearing you call me ‘my love.’”

“Habit, I’m afraid.” He winks at me, and my heart thumps faster.

“Will you spend the night with me? I’ll read to you if you do.”

“Miss Beaumont, are you trying to bribe me?”

“If I were trying to bribe you into staying, I wouldn’t do it with the promise of reading a journal to you.”

“I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I never have to be bribed into spending the night with you. Truth be told, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to spend another night away from you.”

“I don’t want to spend another night away from you either.”

“Then don’t.”

One movie and two orgasms later that included somedeeply personal manner, we settle into bed for the reading of the journal. “What would you like me to read to you tonight?”

“I get to have sex with you now, so I’m open to anything except something that involves Frank sitting in jail.”

“I can pick up with the next entry, but it’s pretty mundane stuff for the next several months––just Frank working at the boat shop, Augustina learning to manage their household at the cottage. That kind of stuff.”

“I have a lot of years to catch up on. I think we can skip to something more exciting than working at the boat shop and managing the household.”

It might have been mundane stuff but they were in love. No woman was ever happier while washing her husband’s work clothes.

“Surprise me.”

I know just the thing. “Get comfortable. You know that you’re not going to move once you go to sleep.”

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