Page 11 of The Soul Never Forgets

“I’m pretty sure it’s me. And just so you know, I’d still come see you if you never cooked another meal for me.” Unlike Chase and my cousins who only come around when they want something out of our grandmother.

Coco and I have been damn near inseparable since I woke from the coma. She hasn’t said so, but I know she’s afraid that I’ll go to sleep, fall into another coma, and never wake again. It’s a rational concern for her to have since we still have no real explanation for what happened to me.

But I have no fears of slipping into another coma. All wrongs were made right. Augustina’s murder didn’t happen. Frank didn’t go to prison. They lived happily ever after, and I’m no longer star-crossed with my soul mate. Now it’s my turn to have my happily ever after.

“How did your appointment go with the new therapist?”

“It was wonderful. There’s no other way to describe it.”

“Ohhh… so you like your new therapist that much, huh?”

“Oh, I definitely like my new therapist.” Like isn’t a strong enough word to describe the way I feel about Dr. Jude Dawson Wescott.

“This is such a relief. Tell me all about him or her.”

“He’s younger than I expected.” It’s a little odd that Landon didn’t mention that when he was telling me about Dr. Wes.

“How young is he?”

Frank passed away two years before Augustina. That means Dr. Wes must be two years older than me which would make him thirty-one. “Early thirties. And Coco, he’s so handsome. His hair is dark, nearly black, with a few stray grays around his temples. The stubble on his face around his chin looks like it has a little gray in it too. At first glance, most people might decide that his eyes are brown, but they’re not. They’re golden brown like a mix of amber and honey. Three lines form over his brow when he’s concentrating. And there are dimples in both cheeks when he smiles. Oh, and there’s also a small scar over his left eyebrow where the hair doesn’t grow.”

Coco laughs. “Sounds like you were studying him closely.”

“It was impossible to look away from him.” I should have shown restraint, but I couldn’t help myself. He must have thought I was shameless for the way I was staring at him.

Shameless or crazy.

“Is this handsome young therapist single?”

“He wasn’t wearing a wedding band.”

Dr. Wes and I have been star-crossed our entire lives. I never considered the possibility that he might have given up on waiting for me and married someone else. I probably should have put some thought to that. I’ve dated other people, and I’m sure he has as well.

“How did your appointment go?”

“Today’s session was a basic first meeting. He only asked me to tell him about my general life––friends, family, career, love life. We didn’t get into any of the heavy stuff.”

“So you didn’t discuss your gifts with him at all?”

Oh, sweet Coco. Always seeing my quirks asgiftswhen everyone else would see them as lunacy.

“Not today. I’m sure we’ll get to that on Monday.”

“You mean this coming Monday?” The pitch of Coco’s voice rises. “As in three days from now?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Coco stops stirring the mixture for the bread pudding, giving me her full attention. “Why are you going back so soon? Is something wrong? Does he think you’re in some kind of crisis?”

My grandmother doesn’t need to get upset. I should have started by telling her that all is well. “Oh no. It’s nothing like that. He just doesn’t want to wait a full week to see me.”

“There’s something you aren’t telling.”

There she goes with her sixth-sense stuff.

“There is but only because I haven’t gotten to it yet.” My fingers lace together to from a prayer clasp. “Something wonderful has happened.”

“You don’t have to tell me what it is. I see it all over your face. You’ve found him. Your soul mate.”

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