Page 35 of The Soul Never Forgets

She wipes the water from her eyes and rubs them. “What do you think is going to happen?”

“The police will most certainly believe your father’s accusations if we go on the run. They probably will anyway, but running is what guilty people do. I can’t do it. I have to stay and face this head-on.”

“They will arrest you.”

“They’ll come for me at the boat shop in the morning and take me to jail. I’ll probably have to stay for a while, and they’ll try to make me tell them where you are. But I won’t. They’ll have to let me go at some point because I can’t be charged with anything.” Unless they come up with bogus charges, which they could, but I know Mr. Le Blanc will help me.

“I can’t bear the thought of you sitting in jail because of me.”

“I’ll be fine. They’ll figure out that I won’t tell them where you are, and I’ll be back before you know it.” Hopefully.

“If my parents want me back badly enough, they’ll hire private investigators to find me.”

Damn. “I hadn’t considered that.”

“They’re ruthless when they want something.”

“If I’m followed to this house when I leave the station, I’ll have led them straight to you.”

“You see what I mean? I think we should leave town as soon as possible. We can catch a bus out of here first thing in the morning.”

“They’re going to be watching the bus station, my love.”

She inhales deeply and then blows a loud raspberry. “Everyone thinks I’m so lucky for being born a rich Lebeau, but they have no idea what it’s really like.”

“I don’t want to jump the gun and leave town if it’s not necessary. Let me speak to the authorities first, and then we’ll make a plan.”

“We won’t be making any plans if you are in jail or if you can’t come back to me after you’re released.”

“We’re going to be apart for a while whether I’m locked up in jail or staying away so I don’t lead them to you. But I’ll get messages to you and come back as soon as it’s safe.”

“This could be our last night together for only God knows how long.”

“Then we better make the most of it.”

Chapter8

Caroline Beaumont

New Orleans,Louisiana

Present Day

There’s beenno change with him since last night. He’s lying in the same position on my couch. His breathing is steady and rhythmic. His eyes are chaotic between his lids.

He’s dreaming so hard. I hate to wake him but it’s a new day, and it waits for no one.

“Dr. Wes.” I giggle to myself for calling him that. “Dawsey” is going to take a little getting used to.

“Dawsey,” I whisper as I shake his shoulder with a gentle force. He opens his eyes and blinks several times. “Hey, sleepyhead. Good morning”

He blinks several times. “Good morning?”

“Yes, morning. It’s half past six. You’ve been asleep for ten hours.”

He jolts up. “Nah, no way.”

Yes way. “You fell asleep right after I started reading my journal. You were sleeping so deeply. I couldn’t bear to wake you to go home, so I left you to sleep on the couch.”

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