Page 59 of The Soul Never Forgets

“Do what you feel you must. Just know that there’s no pressure from me. You have my trust.”

Dawsey loves me. I’m the only one he wants, so there’s no need for distrust or jealousy.

But annoyance? Oh yes. That’s justified.

Dawsey pulls into Coco’s driveway and parks the car. “This is a beautiful house.”

“All of my best childhood memories happened in this house.”

“You’re lucky you had this place as a refuge from what was happening at home with your mother.”

“Coco was a mother to me in ways that Lilly Beaumont wasn’t.”

“Some of the best mothers we have aren’t our mothers at all.”

“I’m the only non-blood grandchild she has, and I’m her favorite. She told me so.” I lower my voice. “But I’m not supposed to tell anyone. Oops.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

I call out to my grandmother as we enter the front door. I always do because I don’t want to startle her. “We’re here, Coco.”

“I’ll be right there,” she calls back from the kitchen.

“I told her she didn’t have to cook for us, but she insisted.” Nothing makes her happier than feeding those she loves.

Coco comes into the living room, drying her hands on a dish towel. “Oh my goodness. The soul mate is here. Meeting you has been a long time coming.”

“Dawsey, this is my grandmother, Colette Beaumont. Better known as Coco.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Beaumont.”

Coco opens her arms and wraps them around Dawsey. “There’ll be none of this Mrs. Beaumont business. You’re Caroline’s soul mate. That makes you family. You’ll call me Coco just as she does.”

“Yes, ma’am. We are family now so I’d love for you to call me Dawsey.”

My grandmother releases her hold on him and steps back, studying him. “Oh, Caroline. He’s just as handsome as you said he was.”

“I know.”

Dawsey grins and maybe blushes. “You didn’t tell me your grandmother was such a flirt.” He holds out the bouquet of flowers he brought for her. “For you, Coco.”

Coco giggles like a young girl, taking the bouquet from him. “Oh, I’m the flirt, am I?”

“You’re both flirts.”

Coco brings the flowers to her nose and sniffs. “It’s been years since a handsome man brought flowers to me. These are beautiful.”

“Cara tells me your husband made sure you always had fresh flowers in the house.”

“He sure did for as long as he was able. Byron was thoughtful that way.” She smiles and gestures to the bouquet. “Let’s go to the kitchen so I can put these in water. Don’t want to forget and let these beauties wilt.”

Dawsey and I follow Coco into the kitchen. “Smells good in here. What’s for dinner?”

“Fried chicken, potatoes, green beans, fried okra, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, and cornbread.”

How many soul mates does she think I have? “Lord, Coco. You could feed a dozen people with all that food.”

“You know it isn’t possible for me to cook a meat and two vegetables when there’s company coming.”

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