Page 70 of The Soul Never Forgets

“Of course I will.”

She looks so hopeful. “Do you think she’ll come?”

“She’ll be on the first bus down here when she finds out that her grandson has arrived.”

“Oh, Frank, that would be wonderful. It would put my mind at ease to have someone I can turn to for help.”

“I’ll send a letter to my aunt’s house first thing tomorrow and I can guarantee you that she’ll be here as soon as possible.”

“I wish I’d been able to meet her before now. She’s probably going to hear all the questions I have and think I’m too ignorant to raise her grandchild.”

My mother would never think Gussy is ignorant. “She was a first-time mother once too and someone taught her how to raise children. She’ll understand your worries and fears and be happy to teach you everything she knows.”

“That is such a relief. Nothing makes you feel more helpless than not knowing how to care for your child.”

“I think you know more than you’re giving yourself credit for. God gave you maternal instincts just like He gave newborn instincts and reflexes to our son.” I rub my finger against the side of his lips, and he turns toward my finger, opening his mouth wide. “See what I mean?”

“How did you get him to do that?”

“It’s instinct for him. His mouth is searching for your breast.”

“Should I try to nurse him?”

“Open the top of your gown and try putting him to your breast. See if he wants it.”

Gussy adjusts her position, pushing her gown down her shoulders until it puddles at her waist. She holds out her arms, and I place Will inside them. She cradles him in her arms and positions him so his mouth is pressed to her breast. Instinct is triggered, and I watch the bond between my child and his mother begin.

Chapter16

Caroline Beaumont

New Orleans,Louisiana

Present Day

Dawsey is smilingat me when I open my eyes. “Frank and Gussy had a son.”

So he landed where I was hoping to send him. Maybe it’s possible that there is some kind of science to piercing the veil of time.

“William Franklin Harrison. Will. Is he their only child?”

“Do you really want to know the answer and ruin the surprise?” I think it would be fun for Dawsey to go back and get to find out everything firsthand.

I have a thing for delayed gratification.

“You experienced their entire lives in hyper speed over three months. It isn’t possible for me to experience every little event in their lives at the rate I’m going. I need you to catch me up on some things.”

He’s right. The rate at which he’s reliving Frank’s life and the rate that I relived Gussy’s while I was in the coma are two entirely different speeds.

“Spoiler alert… Will is the oldest of their four children.”

“Four children.Wow. I guess it’s no wonder that both of us want four kids. It’s what we’re used to.”

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we both have that number in our heads.”

“How many boys, how many girls do they have?”

I hate ruining the surprise. Oh well. “Frank was certain that baby number two would be the little red-haired girl he pictured. Wrong again. The second one was another chunky baby boy. He came three years after Will and they named him Josh, short for Joshua.”

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