Page 77 of The Soul Never Forgets

His smile broadens.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?”

“Aside from having just been called a bangable beefcake, I’m wondering how I got so lucky?”

“Lucky how?”

“I get to make love to a beautiful blonde, fall asleep with her in my arms, and then I become someone else and make love to a redhead in my dreams. And it feels as though it’s truly happening. I get to be with two women every night. Most guys only dream of that and it’s my reality.”

“You failed to mention the most important detail––your fiancée doesn’t get mad at you for being with another woman in your dreams.”

“My fiancée doesn’t get mad at me for being with another woman in my dreams, plus I can tell her all about my sexcapades. That’s one of the best parts in my opinion. I have the best life ever.”

“The other woman can only be one particular woman. No others. Another important detail that should never be forgotten.”

“Never, my love.”

“Are you nervous about meeting my mother today?”

“No. Are you nervous about introducing me to her?”

“I’m nervous about her reaction. She’s been known to behave badly on more than one occasion.” It can be humiliating.

“Then it’s a good thing that I’m talented when it comes to handling people who behave badly.”

That’s something I haven’t given much thought to. Fate knew what it was doing when it sent Dawsey to me just as it knew what it was doing when it sent Frank to Augustina.

“My mother won’t be able to manipulate you, and that’s going to send her into orbit. You should be prepared for a showdown.”

“Let her do her worst. I’m ready for her.”

I roll toward Dawsey and prop up on my elbows. “Tell me about your dream last night. I’m curious to find out if you landed where I was hoping you would.”

“I disembarked the time machine and was in bed with Gussy, which is always a good place to land.”

I playfully slap his bare chest. “You are such a horndog.”

He strains to partially sit up and kiss my mouth. “Only since I met you, my love.”

I push him down on the bed. “Tell me what was happening.”

“Frank had been drafted to fight in World War II and was leaving the next morning. It was his last night with Gussy before he was to deploy overseas.”

“Ugh, that was the worst time of their marriage.”

“Gussy told him she was pregnant again. Will was two so I guess that pregnancy would have been Josh?”

“Yes, she carried him to term and delivered in October just as the doctor said she would.”

“That doctor is pretty spot-on for the time with his due-date predictions.”

“He was a good doctor.”

“So I guess Frank was across the pond and found out about the baby by mail after he was born.”

“How did he come to be home?”

“Frank was shot in the line of duty and discharged home a week before Josh was born.”

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