Page 78 of The Soul Never Forgets

“Holy shit. I got shot? Where?”

“Actually no. He was home with Gussy when she gave birth.”

I sit up and press my finger against Dawsey’s right shoulder. “Right here. It was a clean shot. It never gave you trouble after it healed. It happened right here exactly where your birthmark is.”

“That’s not a coincidence, is it?”

“I’ve read that people who are reincarnated will bear a birthmark in the same place that the former life received an injury, one that usually resulted in their death.”

“That’s cool. I mean not that they died a death due to physical trauma but that a mark could be passed from one person to the next.”

“I lived with Frank for decades, and I’m very familiar with his injury. Your birthmark is in the exact same spot. There’s no way to prove it but I think there’s some truth to the theory.”

“Frank gambled, pulled guns on people who threatened Gussy, went to jail to protect her, and was a war hero who served his country and took a bullet. He was a badass.”

“Frank was a good, hardworking man. Augustina was proud to call him her husband. Especially when they ran into her parents years after they eloped.”

“I bet that went to hell in a hurry.”

“Simon and Lena remained best friends with Frank and Augustina throughout their lives. They had invited Frank and Augustina to join them for dinner at a restaurant in Biloxi. That’s where they ran into Benjamin and Marguerite Lebeau.”

“How did that go down?”

“There was a little initial shock from all parties, and then Marguerite made some rude remarks expressing her surprise that Frank hadn’t gotten Augustina with child and run off, leaving her with a brat to raise on her own. Augustina was pleased to tell the Lebeaus that they were doing well, very much in love, and were the proud parents of two beautiful, healthy sons that they’d never have the pleasure of meeting.”

“That was the only time they saw the Lebeaus?”

“No. They ran into each other a few times over the decades. One time, Frank and Augustina had taken all four children to the local department store to buy new shoes. It was the one and only time Marguerite ever saw her grandchildren when they were young.”

“Did Marguerite acknowledge them or pretend she didn’t know who they were?”

“Oh, she acknowledged them. She was besotted by the children’s beauty. Which was a very Marguerite thing. She placed a lot of value on appearance. She asked Augustina their names and ages and then told her that they were the most beautiful children she’d ever seen. She asked if she could pay for their shoes and take the whole family to lunch. She acted as though she and Benjamin had never tried to kill Augustina or had Frank thrown into jail for two months.”

“I hope she said no.”

“She told her she didn’t need her charity because her husband made a fine living.”

“Good for her. I’m glad she didn’t allow that woman into the children’s lives even if she could have used some help with paying for four pairs of new shoes.”

“They didn’t need help with paying for the shoes. Frank had taken over the boat shop by that time, and they were comfortable in their finances.”

“Even better.”

Dawsey reaches for and grabs the back of my neck, pulling me in for a closed-mouth kiss. “I don’t know where the morning has gone. It’s already a quarter till nine. We should probably get ready for our brunch date. I’d hate to make a bad impression with your mom by being late.”

“I don’t care about being on time, but I’m more than happy to get in the shower with you right now if you’ll let me.”

“How could I turn down an invitation like that?”

* * *

Shrimp.Oysters. Cheese Squares. Celery salt. Worcestershire sauce.

Bacon. Baby corn. Pickled jalapeños. Hot sauce.

Can I just say that whoever came up with the idea for building your own Bloody Mary is a damn genius?

Dawsey and I are finishing our first Bloody Mary when he looks at his watch. “What time was your mother supposed to be here?”

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