Page 5 of The Soul Never Forgets

Present Day

Nausea.Sweaty palms. Rapid heartbeat. That’s what I usually feel as I sit in the waiting room of a new therapist or psychiatrist. Not today. I’m composed, in control, and carefree. Not at all the usual mess with knots in my stomach.

Dr. Wescott is a high-demand health-care provider. I called to schedule my first appointment with him, and he didn’t have a new patient opening until March, four months away. Although inopportune, I take that as a good sign. So I did the only thing I could––took the first one available and asked them to call me if anything opened up.

And then a happenstance occurred.

Miss Beaumont. We had a cancellation so Dr. Wescott has an opening tomorrow at four o’clock. Would you like to reschedule or keep the appointment you have for March?

It required a little juggling and some help from Dee Dee but of course I took the opening. How could I not when it magically fell into my lap?

The door opens and a woman—a nurse, I suppose—stands in the doorway. “Beaumont.”

All right. Here we go.

How many times has this happened––my treatment transferred to the care of a new provider? I can think of at least eight right off the top of my head. We, my mother and I, were on to the next doctor every time one of them initiated a discussion with my mother regarding the apparent improvement of my condition.

“Good afternoon, Miss Beaumont. How are you today?”

“I’m doing pretty good. How are you?”

“It’s Friday afternoon and that makes everything better. It’s been a busy week around here, so I’m ready for some R & R this weekend.”

Riley will spend the weekend with Landon. Teagan will spend the weekend with Tanner. I’ll spend my weekend with me, myself, and I.

I should get a dog. And name him Hank. My true soul mate could be sitting at the animal shelter right now, waiting to be adopted.

She leads me down the hallway and into the last room on the left. “Oh. Dr. Wescott must have slipped out when I wasn’t looking.” She looks puzzled. “No worries. Take a seat, and he’ll be with you soon.”

“Thank you.”

The room is large and divided into three sections: two loveseats facing one another, a chaise with a chair next to it, and a desk and chair with two chairs facing it. I’ve been in a lot of psychotherapy offices before but none like this one. I like this.

I explore the room and examine his framed degrees on the wall. They’re hanging straight and are free of dust, so we’re off to a good start. “Dr. Jude Dawson Wescott.” Cool name.

I meant to do some research on Dr. Wescott before my appointment but I got busy and didn’t have time. I’m going into this session blindly. Landon’s recommendation is the only thing I have to go on.

There’s a large framed photograph hanging on the wall of three men on a fishing boat, one holding his fresh catch. I’m guessing it’s Dr. Wescott with his sons since the two younger men look like the older one.

Wow. Dr. Wescott has some good-looking sons. I wonder if he’d be willing to matchmake one of his patients with the taller one. He’s super hot. Maybe the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. I can’t stop looking at him.

He’s so familiar. Do I know him? Have we met?

“Miss Beaumont?” a man calls out from behind me. His voice is so many things at once: warm, soothing, calming.

Familiar.

I turn toward the voice and the energy in the room shifts in an instant. All at once, I become warm and fuzzy. Heady even.

“Yes, I’m Caroline Beaumont.”

He walks toward me, extending his hand, and I realize that Dr. Wescott is not the older man in the photograph. He’s the super-hot one. The beautiful one.

The familiar one.

“Hello. I’m Dr. Wescott and––” His words trail off and three deep lines form across his brow as he studies my face.

The world stops turning when his hand touches mine, and a silent conversation occurs between our souls. An intense déjà vu pulsates through my veins when I look into those eyes the color of amber stone with golden flecks of warm honey. It’s the first time I’m seeing them, and yet it feels as though I’ve stared into them a million times before.

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