Page 76 of The Soul Never Forgets

“Letters aren’t enough. I want you here with Will and me. This is an important time in his life, and he needs his father to be with him.”

“You know I want to be here with the two of you.”

Gussy shakes her head. “You mean you want to be here with the three of us.”

“Three?”

Gussy grabs my hand and places it over her stomach. “The doctor says we can expect this one to come in October.”

“We’re having another baby?”

“Yes.” A sob rumbles in her chest. “And you won’t be here when he’s born. I’ll be all alone.”

“I’m so sorry, my love. You know I would be here with you if it was possible.”

“Yes, I know you would. That’s one of the reasons I’m so angry. I know you’d be here if the decision was yours, but your choice has been taken away from you.”

“You won’t be alone. You’ll have Mrs. Le Blanc. She’ll be happy to stay with you and help. And Lena too.”

I rub my hand over Gussy’s abdomen and direct her attention back to the baby. I don’t want to spend our last night together with her in a fury about this war. “This one’s our little red-haired girl. I know it this time.”

“Do you really think so? Because I already think it’s another boy. I feel just like I did last time I was pregnant.”

“You’ve never had a girl so how do you know what it feels like to be pregnant with a girl? It could feel the same as a boy.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“It’ll be one or the other so one of us will be right. I’m voting for a girl.”

“Because that’s what you think it is or because that’s what you want.”

“Both.”

“You were wrong last time,” she reminds me.

“I’m not wrong this time. This baby is a girl. There’s no doubt in my mind.”

“You found out about Will’s safe arrival when you came into our bedroom after his delivery. This time you’ll find out in a letter if you have another son or a daughter. The baby will already be several weeks old, maybe even months, when you find out about it. It’ll depend upon how the mail is moving from the US to wherever you’re stationed in October.”

“I’d give anything to be with you when the baby comes. You have to know that I’ll be a nervous wreck across the ocean waiting for your letter to arrive so I know you and the baby are safe and healthy.”

She snuggles against me. “I hate this.”

“I hate it too but you know what? I love you, and I want to make the most of the time we have together before I leave in the morning.”

Gussy nods. “No more talk of the war or being apart. I promise.”

Chapter19

Caroline Beaumont

New Orleans,Louisiana

Present Day

Dawsey openshis eyes and stretches, smiling when his eyes meet mine. “Good morning, beautiful girl.”

“Good morning, you bangable beefcake.”

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