Soulmates Read Online Free

discussing it with you. Ask your brother-in-law if you want answers.” She slipped her glasses on and walked faster toward the house. “And don’t bother me again, Jeff. Ever.” With that, she went into the veranda, but remembering something, she stepped back out. “And return my house key. I’ll send Dan over this afternoon for it.” She was glad she’d made the last comment because it did her good to see the look of regret and remorse on Jeff’s face. He’d brought it on himself.
    Her best friend after Jack died, Pam trusted Jeff as she had no other person. Without Jeff, she would have been alone while the children were away at college. His betrayal was so devastating, ending their friendship was the only choice she had. Pretending nothing had happened between them was not an option. It would have been so nice to have Jeff and his new husband, Ted close by, a ready-made, built in family. But for whatever reason the universe saw fit, it wasn’t to be.
    What was the reason any of this had happened? She hated it when people used the expression it happened for a reason . What possible reason? She reminded herself that someone else was sure to fill the void distancing Jeff left, making the loneliness bearable. The key was not to look too far ahead. Today, she had her family, and that would be enough.
    Lisa and Dan returned with the children and Gladys, filling the next hours with the sound of two boys; one-year old Marcus and his younger half-brother, Dan, Jr., the son of former Miss New York, Cara Ellison. Marcus loved the baby already. Lisa put Dan, Jr. on a blanket on the floor and Marcus would sit next to him, keeping him occupied with toys and the occasional dirty finger to suck.
    Sister Megan, two and a half going on thirty-six, asked undecipherable questions non-stop and was Lisa’s daughter with her late husband, Ed. And lastly, Miranda, Marie’s daughter, a quiet four-year old who was content to stay close to Lisa and observe. Lisa’s usual posture was with a baby on her hip, Miranda next to her with Lisa’s hand on her shoulder. Unconsciously, every so often Lisa would gently pull the little girl closer to her and rub her arm, the love between the two of them obvious.
    Until recently when they broke up, Sandra and her ex-boyfriend, New York cop Tom had had conditional custody of Miranda after Marie’s death. During that time, they never mentioned Marie’s name and others were reluctant to bring it up in case it would make Sandra and Tom uncomfortable.
    After the break up, Miranda came to live with Lisa and Dan. Slowly, the family was introducing your real mommy into conversations. “Your real mommy had the same color hair as you.”
    “You have the exact same eye color as your real mommy.”
    “Your real mommy is in heaven,” Gladys had said to her. If Miranda was thinking about Marie, she kept it to herself.
    Sandra didn’t put up a fight that Lisa was taking Miranda now that she had son Brent to occupy her time. He was Pam’s grandson from her late son Brent.
    Back at Pam’s, Lisa was attempting to help her adapt to her new family. “Do you want to play with Megan and Granny Gladys?” Lisa asked. Miranda shook her head and crept in a little closer.
    “The reception must be over,” Dan said when the phone started to ring. Lisa, Nelda and Pam circled the machine, screening calls. Anyone who really wanted to talk to her would call her cell phone and so far, only Jeannie and Pam’s sisters got in touch.
    “I hope you’re okay,” Susan said, then correcting herself. “Well, of course , you’re okay! This is small potatoes after what you’ve been through. We were going to stop by if that was okay. Let me know by four.”
    “What do you think?” Pam asked Nelda.
    “Let them come if you think it will help you. I don’t have to see either one. How friggin sad is that?” Pam patted her arm.
    “Sorry, Mother. I’m going to tell them to come because we might not see them again for a long