The Soul Always Remembers: The Beacon Series by Georgia Cates

Author:Georgia Cates [Cates, Georgia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Georgia Cates Books
Published: 2022-06-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Augustina Lebeau

Pascagoula, Mississippi

June 10, 1939

Frank hops on his motorcycle, and I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist. We speed away from the betting house, and I press the side of my face to his back, hoping to salvage my hairstyle. Not because I care if my hair comes undone. I don’t want to look like I have a rooster comb on top of my head when we reach where he’s taking me.

My effort is in vain. My updo doesn’t stay up for long, and my locks blow in the wind.

Twice today, my hair has been a tangled mess. I thought I would never get all the knots out after Frank took me sailing earlier today.

He drives to Le Blanc’s Watercraft and pulls the motorcycle into the shop, closing the door behind us. “Many people saw me walk out of there with this money. I need to make sure it's safe.”

It’s in this moment that I realize how risky gambling can be. Especially when you’re good at it. Lose money––no problem. Win a few bucks––no problem. But win hundreds of dollars and it becomes a different story.

A blur of gold races toward us and Frank bends down, petting the top of Hank’s head. “Hello, boy. You keeping the place safe for me?”

My favorite golden dog pounces, his front paws landing on my upper abdomen. I wrap my hands around his ears and massage. “Hello, Hank! It’s good to see you again.”

“Ah, come on, Hank. You’re getting August’s pretty dress dirty.”

“He’s fine. I don’t mind.” It’s washable.

I’ve always wanted a dog, but my parents wouldn’t allow it. They called them filthy beasts and said they were good for nothing.

Is love good for nothing? Is it only deemed worthy if it comes from a living being with a large bank account and parents who attend all the right social events? My parents think so. But I disagree.

Unconditional love is everything. I know I would have loved a dog with all my heart, and it would have loved me in return without conditions. It's more than I can say for my parents.

I follow Frank to the back of the shop with Hank in tow, and he puts his hand on a doorknob, pausing before he turns it. “I need to tell you something.”

“Nothing good ever follows those words.”

“It isn't good this time.” Frank sighs. “I live here at the shop. Mr. Le Blanc has a storage room in the back, and he lets me stay in it for free.”

Frank and I have never discussed where he lives. I hadn’t given it a lot of thought. I assumed he rented a place to live.

Where he lives changes nothing. “When are you going to figure out you can tell me anything, and it won’t change how I feel about you?”

“It’s hard for someone like me to be with someone like you. You live in this beautiful big house on the beach, and it’s not even your actual house. It’s where you live for three months out of the year when you vacation.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.