Soul Mates

by Jeane Watier

  “It’s here,” Chad replied. “I walked back and picked it up after you passed out.” He tossed the keys to Jace as he spoke. “What are you gonna do with it now?”

  “I don’t know,” Jace frowned, realizing he had a dilemma. There was a chance Sophie’s family would collect her belongings, and he wanted to avoid seeing Cassandra. “She mentioned a guy that handles her affairs,” he recalled. “He’s the one that bought the car for her.”

  “Do you know how to get in touch with him?”

  “No, but Sophie must have written his number somewhere. I’m gonna see if I can find it.” Jace left with a plan in mind. He’d call the guy—she’d said his name was Peter—and arrange to give him the keys to the car and the apartment. Then he’d never have to deal with Cassandra or her family again.

  Back at his building, his heart pounded as he ascended the flight of stairs to Sophie’s apartment. He’d dashed up the same stairs the day before, gripped by the knowing that something was wrong. Sadly, his intuition had been correct. As he fumbled with the key, the foreboding he felt was the result of having watched too many horror movies. Thoughts of disembodied spirits, objects moving of their own accord, and noises coming from empty rooms vied for his attention.

  He quickly banned the troublesome thoughts and reminded himself why he was there. He hoped to find an address book or if he was lucky, paperwork with the name of the firm Peter worked for. A small desk sat in the living room. Jace noted the fancy moldings and rich wood finish and thought again about Sophie’s interesting past. It was hard to imagine her as anything but the sweet little old lady that lived upstairs. Opening the drawer he found papers, but nothing relevant.

  As he moved to the kitchen to check more drawers, a sound in the hallway made him freeze. All of a sudden, Jace felt guilty for being there. What if someone finds me here? What if someone sees me going through her stuff and thinks I’m helping myself? He realized his plan had been impulsive, not to mention foolish. Now his fear was justified; he could be in real trouble if someone caught him there.

  As the sound in the hallway faded, he took a deep breath and continued searching. Thankfully, Sophie had kept her apartment organized. A drawer directly below the telephone contained a coil-bound address book. Names and numbers were listed neatly. After flipping through a few pages, he found the name Peter beside what looked like a law firm. He punched the number into his cell phone, locked the apartment door, and slipped down the stairs unseen.

  Back in his own living room, he sat for a moment to let his heart rate slow before he dialed the number. It was Sunday; he wasn’t expecting anyone to be there. Nevertheless, he intended to leave a message. He was caught off guard when a man answered.

  “Harmon, Corruthers, and Scott,” the voice said absently. “Peter Corruthers here.”

  “Um, Mr. Corruthers…,” Jace stumbled, not having planned what he wanted to say. “This is Jace Rutherford. I’m a neighbor of Sophia Langdon. I mean, I was. She…um…” Jace hoped he wasn’t the first to bear the bad news. “She passed away.”

  “Yes,” the man replied, “the family notified me.”

  Jace breathed easier. “I have some of her things.” He paused. “I wasn’t sure…um…who to call. I mean…I drove her car for her. But she let me use it…”

  “Yes, Mr. Rutherford.” The man sounded professional, yet had a note of compassion in his voice. “Mrs. Langdon advised me of the details of your agreement.”

  “Oh, good.” Jace released the rest of his angst. “I just wondered what to do with the car now. I have a key to her apartment, as well. I could…um…drop them off somewhere.”

  “I’m in the office, today, going over the details of her estate,” Peter offered. “Why don’t you bring the car here? I’ll park it in the underground lot. Do you know where the Oceanview Professional Building is?”

  “Sure,” Jace replied. “I can be there in about twenty minutes.”

  THE FUNERAL WAS set for Saturday. Cassandra was amazed at the ease with which the details were coming together. Sophia had prearranged all the particulars. She was to be cremated and her ashes buried alongside her late husband. The woman had even planned the music that was to be played at her memorial service.

  The family had yet to go through her belongings, but Cassandra was more comfortable with the idea now. Having taken the week off, she was confident that avoiding Jace was possible. Furthermore, she wanted to help. Not only did she hope to find a clue to the fifth principle, she had a genuine desire to learn more about her aunt.

  On Monday morning, she and Trevor went to the apartment while their father met with Sophia’s lawyer. Cassandra expected to see the black Honda parked in front and was surprised when it was nowhere in sight. “That’s funny,” she frowned. “I wonder what Jace did with Aunt Sophia’s car?”

  “He wouldn’t still be driving it, would he?”

  “No.” She shook her head firmly. Then a fragment of doubt crept in. “At least…I don’t think so.”

  As Cassandra unlocked the door with a spare key her father had given her, she remembered that Jace also had a key.

  “We should probably get the key back from Jace,” Trevor remarked, reading her mind. “We’ll have to give them all back to the landlord.” He shook his head. “It still seems hard to believe she rented this little, old apartment all these years.”

  Cassandra had wondered the same, but now she understood her aunt’s reasons. She explained it to Trevor. “I have such respect for her. She lived her life her way, regardless of what others thought. It takes a strong person to do that.”

  “It does,” Trevor agreed, smiling at his sister. “You’re like her, you know, Cass. I think that’s why she chose to pass her wisdom on to you.”

  “Maybe.” Cassandra appreciated the kind words, but they brought up questions that had been simmering in the back of her mind. “But Trev, I feel like I should do something with it. I mean, more than just using it for my own benefit.”

  “You can be an example to those around you, just like she was.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Doodlebug,” he asserted. “This is where you need to step back and trust the Universe. Let the details present themselves. Don’t try so hard to figure it out.”

  Trevor’s advice brought relief. Cassandra had been agonizing over the fact that she hadn’t learned the fifth principle, that she didn’t know what her aunt wanted her to do with the information. It felt good to let it go, if just for the afternoon.

  They spent the next few hours, sorting and organizing. Much of Sophia’s furniture was antique; it would probably bring a sizable sum at an auction. Some of her household effects were valuable as well, particularly the china and paintings. Cassandra wasn’t sure what her aunt had in mind for her belongings, but she was sure Sophia would have wanted them to go to a worthy cause.

  Opening a drawer in her aunt’s dresser, she remembered Jace’s remark about the jewelry. The comment stood out in Cassandra’s mind. As she thought back to recent visits, she couldn’t recall her aunt with any type of adornment, not even a ring. “Did Aunt Sophia have any jewelry on when you saw her in the hospital?” she asked Trevor.

  “Not that I noticed,” he shrugged. “Why?”

  “I didn’t see any either, but Jace said she was wearing some when he drove her to the fair. She must have taken it off before she lay down.”

  “It would still be here, then,” Trevor concluded. “You know, we should probably have it put in a safe. Some of her old stuff may be worth a lot.”

  “That’s what I was thinking, too.”

  Curious, she searched her aunt’s bedroom. She looked in her closet and under the bed. She even went through Sophia’s clothing. Trevor joined her in the search, but after nearly half an hour they’d uncovered nothing. Cassandra’s mind was working hard as well, trying to solve the mystery. If Aunt Sophia was so exhausted that she lay down without eating or changing her clothes, it’s unlikely she’d take the time to hide her
valuables. If she simply removed them, they’d be on her dresser or bedside table—unless she took them off in the bathroom. She went to check while Trevor continued to search.

  “Here we go,” he called from the hallway. “I found a jewelry box!”

  Cassandra breathed easier. In an attempt to make sense of it all, her mind brought up the fact that Jace had a key and knew about the jewelry. Scolding herself for entertaining such a thought, she went to see what her brother had found. She was eager to see what old jewelry her aunt would have kept from years past, sure that a wedding ring would be among the treasure. As she saw the expression on Trevor’s face, however, she stopped short.

  “It’s empty,” he frowned.

  They looked at each other, and Cassandra knew what her brother was thinking.

  “You don’t suppose…”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” she retorted. “Aunt Sophia trusted Jace. I felt that, too. I still feel it,” she softened. “He wouldn’t do something like this.”

  “But who else…?”

  “Let’s keep looking.” She cut him off, wanting more than anything to find the jewelry and exonerate Jace. “It’s got to be here somewhere; she just wore it two days ago.”

  The two split up and systematically went through the apartment. After an hour and a half, they were no further ahead. Another small ring box was found, but it too was empty.

  “Cass,” Trevor said gently. “It’s not here. We’d have found it by now. It’s a tiny apartment.”

  “Then where is it?” Cassandra demanded, frustrated and distraught by the possibility that they’d all misjudged Jace. She desperately wished another explanation would present itself, yet no matter how she rearranged the facts in her mind, nothing else made sense. Jace was the only one who’d seen the jewelry recently and the only other one who had access to Sophia’s apartment.

  JACE WALKED HOME from the bus stop. It was a hot, muggy day, and in his work clothes he was uncomfortably warm. Though his negative mood was exacerbated by his physical condition, it wasn’t the source of it. He’d been increasingly discouraged by the reality of Sophie’s death. She’d been the reason for his hope. Her generosity had eased his financial burden. Now he was right back where he’d been before he met her.

  How can I feel better about this? he asked himself, remembering Sophie’s advice. Her way of thinking held merit; he just wished she’d stuck around a little longer to help him really get it.

  He continued to walk, deep in thought, staring at the sidewalk in front of him. After a moment, his eye caught sight of something shiny. He bent to pick up a quarter. As he turned it over in his hand, Sophie’s voice sounded in his mind.

  “This coin represents money. One side is lack, the other abundance. You can tell which side you’re focused on by how you feel.”

  The words were in his head, yet they were clear and audible, as though Sophie were standing next to him. He was convinced, as he had been in the hospital, that he was concocting the dialogue, and the reason wasn’t hard to figure out. Their conversations had brought him comfort. Her words made sense; deep down he believed they were the answer to his problems.

  “Jace, if you can feel excited about the idea of having money one day, then that day isn’t far away.”

  This time, Jace shook his head in dismay. Her voice had interrupted his thoughts. And the sound was so rich and clear, Jace could almost swear he was hearing it with his ears. He didn’t mind hearing her advice. In fact, he was glad it had resonated with him enough that he could recall it and ultimately apply it. But what he’d just experienced was more than that. He’d not only heard her voice, he’d felt her presence. On top of that was the compelling sense that she was the reason the quarter was in his path.

  Man, he breathed, this is affecting me more than I realized. Despite the paranormal nature of the experience, Jace shrugged it off. Hearing her voice, her wisdom, had left him feeling better, and he welcomed the improvement. He decided not to analyze it.

  As he neared his building, Jace quickened his pace. He couldn’t wait to shed his sweaty clothes and step into a refreshing shower. Climbing the stairs to his apartment, he looked up the stairwell to the floor above. He smiled as he thought of his wise, old neighbor. Sophie, wherever you are…thank you.

  CASSANDRA EXAMINED her options as they drove back to the Town House. I could just not say anything. It’s unlikely that anyone else would know what, if any, jewelry Sophia owned. She couldn’t justify that choice; it was dishonest. Trevor’s aware of the missing jewelry now, too; I could never ask him to join me in covering up what could be a crime. So what do I say, then? If I mention Jace’s name, everyone will assume exactly what I did—that he’s guilty.

  As they neared the Town House, Trevor asked, “How do you want to handle this?”

  “I don’t know,” she sighed. “We probably should say something. But if we tell them what we know, Jace will be an obvious suspect. I can’t believe he’d do this, Trev.”

  Trevor pulled into the driveway. “It’s your call, Cass. I’ll go along with whatever you decide.”

  Cassandra was glad that he understood the difficult position she was in—wanting to do what was right yet knowing any action she took could have serious ramifications. “I need to talk to Jace first,” she concluded. It could be awkward, and if she didn’t handle it right he’d think she was accusing him, yet she didn’t know what else to do. “I’ll casually ask about the jewelry and see what he says. I’m sure I’ll be able to read him.”

  They agreed not to mention the missing jewelry until Cassandra had talked to Jace. She was somewhat relieved at being able to postpone telling her father. He was an honest and fair man. He’d weigh all the evidence before he took legal action, but as it stood, all the evidence pointed to Jace being guilty.

  “SO ARE YOU going to the funeral?” Sarah asked as Jace walked into her kitchen that evening. “It’s Saturday afternoon, one o’clock, at the Harborside Community Center. Strange place to be having a funeral for someone with her connections,” she continued, not waiting for a reply. “I hear she planned everything herself. And the word is, her highness doesn’t want to attend.”

  “Why not?” Jace asked, not really wanting to hear, but knowing his mom would probably volunteer the information anyway.

  “She wanted Mr. Van to change the location to a more upscale venue like the Regency Room at the Hilton or the Carthright Center, but he wouldn’t budge. Said they were going to respect his aunt’s wishes. I have to give it to him, you know. From what I hear, he’s a pretty decent guy; he puts up with a lot.”

  Hearing details about Cassandra’s parents made Jace wince. It was more proof that a relationship with her wouldn’t have worked, for which he should have been glad, yet thinking about her still evoked a longing he didn’t know what to do with.

  “So are you going?” she asked again.

  “Nah,” he shook his head, surprised that what had been a clear-cut no in his mind was sounding less than definite. “I don’t think so.”

  “It’s probably just as well. Regardless of the location, high society will be on parade. No one will want to chance insulting Port Hayden’s ‘royal’ family,” she scoffed.

  Jace’s discomfort was increasing, so he looked for a way to change the subject. Knowing that his mom’s maternal instincts would take priority over her need to gossip, he opened the fridge. “What do you have to eat?”

  “There’s casserole left over.” She immediately switched roles. “Let me make you some cheese toast to go with it. Are you eating all right? You look like you’ve lost weight.”

  “I’m fine, Mom,” he assured her, glad for the change in conversation. He appreciated the food, too. His own fare at home had been boring lately, and his mom’s cheese toast was the best.

  As he ate, he thought of something else he wanted to discuss with his mother. “Mom,” he began hesitantly. “Do you think that if Dad hadn’t gotten sick, you guys would be doing okay financially?
I mean, would you have had a comfortable life?”

  Sarah frowned at her son. “Yeah…I guess. I mean, it was always a little tight, but we had plans, dreams. Why do you ask?”

  “I want to make something with my life,” he admitted. “I want to get ahead.” As he stated his desires, suddenly they sounded weak. He needed to let his mom know it was more than frivolous dreaming. “I intend to be well off one day, and I’m going to find a way to make that happen,” he declared with determination.

  “Wow.” She looked at him oddly. “Where did that come from all of a sudden? I’ve never heard you talk like that before.”

  “I don’t know,” he shrugged, not wanting to mention Sophie. “I’ve been feeling this way for a while, but lately…I feel like I could make it happen if I really put my mind to it.”

  She shook her head, still frowning. “I knew someone once with an attitude like that.” She smiled, and Jace noticed a far-off look in her eyes. “He had big dreams; he was determined. You just knew when you heard him talk that nothing was going to stop him from reaching his goals.”

  “Who was he?”

  “Oh someone I knew when I was younger. We dated for a year or so.”

  “So what happened?” Jace was curious. He suspected there was plenty she wasn’t saying, and suddenly he wanted to learn about his mom’s past. They’d never had that kind of conversation before—adult to adult—and it felt good.

  “He left Port Hayden. We didn’t keep in touch. I heard through the grapevine that he became very successful, married…all that.” Her expression changed as she put a stop to the reminiscing and got back to their conversation. “It’s a good attitude to have, though. Probably the key to success. I’ve sure seen it in the people I’ve worked for.”

  “I’ll be successful one day…and rich, too,” he asserted with a confidence that surprised him.

  Sarah smiled. “With a mindset like that, I believe you will, son.”

  Jace felt love and pride radiating from her, and he had to add, “And when I am, I’ll buy you a house and hire a maid to do your work. You’ll never have to lift a finger again.”