My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance) by Melissa Solis Read Free Book Online Page A

her badge.
    “Oh thank heaven, Edith.” I smile as Elijah squeezes
my shoulder. I am glad he is still on a touching basis with me at least. I picture
myself pinning him against the wall as we round the corner.
“Well look what the cat drug in!” Grandma teases as she gets out of her chair
and throws her frail arms around me.
    “Hey Grandma, how are you?”   I hug her neck and I don’t let go until I
squash the tears welling in my eyes.
    “Hey now, what’s this about, everything all right
with my little girl?” She has a strong southern accent. Her salt and pepper
hair is coiffed into the South’s signature curled football helmet.
    “Oh Grandma, I just missed you that’s all.” And someone wants to kill me . I sit in
the chair next to her. “Grandma, do you remember Elijah he lives next door.”
She turns to him and is unsure of whether or not she knows him. But she gives
him a curt nod to be polite.
    “How’s your daddy?” Oh dear, she’s slipped away too
soon.
    “Daddy’s fine Grandma, I’m sure he’ll be along soon
to visit you.” Her doctors say to just go along with whatever she believes to
be factual for the day, because causing further stress magnifies the effects.
Elijah mouths he will wait outside and sneaks out the door.
    “Well he better,” she huffs as she pulls the sleeves
of her jacket down. She is dressed more for the country club than the cafeteria
in a pastel pants suit.
    “Now what else is bothering you child?” She holds my
hand, her own being as feeble as paper. I am afraid if I squeeze too hard it
would break.  
    “Well there is a guy I like, but…”
    “Now you listen here if it’s one thing I know, which
ain’t much, it’s that men will give you hell until you put your foot down. I
tell you what.” I laugh and smile at my grandmother. I love hearing her
stories, they usually have nothing to do with the conversation at hand, but
still relevant in my book.
    “Your Grandpa went out drinking one night, missed
super and everything that night, he had never done that. When he got home I
didn’t say one word to him I just let him stumble in and kiss my cheek and he
knew, he took one look at me and he knew he had made a mistake. He got down on
his knees, wrapped his arms around my legs and swore he’d never be late again.
And do you know? He was never late coming home again. In fact he is due here
for breakfast in a few and I bet you money he will be here on time.” This story
she remembers, a time from before I was even born. I nod amazed at how the
brain works. My grandfather passed away twenty years ago.
    “It all boils down to trust, it’s something no
relationship can survive without.”   Fair
point, I mean I obviously have to trust Elijah with my life. I wonder if he
trusts me to keep things a secret.
“How do you get someone to trust you?”
          “Do you
trust me?”
          “Yes Grandma.”
          “Why?”
          “Cause you
have always been there for me. I know you’d never lie to me.”
    “Always, is the key. Always takes time. Always
doesn’t come tomorrow or in a week. You never want to keep things secret for
too long Brennen.” She is so full of words of wisdom today. I ponder her advice
for a moment. I wonder what secrets she has kept for too long.
    “Like when your daddy gave you that necklace for
your eighteenth birthday.” Great now she has memories that never even happened.
I won’t be eighteen for five more months.
    “What necklace Grandma?”
    “You remember, the one that he found the day someone
left you on the back steps of the house. You were just the tiniest thing God
ever made!” The color has bled from my face. Please let her be making up fake
memories.
    “Grandma I don’t remember the story, can you tell me
one more time please?” My voice is trembling and small.
    “Well I hope I can remember.” She laughs at herself.
“Let’s see, your daddy was going out on his usual five a.m. morning run