Soulmates by Suzanne Jenkins Page A

she cried.
    “We’ll discuss it later,” Mr. Johnson grumbled, shooting her a warning look.
    “That’s a different thing altogether,” the clerk interrupted. “You’ll have to go to court for anything pertaining to the child. You’ve lost your custodial rights.”
    Although Cara already knew this, hearing it again brought on a fresh torrent of revulsion for Dan and Lisa. “For no fucking reason,” she spit out, Johnson grabbing her arm.
    “Unless you want to reinstate your original sentence, you better be quiet,” he hissed. “Shut… the hell… up!” She wrestled out of his grasp and started walking toward the door, wanting to be in the fresh air, the mildew stench of the room overpowering. Standing by his car crying, Cara fought to regain control, aware that once false move and she would be incarcerated in a flash.
    “You must have a death wish,” he said, unlocking her door.
    “I’m upset! I want to see my son,” she cried.
    “You should have thought of that before you knocked his father over the head with a frying pan. Now get in. If someone sees you giving me trouble out here, you’d better believe they’ll lock you up again.” Cara got in, forgetting how comfortable a car could be and how uncomfortable she’d been in the past year.
    “What’s the next step? I have to do something to see my son as soon as possible. Don’t tell me to be patient. You knew this day was coming so you should already have something in place.” He looked over at her, wishing he could dump her off on the road.
    “I have everything ready to go. We will file a complaint to overturn the custody arrangements made while you were in prison. We’ll have to wait for a date to be set. In the meantime, you need to get back on your feet. You’ll have a lot to do while you’re waiting, trust me.”
    “Like what? All I want is for my baby to come back to me.”
    “Understand that ain’t happening. You’ll get supervised visits at the most, if at all. You need to get a job first; ability to support a child is crucial. Plus, I’m not going to carry you along free much longer. I’ll file this child custody thing for you and that’s it. We will be on a cash basis after that. If you try to go to another lawyer, he’ll be made aware of my bills.” Not believing what she was hearing, Cara lashed out again.
    “This is the way you treat a client on the day she’s out of prison! Hurry up and get me home.” They didn’t speak the rest of the trip, Clifton Johnson resisting the temptation to slap her across the face and Cara trying her best to keep from pounding her fists on her thighs and screaming, her frustration level so high.
    It would be a way of life for all concerned; fighting, drama and angst, but not for long.
     

Chapter 7
    Sitting in the back of a limo going into work Monday morning after the wedding, Sandra Benson’s overwhelming guilt vacillated between moments of hysteria and thinking about Pam. When it was over, no one would believe that Sandra had nothing to do with Jason’s actions on Saturday. She’d taken the train to Philadelphia Friday night to help his daughters prepare for their roles in the wedding, and when she arrived at Jason’s house, heard the news that would stun her.
    “Daddy doesn’t know if he can go through with it,” Jane announced, reluctantly allowing Sandra inside the dark vestibule.
    “Ah, he doesn’t have a choice, Jane. He can’t get away with this. Pam’s invested so much emotionally in him, it will destroy her.”
    “She can’t force him to marry her, and besides, I’m not thinking of Pam right now,” Jane snapped. “He doesn’t love her or he wouldn’t be in such a mess.”
    She was blocking the way to the staircase, which lead to the bedrooms where Jason was hiding. “Can I get by? I’m not going to kidnap the man. I just want to talk to him.” Grudgingly, Jane moved aside.
    “Don’t try to make him feel guilty,” she snapped.
    “He is guilty, Jane. Stop