All Chapters of Second Chance Soulmate: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

When she got home from work the following afternoon, Faith walked upstairs, traded in the business gear for yoga pants and her faithful sweatshirt, and took her hair down.She had just made it into her kitchen when the doorbell rang. Confused, she peeked through the viewer, then smiled and flung the door open.“Sarah!” she cried, scooping up her little sister into her arms and making her drop her luggage.“Oh my God it’s good to see you! Get your skinny butt in here,” Faith exclaimed as she let go of Sarah long enough to help retrieve suitcases and shut the front door.“You look fantastic!”“Thanks,” Sarah said, hugging her again. “You too.”Stepping back, she looked around.“Cool place, Faith, it suits you.”Faith looked at her little sister lovingly. Sarah was the only one of the siblings that didn’t inherit the brown-on-brown variations. No. She was the only one that had bright green eyes and fair hair, like their father’s side of the family.Growing up we called her the milkman’s

They snuggled up on the couch, Rick’s hand tracing lightly up and down her arm.“I’m sorry about before,” she said sincerely.“For what?”“When I said I wanted it to mean more than just hopping into bed. That hurt you when I made it sound like that’s all you wanted. I saw it did. But I didn’t get that vibe at all from you; I still don’t. That was me trying my damnedest to find enough bricks to build enough of a wall you couldn’t knock down. So that you would give up and go away.”“I know.”She sighed, puzzled.“How is it you know me so well already? How did you manage that?”“Because, Faith, I built walls too. Different catalysts, same result.”“I’m sorry too, for what you went through. That must have been devastating.”“Yes,” he sighed. “It was. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”She shifted around so she could see his face.“You meant what you said, didn’t you?”“All of it, but which part are you referring to specifically?”“That you’re broken too.”“Yes, I am. But for the first time in

Tranquil. Satisfied. Home.That was her first coherent thought later, as she came back to herself with his arms around her in their safe place under the sky.“Mmm,” she hummed as Rick’s hand ran lightly up and down her back, caressing.“Mmm, yourself,” he said, overwhelmed by her.“That was….”“Agreed.”“I never knew it could be like that.”“Me either.”“What time is it?”He turned and looked.“Almost ten.”“Huh,” she said. “We have some night left.”“That we do. What did you have in mind?”“Oh, I was thinking TV, maybe surf the web…Ooh! I know! Naked hide and seek downstairs in the store,” Faith grinned mischievously.Rick lifted a brow and grinned back.“Why, you naughty thing you.”“Or,” she continued, “we could enjoy that jacuzzi tub together.”“There it is. Your secret’s out. You’re just with me for my book selection and cool tub,” he said in mock seriousness. “I’m hurt.”They laughed together.“Seriously, though, a soak does sound good.”“Consider it done, baby. I’ll go set it u

“Girl. Did you forget me?” Jandy asked pointedly, then laughed.“Sorry, got distracted with work stuff,” Faith replied, and brought her up to speed on that stuff first.“Geez,” Jandy exclaimed. “I hope that Mitch guy can fix it.”“Me too. Now, about last night,” Faith began, and shared a very, very broad overview of the previous night’s events; basically, that it had happened, and it had been amazing.She’d always been close-mouthed when it came to sex, but she realized she really didn’t want to share details this time, not because she was by nature shy, but because she felt like that would be very disrespectful to Rick.She told her sister as much, and it surprised her a little when Jandy agreed.“I know I said DEETS in my text, but I was kidding, hon,” Jandy told her. “Bedroom stuff between a couple needs to stay between them. When I was younger, I didn’t realize the importance of not breaking that trust. I guess that’s one of the wisdoms I’ve gathered over the years.”She paused.“

Saturday morning also saw Rick and Faith enjoy waking up together, this time in her bed.“I love waking up with you," he whispered, stroking her back as she lay on his chest.“Mm, the feeling is very mutual,” Faith whispered back, tracing little kisses across bare skin.He lifted his head to look at her alarm clock.“Eight-thirty,” he said. “Don’t have to be at the store until ten.”She lifted her head to look into his eyes.“My turn to lead, then,” she said against his mouth before doing just that.***Not too long after Rick left extremely satisfied and with a mega-watt grin, Faith’s phone rang. The caller identified herself as a Mary Mullins with Prudential, and could she please speak with Faith Thomas Tucker?“Speaking,” Faith said. “But it’s just Faith Thomas these days.”Mary proceeded to fill her in. She was sure Faith had received the sad news by now, blah blah, the data her office had received indicated no reasons why the claim could not immediately be paid out as prescribed