Soulmates Read online

  Soulmates

  By Shirley Mendonca

  Published by Shirley Mendonca at Smashwords

  Copyright 2010 Shirley Mendonca

  The rain was coming down lightly as Brenda rushed to the bus stop after dropping her sons, Josh and Eddie off at Mrs. Grimes, the babysitter. “Thank goodness I only live three blocks from the bus stop. Of course I would forget my rain coat.” Brenda said to herself as she stepped on the bus. Brenda had only been back in the workforce for a year and it was certainly taking some time to readjust after nine years of staying at home with the children. Brenda didn’t have a choice of not working since her husband of nine years decided he didn’t want to be married any longer.

  It was such a surprise when one night he came home from work and told her he was moving out and that he wasn’t happy anymore. Brenda was shocked after being married for nine years. Yes, it was true that Tim worked very hard to better his career, but he was never home except on Sundays and then he slept most of the day. She knew it wasn’t the type of marriage she had dreamed of; but she was willing to try and make it work because of Josh and Eddie.

  After looking for work for several months Brenda was able to find work in a dress shop down town. She didn’t have a car so she had to take the city bus everyday.

  Working at the dress shop gave Brenda a chance to regain her confidence and she was doing quite well. She started as a sales clerk and then the shop manager asked if she would like to become the window dresser. That was wonderful news because it meant she would receive a raise and she certainly could use the money since her husband wasn’t helping her with the supporting of the boys right now.

  It was Christmas season and the dress shop was filled with customers when Brenda arrived at work. She rushed to the back to put away her things before starting to help with the customers.

  “Could you see if you have this dress in blue?” One of the customers asked Brenda from the dressing room. “This color just doesn’t look right for me. What do you think?

  Miss, I think the color looks gorgeous on you, it matches your complexion beautifully.” Brenda knew this was going to be one of those customers who would take forever and not buy anything.”

  “I saw this dress in the window in red. Can you see if you have it in my size?

  The customer smiled at Brenda with the attitude of a person in command.

  Brenda smiled back and walked out of the dressing room. “Lady, they don’t make that dress in your size.” She whispered to herself.

  Brenda looked and found they truly didn’t have the dress in red her size. “I’m sorry, but we seem to be out of your size in that dress. Can I show you something else?”

  “What about the one in the window? Can you take that one off of the dummy for me?” The lady asked with the same smile and tried on a green suit that was definitely too small.

  “You want me to take the dress off one dummy and put it on another dummy?” Brenda said in a very low voice.” Miss, that dress is a size 7. We always use size 7 or 9 in our showcases.”

  “Can’t you just check and be sure? I really want that dress.” She insisted.

  “I will double check for you, but it will take a few minutes.” Brenda was starting to feel her blood pressure rise as she climbed into the window display to check the size of the dress. I need to find another job. This one stinks .She thought has she looked at the label on the dress. The label read a size 7. “I knew it!” Brenda said to the dress dummy. “Good!”

  Brenda returned to the dressing room and informed the customer that indeed the dress was a size 7. The customer had changed back into her own clothes and was getting ready to leave.

  “Well, thank you for checking. I changed my mind anyway. I decided the dress really wasn’t the one for me. Oh, you have a Merry Christmas” As she brushed past Brenda.

  “Well, you have a nice day, now. You hear.” Brenda answered. “It’s just another day at the mines.”

  Brenda looked at her watch and noticed it was her lunch break. She was certainly ready after dealing with the dragon lady. She said to herself as she walked to her favorite corner café.

  Brenda was enjoying her lunch when out of the corner of her eye she noticed a tall, dark haired, handsome man staring at her. She realized that she had gone to high school with him. He was one year ahead of her and he was one of the football players. She had always had a crush on him. Brenda quickly turned her head the other way hoping he wouldn’t notice her looking at him.

  “Didn’t I go to high school with you?” He asked as he stood at her table. “You certainly look familiar.”

  “I don’t know for sure.” Brenda answered, feeling her face turn red.

  “My name is Leon Costa. I remember you. You’re Brenda. “May I join you?”

  “I guess its okay.” Brenda motioned to the seat across from her. “I do remember you now. What have you been doing since you graduated?”

  “Well, I’m home on leave. I joined the Army and I’m stationed in Germany. I came in here to see my sister, Joan, she works here.” He smiled at her and his eyes sparkled.

  “Yes, I know. We have lunch together sometimes.” That was a stupid thing to say. Now he probably thinks I know all about him. Brenda thought as she took a slip of coffee.

  “Are you married” I noticed you weren’t wearing any wedding rings.”

  “I was for nine years but he decided he had someone else who could make him happier than I could. It’s been two years since the divorce.” Why am I telling Leon all of this? She thought to herself. Just then Leon’s sister came to the table to take his order.

  “I see the two of you finally got together. “She smiled at Brenda. “I told Leon you were here and he wanted to see you. I hope that’s okay with you Brenda.”

  “Ah. Ah. That’s okay.” Brenda would have to remember to thank Joan later.” I’m sorry but I’ve got to get back to work. I didn’t realize what time it was.” Brenda stood to leave.

  “Can I call you later?” Leon asked when he helped her with her coat.

  “That would be nice. My number is in the book under Williams.” Brenda responded as she walked away.

  The rest of the day Brenda was floating on air. After all of these years the man she had always thought about now was going to call. Brenda’s friends had tried to introduce her to different men but she just felt she didn’t have to time with work and the boys.

  Later that evening after Brenda had put Josh and Eddie to bed, and was sitting the couch enjoying a glass of wine when the phone rang. She jumped up to answer it. ”Hello?” Brenda answered.

  “Brenda, this is Leon. Did I catch you at a bad time?” His voice had such a rich tone.

  “No, I was just watching T.V.” Brenda could feel her hand shaking.

  “You’re probably wondering why I’m calling you. I should tell you that Joan has mentioned you in her letters several times. She told me all about you and what has happened to you. I feel as if I have known you for a long time.”

  “Joan wrote and told you everything. Just wait until I see her.” Brenda wondered if Joan had told Leon about her having a crush on him in high school.

  Leon laughed. “No, I was the one who asked all of the questions, she just answered them. I remember in school how I would try to talk to you and every time I would approach you, you would disappear.”

  “I guess I was just shy. Why would you want to talk to me? You could have dated any of the girls in school.” Brenda couldn’t believe what she was hearing. What a waste of time, if only I’ known then what I know now back in high school. “I guess what I remembered the most about you is that gorgeous red hair. Your green eyes aren’t bad either.” Leon chucked. “I was wondering if you might be free for dinner this week.”

  “What
night are you thinking of? I’ll need to see if my sitter will be free to take care of Josh and Eddie.” Brenda’s heart started beating faster. She hadn’t felt like this in a very long time. She had always wondered just what kind of a person Leon really was really like.

  “Any night you wish. I’m home for thirty days before I have to return to Germany.”

  “Would Sunday be okay will you?” She replied. “I don’t have to work on Sunday.”

  “Sunday would be just fine. I’m looking forward to seeing you again. Brenda, I’ll call on Thursday to be sure everything is set. Okay? Leon responded.

  “Yes, that’s fine. How long will you be in Germany?” Brenda was trying to think of something interesting to say because she didn’t want Leon to hang up. She felt like she was back in high school, as a teenager and the most popular football player had just asked her out for dinner.

  “I have another year and then I’ll probably be stationed somewhere here in the U.S. I plan on starting my own business after I’m discharged.”

  They talked for several hours just remembering funny things from high school and what some of the students were doing now.

  It seemed like Sunday would never come and Brenda tried on everything in her closet that evening before deciding on a lavender long sleeve dress with a straight skirt. It was now 6:30 and Leon was picking her up at 7:00. Brenda checked her makeup a couple of times.

  Brenda’s four year old, Josh, came into the bedroom where Brenda was once again double checking herself in the mirror. “Mommy, you look like Cinderella. Are you going to the ball?”

  Brenda turned and picked Josh up in her arms and sat down on the bed.” I feel like I just might be going to the ball Josh. Mommy hasn’t dressed up like this in a very long time.” Brenda gave Josh a kiss and big hug.

  Eddie, who was two years old, came running into room “Mommy, there’s a big man coming up to the door.” He said as he jumped up and down in the middle of the bed.

  “Eddie, stop that and let’s go answer the door” Brenda picked both boys up and headed for the living room.

  The doorbell rang and Brenda hurried to answer it. There stood her Princess Charming in a brown suit with a blue shirt. He looked so handsome.

  Brenda introduced Josh and Eddie to Leon and they sat and talked about baseball for awhile until the sitter arrived.

  Leon decided on a French restaurant in the quiet part of town. The dinning room was decorated in French provincial and there was soft music playing in the background. The head waiter smiled as he showed them to their table. ”Is this a special occasion? The glow around the two of you could light up the city.”

  Leon looked at Brenda and smiled. “You know, you just might be right. I was thinking the same thing.”

  After a lovely dinner, Brenda and Leon sat and talked about Germany, Brenda’s marriage and small talk.

  Leon reached over and took a hold of Brenda’s hand looking into her eyes. “This evening has been the most enjoyable evening I’ve had in a very long time. I hope you feel the same. Brenda, I know you’ve been hurt very badly and probably aren’t interested in seeing someone right now. But I would love to spent the rest of my leave with you if that’s something you would be comfortable doing. I really enjoy being with you. You’re beautiful, funny, and smart. Plus you like sports.” He laughed and kissed her on the cheek.

  Brenda’s pulse was beating so loud that she could hear it in her ears. “I would like that very much. But I don’t want to be someone who just fills your empty time while you’re at home. I just don’t think that I could go through something like that.” I think I’m starting to fall in love with Leon. Brenda said to herself and I won’t let myself get hurt the second time around.

  The next three weeks Brenda spend every moment with Leon possible. They took the boys to a ball game, swimming, and skating. The boys were beginning to feel comfortable with Leon.

  The fire in the fireplace was about to go out, Leon was putting another log the fire.

  “Brenda, I know we have only really known each other for such a short time but I have a question to ask you? Do you believe in love happening to someone so fast? What I’m trying to say is I think I’m falling in love with you. You made the comment the first day we met, something about I could have any girl in school I wanted. Well, that really wasn’t the way it was. I didn’t just ask any girl out. Yes, I was going with Sandy for a long time and I did think a lot of her, but I kept trying to talk to you. I’ve tried to find someone to be with but there always seemed to be something missing in the relationship. You see, I knew even then that we were meant to be soul mates; even back in high school. I’ve never forgot about you. I just thought you had no interest in being with me. I heard you had gotten married so I tried to just forget about you. Leon walked over to the sofa where Brenda was sitting and took her face in his hands and gently kissed her fully on the lips.

  Brenda thought she was going to faint. She became light headed and dizzy. “Oh. Leon, If only I had known! I really had a bad crush on you in high school. The reason I ran away every time you came near was because I didn’t think you even knew I was alive.” She laid her head on his shoulder.

  “Will you write to me while I’m in Germany?” He asked. As she took her in his arms and their world became one.

  “Of course you know I will.” Brenda smiled.

  Leon left a week later to return to Germany. Brenda wrote everyday explaining how much she loved and missed him. Leon would surprise Brenda with gifts of a beautiful clock, perfume and a silk scarf. Brenda treasured them with all of her heart.

  One sunny afternoon Brenda was playing in the back yard with Josh and Eddie when the mail came. She ran to see if there was a letter from Leon. She opened the mailbox and there laid a letter marked from Germany. Brenda quickly opened it, hoping to find out when Leon would be returning home.

  The letter started, my dearest Brenda, I received your lovely letter and truly loved every word you wrote. Tell the boys hello for me and I miss them. Brenda there’s something I should have told you when I was home on leave and that is when I was in Germany I’d been seeing a Germany girl and we’re engaged, I didn’t say anything to you when I was at home on leave because I wanted to be sure of your feelings and of course mine. I needed some time to be sure. I do love you. I’m sorry to tell you in a letter.

  Brenda stood in shock with tears rolling down her face and felt that her heart was breaking. The hurt was so deep inside. It felt like someone had reached inside and pulled her heart out. ”I told myself this would never happen again and now it has. Why?”

  Brenda went to the phone and called Joan. They had kept in touch after Leon had left for Germany.

  “Hello.” Joan answered the phone on the second ring.

  “Joan. This is Brenda.” She was crying so hard Joan couldn’t understand her.

  “Brenda is that you? “What’s wrong? Are the boys okay? Joan was very concerned.

  “I just received a letter from Leon and he just broke my heart. He told me he was going with a girl in Germany and it seems they were engaged at the time he was home on leave. Do you know anything about this?” Brenda was shaking from hurt and anger.

  “Brenda I got a letter from Leon today and he told me all about it. He thought at first you didn’t love him enough to marry him and he was afraid of being hurt.” But please don’t tell him I said anything to you”

  “Oh you don’t have to worry about that Joan. I won’t ever write to him again. If he doesn’t know how I feel by now, he never will. Thank you for being honest and telling me the truth. I will never let him know that you told me.”

  Brenda sat for hours reading the letter over and over.” How could he think that I didn’t love him after the night we spent together? Everything he told me was just lies. I’ll get over this just like I did the first time. Life will go on.” Brenda said out loud as she walked around the living room.

  The next several months Brenda tired to put Leon out of her mind an
d just tried to make a life for her and the boys. Joan would keep her informed about what was happening with Leon when she went to lunch. But Brenda would tell Joan she wasn’t interested in anything she had to say about Leon, only to listen to every word Joan was saying.

  One day when they were having coffee, Joan explained to Brenda that Leon’s engagement was off. It seemed Leon had written to Joan telling her the love just wasn’t there for the girl in Germany. Brenda was excited to hear the news, but she told Joan that she still wasn’t going to be hurt by Leon again.