Free Soulmates by Suzanne Jenkins Page A

construction work, he wasn’t a gym rat either. His hair looked like he might use one of those products to take some but not all of the gray out of your hair. After prissy Jason, John Zapelli was a refreshing change. He reminded Pam of Jack with his subtle sarcasm and wit. And he was a professional. Although there may have been a moment when he first saw her and a second or two as he was leaving that Pam thought he was showing an interest in her, he was completely professional. Looking out of the sidelight after he left, she could see his fancy truck while he took his time walking down the path, admiring her plantings. Watching him bend over to pluck a spent blossom off a lily and stick the petals in his pocket before he got into his truck, she decided she was definitely interested in him.
    Debating whether to get back into the gym habit or go for a second beach combing that day, the beach won out.
     
    Driving along the serpentine beach road after leaving Pam’s house, John Zapelli felt a tickle of excitement in his throat. He was no Romeo, but if memory served, a woman who smiled and giggled, and was as animated as she was that afternoon might be interested in him. Unpretentious for a woman of her standing, Pam’s warmth was relaxing and her friendliness caught him off guard. He tried to remember what she was like so many years ago, but her husband’s dominating personality overshadowed hers completely. A vague memory of a very young, gorgeous blond woman in capris and high heels, holding a baby on her hip came to him. She’d aged well, but there was sadness about her in spite of her jocularity. The town gossip hadn’t escaped him, and the pain she’d gone through after the death of her son made him uncomfortable. The only tragedy he’d ever experienced was the divorce from Cassandra, and the pain of having to see her driving around town with her new boyfriend was crushing.
    When he got back to his office, he set up appointments for Pam at the best showrooms around, to show her quality products but not to exploit her wealth. Set for the next day, he’d usually suggest meeting at these places, but since he wanted to spend the time with her, he offered to pick her up and drive her around. Preparing for the appointments like it was a date; he abandoned his regular denim work shirt and wore a white dress shirt, instead. Daughter Violet was on to him right away.
    “Okay, Dad, where are you headed?”
    “I’ve got an appointment with the owner of a house over on Sea View. We’re going to Ferry Stone and Marble.”
    “Oh, I love that place,” Violet said. “If I ever move out, that’s where I’m going.”
    “Ferry Stone?”
    “No, Sea View, although I’d cover the floors with Ferry Stone,” Violet answered, laughing.
    “You better make some money then,” John said, peeling an orange. “I can’t even afford it.”
    “Dad, I’ve meant to tell you something about Mom. We didn’t want to upset you at Sunday lunch.” John’s heart sunk. Even though he thought he was over Cassandra, they’d been together for thirty years. Getting over her abandonment quickly wasn’t happening for him, as much as he longed for it.
    “What is it?” Pausing at the kitchen sink, he suddenly lost his appetite for the orange and offered it to Violet, but she shook her head, fruit too healthy for her liking.
    “She’s getting married Saturday.”
    “To Mark?” While John tried to hide his sadness at hearing the news, Violet nodded her head. Mark Carrier, Mayor pro-tem. When the former mayor of Jamesville, Charlie Boggs resigned a year earlier because he needed a liver transplant, Mark was next in line. For the past year, the local papers were in heaven with all the latest gossip about Mark and his entourage in their hired cars, helicopter trips to Atlantic City, escorts and worse. Now Cassandra was going to marry him. John couldn’t believe it. The only good thing about it was that Mark lived in Jamesville and once