Twenty-three years ago they met by accident. She had came in to the "Windy" City after living down south.
She came to marry another man, but shortly after she came up here to be with him. He lost total interest in her and he discarded her like an old shoe.
Keri found her way into the big city, and then started a training program which allowed her to pay for her basic needs. This is where she met James.
James worked at the apartments where she rented her. They first became friends, and then boyfriend and girlfriend. They were always there for each other.
Twice they were engaged, but both knew it would not work out as both eventually ended up getting on Social Security, and they knew they could not make it on just one social security check a month so they decided to call off the engagement and just be come good close friends.
Over the years, James health started to decline and finally in 1997 he lost his lower left limb due to diabetes and poor condition. Keri was the first one at the hospital watching vigil over him.
When all James friends abandon him, including his own family, Keri remained steadfast and loyal. She would not be like the rest she vowed and abandon James.
In October of 2002, James called Keri on the phone and he was crying. He was back in the hospital and this time he would not return to the Nursing and Rehab Center where he lived, but his doctors would transfer him to a hospice.
Keri rushed to the hospital and James told her he was dying and this is what his doctors told him. His kidneys were failing,
his liver failing, and there was nothing more they could do for him.
Together they cried and cried and prayed and prayed for a miracle. But none came.
Shortly before Thanksgiving of 2002 he was transferred to the hospice and a week later on a cold, dreary day in the first week of December, James passed quietly away.
James had entrusted Keri with his durable power of attorney for his health care and together before he got worse, they had discussed his burial arrangements.
"James, if push comes to shove, I will have you cremated. And upon my death, I too will be cremated and someone will carry us to our final resting place in Connecticut. We will be placed in the same Catholic cemetary next to Dear Late Rocky".
Keri told him.
" Do what you think is best." James told. And she did a few days later after he died. She had him cremated and to this day only three weeks later she keeps his urn on her chester drawers in a simple oriental looking urn that resembles a vase. It sits on
a white handmade dollie which dear late Rocky's mom crocheted her for Christmas last year.
"I won't last a day without you" Keri cries. "I won't last a day without you."
Jodi and Nick’s chance for romance was never realized while they were in high school. Now, five years later, they meet again. Will a class reunion be their first—and last—chance at love?
Reunion of Souls is a sweet, contemporary romance abo
