Free Soul Control by C. Elizabeth Page A

out and touched his cheek. “I’m sorry.”
    Sighing, he looked at his watch. “Well, it’s time for you to go in.”
    “Okay, have a good night,” I responded, then turned toward the door.
    “Not so fast,” he whispered. Placing the palm of his hand on the back of my neck, the other around my waist, he drew me toward him, leaned in and hovered for a second, then tenderly his lips caressed mine. “You have a good night too,” he breathed.
    It was like angels going off in my head, Hallelujah, hallelujah!
    “Okay,” I answered.
    He backed off the step and continued backing up toward his car. Then he tripped over his own feet, but was able to catch himself before his butt hit the ground.
    I threw my hand to my mouth and stifled a laugh.
    His face was red instantly. “Well, that certainly wasn’t very debonair on my part, was it?”
    Shaking my head, I agreed. “Nope.”
    “Have a good one, sweets.”
    “You too.”
    At his insistence, the door had to be closed and locked before he left, so again, on my tippy toes, I watched him jump into his car and take off. After there wasn’t even so much as a red taillight anywhere, I rested my back against the door, heart pulsating in my chest and pumping blood so fast my head started to spin. His face, his voice, consumed my mind and the smell of his cologne lingered on my coat. My fingers gently touched my lips where his had touched them.
    He kissed me .
    The kitchen light was on.
    “Mom!” I shrieked running into the room. “He kissed me!”
    I stopped dead in my tracks.
    She was sitting at the table with a cup of hot tea cradled in her hands, tears lining her cheeks.
    “Mom? Are you okay?”
    “Mm-hm. Just thinking,” she said.
    Placing the book carefully on the counter, I asked, “About what?”
    “Ted and Lilly.”
    Those two names were certainly not expected and kind of blew me away. Ted and Lilly used to be really good friends of Mom’s, but everyone knew Ted was abusive and when Mom told Lilly what she really thought, Lilly turned on Mom. It took a long time for Mom to get over it. Eventually Ted and Lilly moved to Saskatoon.
    “What about them?”
    A tear fell down her face. “Lilly’s dead.”
    “What?” popped out loudly.
    Mom was in a calm place, one that scared me. “Ted shot her, then himself.”
    Hugging her I soothed, “Oh Mom, I’m so sorry.”
    She kissed my head and rubbed my back. “So am I. Maybe if I had been there...”
    “No, Mom,” I whispered softly. “You did everything you could.”
    Her body shook with sobs. “The man had such an evil spirit and I always knew it.”
    Mom counseled Lilly for years and tried to guide her—Ted too, but Mom knew a lost cause when she saw one. Lilly was always in trouble with him and when they moved, Mom would send a little note to her every once in a while to let Lilly know that she had a place to come if she needed.
    “I know, Mom. You warned Lilly. There wasn’t much more you could do.”
    “It’s such a horrible, horrible thing.”
    “Yes, it is.”
    She shook her head, then wiped her eyes with the cuff of her housecoat. “I’m sorry. Look at me being all wrapped up in my own stuff.” She patted my leg. “Did I hear right? He kissed you?”
    “Mom, it’s okay, we don’t have to talk about it now. We can talk about it tomorrow or the next day.” Though I wanted to burst out how wonderful life was, it wasn’t really an appropriate time.
    Turning in her seat, she surveyed my face and forced the issue. “Well...did I hear right?”
    My head jumped up and down so fast that if it weren’t attached it would’ve flown clear off. “Yes!” I squealed, my legs bouncing up and down with excitement.
    Mom smiled. “Well, tell me all about it!” Something told me my happiness helped her forget her sadness.
    The words exploded. Every single detail flew out of my mouth and I couldn’t get it out fast enough. We talked, or should I say I talked, for another hour or so. I told her