Free Lift Me Higher by Kim Shaw Page B

don’t think it’s the right time for me to—”
    “Torie, that’s nonsense. Yes, my boys have had a hard time but they’re kids and they’re resilient. They’ve adjusted to their mother’s absence in their lives. They understand that she’s no longer in pain and she’s resting comfortably with God now.”
    “That’s beautiful, Monte. But that doesn’t mean you want them thinking you’re trying to replace her in their lives.”
    “Of course not. Shawna will always be their mother, but they have room in their hearts for friends. Besides, I’ve told them about you and they can’t wait to meet you.”
    “You’ve told them about me? What have you told them?”
    “I just told them that you’re beautiful, smart, funny and sweet. My oldest wanted to know if you were a dime, as the kids say. Of course I told him you were all that. ” Monte laughed.
    “You’re crazy,” Torie said, slapping Monte playfully on the chest.
    “So it’s settled, then?”
    “No, Monte, it’s not. Look, I just need a little more time. Can you give me that?” Torie asked.
    She reached up and touched the side of Monte’s face. She stroked it gently and, in doing so, hoped to soothe the disappointment he must have felt at her resistance to meeting his family. She didn’t want him to press her because then she would be forced to reveal the doubts and misgivings she was having about the probability of their relationship being a long-lasting affair. Specifically, she didn’t want to discuss her qualms about becoming a mother, especially not a stepmother.
    Monte leaned in to kiss Torie.
    “Of course I can give you that. It’s cool. We’ll wait until you’re ready,” Monte said.
    “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Torie asked.
    “Baby, as long as you keep putting that thang on me like you just did, I’m eating out of the palm of your hand. Anything you want, is yours,” Monte said, shifting onto his back and pulling Torie on top of him.
    There was little talking as night gave way to day and Monte and Torie continued pleasuring each other with heart, body and soul. They climbed a stairway to heaven, lifting each other to the highest of heights.

Chapter 10
Dear Mama
    M onte drove slowly down the street, his tan Lexus moving at a speed of twenty miles per hour as he kept his eyes peeled for any sign of his ailing mother. It was just after sunrise and much of the neighborhood was still in shadow. He struggled to keep the feeling of panic that rested in his gut from rising to the surface. There was no time for panic, no time for him to fall apart. He had to find his mother before something happened to her.
    He couldn’t even believe that this had happened. He knew that his mother had been feeling much better. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease seemed to be in recession, or at least had been laying dormant, he thought. His mother, Marva, had been even more lucid in the past few weeks, calling each of the boys and Monte by their correct names and remembering what they’d eaten for dinner the night before. Her doctors had said that she was responding well to the new medicines and that there was no reason to not expect that she wouldn’t continue to be focused and coherent. As a result, Monte had stopped strapping his mother into her bed for fear that she would try to get up and wander around the house.
    It was still dark when Monte, buried deep within his last hour of sleep, had heard a noise. He’d continued to sleep, though slightly disturbed, unwilling to give up the last vestiges of rest. He told himself that perhaps one of the boys had gotten up to go to the bathroom and that if there were something wrong, like an upset stomach or bad dream, either Josiah or Joshua would make their way to his king-size bed to wake him.
    When Monte’s clock went off, he was already awake, having never fully drifted back into sleep after he’d heard that noise. He got up immediately and traipsed into the master bath. After