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My Soul to Keep
Copyright (c) Ke
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in, or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of the book.
This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover Art:
By Hang Le
Cover Photos:
iStock
Editing:
Lisa Christman, Adepts Edits
Proofreading:
Ashley Williams
Interior Design & Formatting:
Perfectly Publishable
My Soul to Keep
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Sneak Peek
About the Author
Other Books by Ke
Dedicated to those who pursue their dreams relentlessly.
Don’t ever stop!
Let’s go into this knowing I could screw it up. Having so many people who have been awesome that I might inadvertently leave someone out–well, that’s a great problem to have. There have been so many bloggers, readers, and other writers who have been an absolute blessing. There really isn’t another word that could fully encompass my appreciation. So many awesome folks in the romance community have supported me, and I KNOW there are a few I can’t get outta here without mentioning. There’s a close cluster of amazing writers who I have turned to over and over again who are always there for me. My pub buddy Sofia Tate for always making time to read for me with such an exacting eye. I love you deeply, m’friend. Cori
Last, but in no way least, thank you to my son, who taught me about unconditional love without ever speaking a word. And to my husband . . . Geesh. You are amazing. I’m a writer, but I couldn’t imagine a hero better than you. You are my best friend and maybe the only person on earth who would put up with me. All I want with you is a couple of forevers, okay? Is that too much to ask?
And everyone reading this book. Thank you for taking a chance on me and for sharing this journey. It means the world.
MAMA HAS BEEN DYING ALL DAY.
ALS is a stealthy thief. It stole Mama’s wide, crooked-tooth smile and left her face a plane of twitches and jerks. That fu
ALS is a slow assassin and it’s been killing my mama for five years.
But I only realize now that the sound of her breath—barely a wheeze breezing past her lips—is the sound of her dying today.
“Mama?”
I bundle up a question and a plea into that one word and pray for an answer to either. I’m asking if she’s still here. I’m begging her to stay. Oh, I hear that thin, labored breath. I feel that thready pulse, faintly thrumming through the vellumed skin of her wrist. I know she’s alive, but is she still here? I’ve sensed her soul wrestling with her body all week, trying to break free for the promise of Heaven that keeps Mama going on her hardest days.
The Hospice workers trickle in and out of Mama’s small, orderly bedroom, keeping her as comfortable as a woman slowly choking on her own breath can be. They don’t know if she can hear me. They only know that she can no longer respond. I am left waiting for the battle to end and for her soul to escape its bodily misery. Mama has endured this last stretch of a race I wouldn’t wish on anyone.