but after seeing each of the happy couples together , she 'd seriously begun to doubt that she 'd find what they all had with each other . much to simons embarrassment , my mother insisted that he join us for tea . the money he 'd spent on the thing . she watched him lean forward slightly to examine the door frame . what if her lack of memory was the only thing that had kept her alive those past twenty-plus years ? i thought this was going to be one of those times i have to walk her through it step-by-step . 