Page 24 of Wisteria Winds
Bennett laughed. “And deny Morty the pleasure of planning for months on end? Oh, it seems cruel.”
“True. But he’s probably designed our first anniversary party already.”
They stood together watching the work, Bennett’s arm around her shoulders, Danielle’s around his waist.
“My mother seems to be coming around,” Danielle said. “I saw her this morning in workout clothes of all things, coming back from hiking around the island. She’s apparently meeting Dorothy to discuss centerpieces right now.”
Bennett smiled. “Wisteria has that effect on people. You know, it grows on you.”
“Yeah, like a certain island owner I know,” she said, squeezing his waist.
“Is that a complaint, Nurse Wright?”
“Not at all, Mr. Alexander. Not at all.”
Cecilia sat alone on the bench overlooking the gazebo construction site. She pressed a handkerchief discreetly against her temple. The momentary dizziness had passed, but the headache was still lingering. It was the third one this week. She took a couple of slow breaths, willing the pain to subside before anybody noticed.
“Mom, are you all right?”
Cecilia straightened immediately and tucked the handkerchief back into her pocket as her daughter approached. “Oh, I’m fine, darling. Just taking a minute to appreciate the view.” She gestured toward the gazebo where workers were installing the railing.
Danielle sat down beside her and studied her mother’s face. “You’re pale, and why are you squinting against the light?”
“Well, it’s bright today,” Cecilia said. “I forgot my sunglasses.”
“Mm-hmm,” Danielle murmured. “You know, you’ve been forgetting a lot of things lately, like you never mentioned why you canceled your keynote at the Nashville conference next month.”
Cecilia frowned. “And how did you find out about that?”
“Dr. Patel mentioned it. Apparently, she was looking forward to hearing you speak.” She turned toward her mother. “What is going on? And don’t you tell me nothing. I’ve been a nurse long enough to know when someone’s hiding symptoms.”
For a minute, Cecilia considered maintaining the ruse. She’d spent her whole life presenting strength, never weakness. But there was something about Danielle staring directly into her eyes. It was so like her father when she wasn’t being forthright with him.
“Look, I’ve just had a few headaches,” she said, making her tone sound dismissive. “Probably tension from all the wedding planning. It’s certainly nothing to concern yourself with, especially not right now.”
“How frequent? Do they come with dizziness or vision changes?”
Cecilia sighed. “Yes, to the dizziness occasionally. No visual disturbances. And my blood pressure was a bit elevated at my last checkup, though my doctor didn’t seem overly concerned.”
“And when was this checkup?”
“Three months ago.”
“Mom! And you haven’t followed up?”
“Well, I’ve been a little busy with your wedding, if you haven’t noticed.” Her tone was sharper than she intended. She softened, reaching for Danielle’s hand. “Look, I’m fine. Once this wedding’s over, I’ll make an appointment.”
Danielle was quiet for a long moment. “I want to take your blood pressure now at the clinic. Please.”
Cecilia recognized the mixture of professional concern and daughterly worry. “And will that set your mind at ease?”
“It would be a start.”
“Okay, fine,” Cecilia said, rising from the bench. She walked with deliberate steadiness despite having another wave of dizziness that she wouldn’t tell Danielle about. “I have to check in with Dorothy about the orchid delivery first. She’ll be impossible if I miss our appointment.”
“The orchids can wait ten minutes,” Danielle said firmly, taking her mother’s arm.
They walked toward the clinic, and Cecilia found herself grateful for her daughter, but would never admit it out loud. The headaches had been worsening, and the dizziness was becoming a bit concerning, even to her scientifically objective mind. But the wedding was less than three weeks away. Whatever might be happening with her health would just have to wait until after her daughter’s special day.
