Page 25 of Wisteria Winds
She wasn’t going to allow anything, least of all her own body’s inconvenient timing, to overshadow her daughter’s happiness.
Danielle wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her mom’s arm, trying to maintain some kind of professional detachment even though she was growing quite concerned. Cecilia sat perfectly still on the examination table, her posture as impeccable as ever, despite the paleness of her skin.
“Deep breath,” Danielle said, inflating the cuff and watching the gauge.
As the reading became clear, she kept her expression neutral.
“165 over 90.”
“That’s a little bit high, isn’t it?” Cecilia said, as if they were discussing someone else entirely.
“It’s significantly elevated, Mom. How long have you been having these headaches?”
Cecilia considered for a moment. “About three weeks, I suppose.”
“And the dizziness?”
“More recent. Maybe a week?”
Danielle made notes in a fresh chart. “Chest pain? Shortness of breath?”
“None,” Cecilia said, smoothing an invisible wrinkle on her linen pants. “You know, I’m sure it’s just stress and all this wedding planning. I haven’t been sleeping well in the guest cottage. The mattress is firmer than what I’m used to.”
Danielle knew deflection when she heard it. “Mom, hypertension at these levels is concerning. It’s not something we can just dismiss as wedding stress, especially since it’s been going on for a while.”
“Yes, I’m well aware of the implications, Danielle,” she said with a hint of irritation. “I did complete medical school, you know.”
“Then you also know you need medication to bring your blood pressure down and further testing to make sure there’s no underlying causes.”
Cecilia stood and reached for her handbag. “And I’ll consult with my physician when I return to New York after the wedding.”
“Mom…”
“I won’t have your special day disrupted because of my medical issues,” she said firmly. “And I feel perfectly fine. I’m more than capable of monitoring my condition for the next couple of weeks.”
Danielle recognized the stubborn set of her mother’s jaw. “At least let me get a doctor to prescribe something to lower it in the meantime. And you need to rest more. Reduce your sodium intake and take regular breaks throughout the day.”
“Fine,” Cecilia said. “Get a prescription if it will ease your mind. But not a word of this to Bennett or anyone else. The focus needs to remain on your wedding and not on my minor health concerns.”
“They’re not minor.”
“Well, they’re manageable,” Cecilia said. “Dear, please, I’ve waited so long to see you this happy and to be a part of your special day. Don’t let this little medical hiccup overshadow that.”
Danielle sighed, knowing that she wasn’t going to win the argument. “I’ll get the prescription, but promise you’ll take it as directed. And that you’ll tell me immediately if your symptoms get worse.”
“I promise. Doctor’s honor.”
She made a mental note to check on her mother more frequently in the coming days. She knew Cecilia was reluctant to become the center of attention. But elevated blood pressure combined with headaches and dizziness worried her a lot.
For now, though, she would respect her mother’s wishes. The medication would help. Maybe she would rest and reduce some of her wedding duties enough to get her blood pressure down.
But as she watched her mother depart the clinic with her characteristic poise and grace, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something serious might be brewing beneath her mother’s perfect composure.
CHAPTER 7
Morty looked anxiously through Dorothy’s window, watching the sky with concern on his face. Dark clouds were rolling in from the east, and the weather app on his phone showed this giant, ominous mass of green and yellow mixed with red moving toward the island.
“Well, it’s going to rain,” he said mournfully. “A lot by the looks of it.”
