Page 71 of Revival

"Let's go sit out on my patio. You know it overlooks the Pacific Ocean?" my daughter gloats. "And you can tell me all about your man problems."

I trip exiting the sliding glass door. Madison catches me from falling. "Shit! Mom, are you okay?"

"Yeah, I think so. I felt very dizzy there for a moment. I just need to sit down. It's been a long day." We sit on her porch swing, admiring the clear view of the ocean.

"Mason avoided the hard questions, but I won't. What's up with Daniel?"

I take a large gulp of my wine before answering. "Daniel went to see his friend who has been in a coma today. She woke up,” I add. “And when I got home from Mason's, he was drunk and yelling at me about sleeping with someone else."

"Are you guys sleeping together?" She wiggles her eyebrows.

"Yeah, but that's not the point." I finish my glass of wine.

"It is the point. If the man you're sleeping with thinks you're sleeping with someone else behind his back, it's a huge deal. Think about that one, Mom. Why is he accusing you of sleeping with someone else?"

My heart is racing, and my body feels like it's sweating from the inside out. "I don't know, Madison. I don't fucking know." Before I can stop myself, I start to violently throw up all over my daughter's brand-new balcony. My body slides off the swing into my vomit, and I cannot move.

Madison's voice is becoming more distant. "My mom needs help. Send an ambulance now."

"Welcome back, Ms. Raffield," a young doctor says as I open my eyes. I try to speak, but my throat burns. "Don't try to speak. It may hurt for some time. Ms. Raffield, I need to ask you a few private questions. Is it okay to do so in front of your daughter?"

I nod, not having anything to hide.

"Ms. Raffield, are you in treatment for alcoholism?" the doctor carefully asks.

"My mother likes her wine, but in no way is she an alcoholic, Doctor," Madison raises her voice in the same tone I would have used, had I been quicker to respond.

"The reason I ask is we found Antabuse in your system. It's a drug used to make people sick after they consume alcohol. Do you know why this would be in your system?"

"I have no idea. I don't take any medication." My voice is raw and scratchy. "Could someone have slipped me this drug?"

"It's not common, but if someone wanted to give you a bad night, this drug would do the trick if you were drinking."

"How long will this be in my system?" I ask.

"Depending on how much you were given, it could be between a week or two. You're a lucky lady, Ms. Raffield. I've seen this drug have some nasty consequences. We'd like to keep you overnight for observation, and if everything stays stable, you can go home in the morning."

"Thank you, Doctor."

He leaves Madison and me alone in the room.

"What the hell, Mom? That was so scary!"

"Please tell me you didn't call Mason."

"Of course, I did. Who else would I call in an emergency? I told him to stay in L.A. until we knew what was happening."

"I'm fine. I'm sure I just grabbed something wrong out of a medicine cabinet. I'm tired. I'm gonna go to sleep. Go home and get some rest, too."

"Mason said I shouldn't leave you alone."

"And you need to remember, I'm your mother. Is my phone in my purse? Can you hand it to me before you leave?"

Madison leans in, kissing my cheek. "Are you sure?"

"Go! I'll see you in the morning."

I unlock my phone. No messages. No calls.

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