Page 14 of Ruse
The enormous white mansion, sitting on two acres of land with direct views of Zuma Beach, is magnificent. Large white sandstone pillars line the wrap-around porch leading into the yard where they host yoga classes, and contains other various amazing amenities, pools, and spas. I remember finding the brochure in my father’s office the day after my mom was admitted into the hospital. I wanted to stay there. It looked like the perfect escape.
It wasn’t until a week after my mother’s suicide attempt, after they pumped her stomach and released her into my father’s care, that he admitted her into the facility. Since they were still married, he had full control over her medical decisions once she was deemed unfit and not psychologically able to care for herself.
Much to my mother’s dismay, a week later he filed for divorce, and a month after that, my father was once again a married man. By that time, my mother had chosen to stay at the center, unable to step back into the world that was sure to cast her out once they heard about my father’s new marriage.
Once inside, I’m immediately greeted by a woman dressed in a long, perfectly ironed, and tailored white lab coat over her navy dress. “Welcome to Cliffside Malibu. How can I assist you today, my dear?”
I pause at her question, unable to muster out the words. I know this place is super exclusive and with that exclusivity comes discretion, so I’m not sure if my mother’s checked in under her own name or a fake one.
“Would you like to step into my office, dear?” she asks, looking around at the three other people currently in the next room I assume is a waiting area. She takes two steps forward. “I’m Cassandra. I am willing to help you with whatever it is you need.” Cassandra’s smile softens and I suddenly realize she thinks I’m here for an intervention.
I clear my throat, “My mother, um, Elaine Ban, I mean Astor,” I murmur, giving her my mother’s maiden name. Unlike my father’s wife Daphne, who still uses her ex-husband's surname, my mother dropped Bancroft the day after the divorce was finalized.
Her eyes light up with realization, “You must be Phoenix,” she whispers, and I’m suddenly taken aback by the fact she knows my name. “Elaine has told me so many wonderful things about you.”
Again, I’m baffled by her response. My mother saying positive things about me to a stranger makes no sense when nothing I ever did was to her standards.
“Actually,” I mutter suddenly, unable to face a woman I will surely not recognize, “This was a mistake I should…”
Cassandra interrupts me, reaching out and grabbing my arm before I can run out of here. “Come with me dear. Elaine is out by the pool. I’m sure she’d love to see you.”
Reluctantly, I follow Cassandra through the facility, mesmerized by how amazing this place is. It is everything you’d find in a five-star hotel and more. A salon and spa, a cafe with specialized menus, vegan, keto, gluten-free, and a raw juice bar. Down to the right is an elevator bank leading to the nearly two hundred rooms on the property.
We step out into the yard, where two Olympic sized pools are located surrounded by a large outdoor deck with cabanas and lounge chairs, another juice bar, and a small boutique.
“This place is…”
“Paradise,” Cassandra offers, “At least we try to make it for our guests.” I realize she doesn’t use the term patients, which is what they are.
Lying on one of the black lounge chairs on the second row from the pool, I spot my mother, dressed in an all-white one-piece swimsuit with a matching cover up, and a straw sunhat over her luscious blond hair. Her large black sunglasses cover almost the entirety of her face, and beside her on the table is a stack of magazines, and one of those green juices from the juice bar.
“Elaine darling,” Cassandra sings-songs, “I have someone very special here to see you.” As if Cassandra mentioned nothing more than her juice order arriving, my mother doesn’t bother looking our way. Instead, all she does is lower her sunglasses, balancing them on the bridge of her nose while inhaling a deep breath.
Releasing her breath, she slightly tilts her head to her left, meeting my gaze with a disapproving expression. “Phoenix,” she mutters, bored, “What on earth are you doing here?”
Beside me Cassandra gasps lightly, surprised by my mother’s reaction. I guess the woman who spoke wonders about her daughter is nowhere to be seen.
“Making a huge mistake apparently,” I stammer under my breath before turning and walking the way we came. I don’t stop for her berating comment, I don’t stop at Cassandra’s pleas, I don’t stop until I’m almost at the front door exit, nearly crashing into a man entering.
Tears threaten to release, but I hold them in, willing myself to maintain the calm composure I was taught and perfected.
“Phoenix?” the man in front of me calls out, and that’s when I see he’s no man at all. Well not an older man like I’d assumed, but a guy my age, a classmate of mine.
Cole Sheppard. The most popular guy at MC High, and everything Chad wishes he were. I’m shocked to be running into him here, but as the rumor mill goes, he also happens to have a bit of a drinking problem.
Cole is everything you’d expect to find in Malibu Cove - your typical surfer type. Tall, muscular, shaggy bleach blond hair, glowing tan, rocking abs, perfect in every way. Not to mention he’s a pretty down-to-earth guy. But even the best of us have monsters lurking under our beds, waiting to strike when we're at our lowest, and the breakup he had earlier this summer was his rock bottom.
I’m not one to join in on the gossip, but I know Cole pretty well, and after running into him here, at the same facility my mom is currently at, I realize the rumors must be true. His home situation is pretty much on the same level as mine, and like I said, I don’t judge him, but I also don’t blame him.
“Cole,” I respond, seeing his shocked expression and not wanting to pry further into why he’s here or for him to see past my mask of indifference and notice I’m falling apart. I rush away from him and out the door with not so much as a goodbye.
ChapterSix
PHOENIX
Bright sunshine, the perfect weather, salty air, and incomparable views are exactly how one would describe summers in Malibu Cove. Year-round hordes of college kids, honeymooning couples, and vacationing families from all over the world travel to Malibu Cove to enjoy the optimally warm weather on our eclectic sandy beaches.
Standing on the balcony of my family's beachfront property, staring out at the deep blue waters, I’d have to agree. This is paradise.
