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She presses her lips together. “I’m not sure, but from what I’ve gathered, he’s going to be okay.”
I nod, my initial fears somewhat abated. “What happened?”
“We were just in bed, and all of a sudden he was clutching his chest and struggling to breathe.”
I look at her suspiciously. “Just in bed?”
Despite the circumstances, my mother has the audacity to laugh and give me a wink. “We may be getting older, Liam, but we aren’t dead.”
Aw, fuck.
I groan. “Mother. Seriously?”
She lets out a throaty laugh. “You asked,” she says with a shrug, her eyes twinkling.”
“Jesus Christ, Mom.” I roll my eyes and catch Cara hiding a smile behind her hand. “And that’s my mother for you.”
Mom looks back and forth between Cara and me, her eyebrows arched.
“Mom, this is Cara. Cara, my mother.”
Cara steps forward and extends her hand, a small smile on her lips. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Donovan. Though I’m sorry it’s not under better circumstances.”
Mom takes Cara’s hand in both of hers and gives her an appraising look before breaking into a genuine smile. “The pleasure is all mine, my dear.”
She looks like she’s about to say more. Perhaps give Cara a full interrogation. I mean, I did just show up to a serious family thing with a woman in tow. That’s never happened. Like, ever. And my mother is an intelligent woman. She’ll recognize that Cara isn’t like the women I usually go out with. Though I’m not quite sure what that means right now.
Instead of subjecting Cara to questions that even I’m not ready to answer yet, I turn the conversation back to the matter at hand.
“Okay, Mom. Tell me everything. Has Dad been having any other issues we should be aware of? Shortness of breath? Has he been taking his blood pressure medication? How’s his diet been? You know he has a stash of candy in his closet, don’t you?”
My mother places a hand on my arm with an affectionate smile. “Did you go to medical school when I wasn’t paying attention?”
I chuckle. I know she’s trying to lighten the mood, but I’m serious. I can function much better in this moment if I feel some sense of control over the situation. Because I fucking hate not being in control. And that’s exactly how I feel right now.
“Seriously, Mom. You’ve been keeping him in check, right?”
“Well,” she says slowly, “you know your father has a mind of his own. There’s only so much I can do to make him behave.”
Don’t I know it. My dad was the original lady killer. Like some old school movie star who can charm the pants off any woman. And before he met my mom, that was exactly what he did. The apple certainly didn’t fall far from the tree in our case, something Mom has told me plenty of times. Followed immediately by her assertion that one day I’ll meet my match and I won’t be able to look at another woman ever again.
Up until a few days ago, I dismissed that notion without a second thought. But I’m starting to wonder if my mom knows what she’s talking about. She came into my dad’s life, all soft, striking beauty but with an iron will and feisty attitude to match and he was never the same. At least to hear him tell it. I’ve never seen two people more in love. Ironic, considering love is something I’ve sworn off for years.
I laugh lightly, slinging my arm around my mom’s shoulders and winking at her. “I don’t believe that for a second. You trying to tell me you don’t have Dad right under your thumb?”
She smirks slightly and lifts a shoulder. “Perhaps.”
Cara lets out a little laugh, and I meet her eyes with a grin.
Mom looks between us again, smiling at Cara. “I like this woman, Liam.”
Yeah. Me too. It doesn’t even feel weird that she’s here with us in what should be a private family matter.
“I’m going to get some coffee,” my mother says, slipping out from under my arm after she gives me a quick peck on the cheek.
Then she’s gone, leaving Cara and I alone in the otherwise empty waiting room. She slips her arms around my waist and looks up at me.
“You okay?”
