Chase nodded as she spoke. Every year his mom visited Rochester Institute of Technology and spoke to the freshman class about her experiences and offered a paid internship for honor roll students. “Mom, you’re a great example for the next generation, and I am incredibly proud of you, but you have to take it easy. You had a heart attack a few days ago—”
“I didn’t have a heart attack. I had a heart episode,” she insisted in a firm voice. “I needed medicine, and a brief hospital stay, but I’m fine now. As healthy as ever.”
A heart episode? he thought, pushing up the sleeves of his lightweight, nylon shirt. No, Mom, you had a heart attack and if the housekeeper hadn’t found you and given you emergency CPR you might not be be alive. Wanting his mom to know she couldn’t outsmart him, he reminded her of the conversation she’d had with her medical team only days earlier. “Dr. Martìnez prescribed two weeks of strict bed rest and a month off work.”
Estelle dismissed his words with a flick of her hand. “Nonsense. I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
Chase shuddered at the thought. It was tough watching his parents struggle with their health, and he wanted Estelle to take her doctor’s advice seriously. He feared if she continued pushing herself she’d end up back in the hospital—or worse. The ordeal had taken a huge toll on his father, too, but he did everything Estelle asked, including moving her home office into the master bedroom. Chase didn’t blame his dad. When it came to getting her way, Estelle could be relentless and Vernon was no match for his stubborn, opinionated wife of forty-two years.
Chase inclined his head and listened for a moment. His dad was on the main floor, relaxing in the great room, but Chase could hear his conversation loud and clear. He was on the phone, explaining the difference between a heart attack and a heart “episode” to the caller, and Chase realized his mom had everyone fooled, including their family. Estelle was in denial, acting as if nothing was wrong, and things wouldn’t get better until she faced the truth.
“It must have been scary waking up in the hospital with no recollection of what happened,” Chase said in a quiet voice, taking her hand in his own. “That’s how I felt after my horseback riding accident, but discussing my experience in group therapy helped immensely.”
Estelle puckered her lips. “Group therapy? I don’t want strangers knowing my personal business. The Hamptons is a small, close-knit community. I can’t sneeze without everyone knowing about it, so no thank you.”
“Then join a group therapy session in Queens or Manhattan,” he proposed. “I did, and it’s been incredibly worthwhile. Every time I go to group therapy, I learn new strategies and how to cope with the lingering effects of the accident.”
An upbeat song played on the stereo, drowning out his words. He snatched the remote control off the bed, pointed it at the entertainment unit and pressed the off button. Silence descended on the room and minutes passed before Estelle, spoke.
“I’ll think about it,” she said, gazing out the window.
“No, you’re going, and I’m taking you. I’ll pick you up on Friday at two o’clock.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“Yes, but nothing matters more to me than supporting you, so I’ll leave the office early.”
Her face brightened. “I’m glad you feel that way, because I need you to do me a favor.”
“Sure, Mom, anything for you. What is it?”
“Take Juliet to Le Bernardin tonight and shower her with love and affection,” she instructed, a wistful expression on her face. “At the end of the night, bring her back to your estate and make love to her on a bed of red roses—”
Chase covered his ears with his hands. He didn’t want to hear another word and couldn’t imagine anything worse than discussing his sex life with his seventy-year-old mother. “Please stop. I don’t want to hear this.”
Estelle slapped his hands away from his ears. “Stop being a baby. Man up.”
Man up? Are you kidding me? You want me to have sex with my ex, a woman I despise!
“How do you think your father and I ended up with four sons?” she asked, cocking an eyebrow. “I loved being barefoot and pregnant, and if your dad’s sperm count wasn’t so low, we probably would have had ten kids!”
A wave of nausea flooded his body and Chase feared he was going to be sick. For a split second he considered bursting through the French doors and jumping off the balcony, but Estelle gripped his arm with superhuman strength, pinning him to the bed.
“What’s it going to take for you and Juliet to get back together?”
“Mom, I care a lot about Juliet, but we don’t belong together, probably never did.” He’d had this conversation with his mom numerous times, and he didn’t know what else to say or do to make her understand. Chase was frustrated with her, but spoke in a calm voice, didn’t let his anger get the best of him. “I’ve moved on and I wish she would, too. I don’t love her and I don’t want to marry her.”
Estelle gasped. “What a horrible thing to say about your college sweetheart!”
Chase wasn’t going to apologize for speaking the truth and hoped, after today, his mom would stop pushing his ex-girlfriend on him.
“Is this about the horseback riding accident?” Estelle wore a concerned expression on her face. “Do you still blame her for what happened at the equestrian club? I hope not, because it wasn’t her fault.”
Yes it was! She’s selfish and impulsive, and it’s a miracle I didn’t die! Chase cleared his throat then met his mother’s narrowed gaze. “I forgave Juliet, but I don’t want to date her, so please stop feeding her personal information about me.”
Estelle clutched the front of her caftan and sagged against the headboard. “My chest hurts... I can’t breathe... I think I’m having another heart attack,” she said in a raspy voic
e.