Page 94 of A Really Bad Idea

“She is just divine. Speak of the devil.” Mom looks toward the door as Natasha saunters into the room.

“Good evening, Gail,” she says, looking flawless in her pale pink scrubs that highlight her tiny waist.

I bet she has them tailored. She has a plastered smile on her face as she goes up to the whiteboard and erases the day shift nurse’s name and replaces it with her own.

“Hi, Natasha.” My words come out muffled because my molars are sticking together from a fresh bite into my Riesen.

She does a double take when she sees me sitting in the guest chair in the corner. “Meadow. Nice to see you again.”

Mom perks up. “You two know each other?”

I nod. “Christian brought Natasha to dinner at the Boathouse.”

“And we saw each other at the Plaza. We had a”—Natasha pauses, choosing her words wisely—“lovely conversation before Christian whisked her off to the dance floor.”

“You know what song I never cared for? ‘The Way You Look Tonight.’ So cliché,” I state with a small smile.

Natasha raises her brows in agreement. “Yeah, good thing they didn’t play it.” If her glare could speak, it would say, Touché.

“I love that song,” Mom chimes in as Natasha walks to my mom’s bedside and looks at her legs. “My husband and I saw Michael Bublé at Madison Square Garden. Bublé sang that song, and I couldn’t help but drag my husband into the aisle and dance. The spotlight shone on us, and the entire arena applauded. Can you believe that? Thousands of people cheering for us. Bublé even made a joke, saying he’d have to retire now because we were stealing his thunder. That’s not the only joke he told that night. He has a filthy mouth, that one. I loved it!”

Natasha laughs at the story. “I love his music. Maybe I’ll get to see him when he comes back to town.” She checks the IV line that’s going into my mother. “Your mom is the best patient. Her stories kept the staff laughing all night.” She puts a hand on her shoulder. “Nice slippers. Are those new?”

I look down and see Mom has a new pair of slippers on her feet.

“My daughter-in-law, Beth, got them. She’s a shoe blogger, you know.”

I love how my mom talks to people as if they already know her life story. Although, knowing she was holding a captive audience all night, they probably do.

Mom turns and explains, “Beth and the boys came up for a visit after school. She said Aiden was sick with worry, and Dylan has been sullen. They needed to see I was okay.”

Natasha checks Mom’s chart. “A visit from family is the best medicine. How are you feeling today?”

“Uncomfortable. I feel pressure in my back.” Mom takes a labored breath and adjusts her hip on the bed.

Natasha’s brows furrow as she takes the stethoscope off her neck and pops it in her ears to listen to my mom’s lungs. She doesn’t look pleased with what she’s hearing.

“Did you get that night cream I recommended? Meadow refuses to take my advice about a proper skin care regimen,” Mom says as she takes her deep breaths for Natasha.

“Not yet,” she replies with a scowl.

“Can I take a listen?” I ask.

She doesn’t hesitate to offer me the stethoscope.

I stand and place the chest piece on Mom’s back. The low-pitched wheezing sound is deeper than it was forty-eight hours ago when it seemed to be getting better. That was short-lived progress. This is a significant sign she is in the advanced stage of heart failure.

I look over to Natasha, who gives me a wary glare. She knows the sound is not ideal and that measures need to be taken. Still, we don’t alarm my mom.

“I was telling Meadow how I think it would be wonderful if you and Christian gave it a go again.” Mom’s meddling doesn’t seem to refrain, even when it’s not her own children.

Natasha gives me an inquisitive albeit accusatory look. “I thought he was dating someone else.”

“Is Christian dating anyone?” Mom looks my way.

I give the stethoscope back to Natasha and shrug. “Not that I know of. I went with him to the gala because he’s a single man at the moment.”

“You know, Meadow is seeing someone, but she won’t tell me who it is,” Mom’s declares as Natasha’s eyes widen with interest.