225

“Margot? You okay in there, sweetie?” Mom’s concerned voice filtered through the door, muffled by the sound of the toilet flushing. “Sarah brought you some crackers and ginger ale.”

I stood up and faced the mirror, frowning at my reflection. I had been fine earlier in the day, but suddenly my stomach felt off, and I’d been in the bathroom long enough to worry both of them. “I’m fine, Mom.”

I could hear them whispering outside the door. I stifled a groan. Ever since I’d gotten back from the wedding that never happened, Mom and Sarah had been hovering over me. Sarah, Mom’s nurse, had turned into a second mother figure, constantly asking me questions, checking on me just as much as Mom did. I wasn’t looking forward to facing their concern.

“Let me take your temperature,” Sarah said, immediately on me as soon as I opened the door. She pulled me over to the chair next to Mom’s bed and pushed me into it. “Sit.”

I sighed, irritated by their fussing. “I’m fine. Really. I think I just ate something weird.”

“You’ve hardly eaten at all.” Mom scowled at me, her eyes scanning my body. “You’re losing weight.”

“Since when is that a problem?”

“Margot Lately, you’re never too old for me to spank you or wash your mouth out with soap. I don’t want to hear any negativity about your body. You’re beautiful.”

I didn’t have time to respond before Sarah shoved a thermometer in my mouth. When she pulled it out and saw it was normal, she just grunted in disapproval.

“I know you’re in your heartbreak phase, babydoll, but you’ve got to take better care of yourself. Your mom’s right. You’re not eating and you’re losing weight. You look like a strong wind could knock you over.” Sarah knelt down in front of me, her knees creaking as she did. “Your mom and I are just worried about you.”

“I’m fine.” At their skeptical looks, I sighed. “Okay, maybe I’m not fine. I’m sad. Everything tastes terrible, so I don’t feel like eating. I’m exhausted, but I can’t sleep. Yesterday, a car commercial made me cry. I’m about as good as a woman can be after getting her heart shattered three times in one go. Other than all that, though? Totally fine.”

“I still think you should call them.” Sarah was older than my mom by five years, close to retirement age and from a generation that should’ve been scandalized by my relationship with three men. Yet, she hadn’t said a word about it. “I looked them up. Talk about sexy.”

I closed my eyes and fought through another wave of nausea. “Not helping.”

“Oh, honey.” Mom gripped the edge of her bed and slowly shifted into a sitting position. The sight made my heart ache. She’d regained so much of her mobility, and yet it was still hard to watch. “I know bad men. Trust me, I’ve seen them all—tall, short, big, small. Some with little ones, some with big ones…”

“Mom, I think you’re getting distracted.”

She laughed. “Oops, I did. Got lost in memory lane, thinking about all my past… adventures. What was I saying again?”

“You were saying you don’t think these guys are bad.”

Sarah, always quick to joke, wagged her finger at Mom. “We might need to slow down your rehab. You’ll be running up and down the halls looking for your next toy before we know it.”

“I’m not shopping for a boy toy here. I want someone younger, someone with stamina.”

I raised my hands. “On that note, I need to call Constance. She’s back from her honeymoon today.”

“Did you ever find out if she went alone?” Sarah, always curious about Constance’s life as much as mine, placed her hands on her hips. “No woman should have to go on her honeymoon alone. I hope she took that guy you told me about. He sounded like a total catch.”

“I’ll be back with the latest.” I forced a smile, ignoring my discomfort. “Try not to get into trouble while I’m gone.” I paused at the foot of the bed as another wave of nausea hit me. Breathing deeply, I tried to smile. “I’m just bracing myself for the possibility that she didn’t take Mac.”

I left before they could argue. The hallways were full of doctors and nurses going in and out of patient rooms, each of them offering a kind smile as we passed. It was a well-funded, fully staffed care home, and I couldn’t help but feel a lump in my throat when I thought of Mom anywhere else. But Constance’s gift had secured a spot for Mom here, and it seemed like it was going to be a longer stay than we originally feared.

I waved to the receptionist in the front lobby before stepping outside. It was chilly, but in the sun, the warmth was pleasant. I glanced at my phone, ignoring the empty notification bar, and dialed Constance’s number.

“Margot!” Constance’s voice was full of joy. “I was just about to call you!”

I couldn’t help but smile at her happiness. “Tell me everything.”

“Well, I can’t share everything just yet…” I heard a deep voice in the background and she giggled. “So, you know how you met Mac at the wedding?”

I let out a small scream into the phone as my suspicions—and hopes—were confirmed. “Thank god! You took him with you, didn’t you? I knew it! I’m so happy for you!”

She groaned. “Stop! Stop it.”

“Never!” I refused to let my sadness get in the way of her joy. “Tell me what you can. Can he hear me? Hello, Mac, if you can hear me.”

“Hello, Margot.”

A second voice—deep and warm—surprised me. “Hi, Margot.”

I gasped. “Oh my god, Constance, what’s going on?”

She laughed. “Mac is here. And his best friend, Conner. We’ll talk more when we can.”

“You’re killing me, Constance. Mom is going to flip. She and Sarah are going to need to be sedated when they hear about this.” Of course, Constance knew how interested my mom and Sarah were in her, having been part of our brief messages. But she hadn’t mentioned she was on her honeymoon with not one, but two men!

“You know what this means, right?” Constance’s voice lowered, and I could hear movement like she was climbing off of the men. “Their focus will be entirely on you now.”

I felt her mood shift, sinking to meet mine. “Ryder messaged me.”

“Oh, shoot. I have to go. Mom’s doctor just arrived. I wanted to ask him something.” I crossed my fingers, feeling guilty for lying. I couldn’t bring her down with Ryder’s name. “Call me later with all the details, okay? I’m so happy for you, Constance. You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

I ended the call and bent forward, hugging my knees to my chest. I pressed my forehead to my knee and tried to block out her words. So what if Ryder messaged her? He hadn’t messaged me.

I sat there, wallowing in self-pity for a while, before forcing myself to go back inside. The sun had hidden behind a cloud, and the temperature had dropped quickly. Inside the warm lobby, I stood frozen for a moment, not ready to return to Mom’s room.

She wanted so badly for me to be happy, but I was failing her. She needed to stay positive for her therapy to continue to work, and if my mood caused her to backslide, I would never forgive myself.

I did what I often did those days: I sat in the lobby, watching the world around me. It was easier than going home to my empty apartment, easier than facing my sadness head-on. I knew eventually, I’d have to face reality. Constance had already set up consultations with some of her friends, but I wasn’t ready. Not yet.