“Have you talked to your father recently?” she asks.
My heart drops to the floor.
I take in a slow breath and let it out.
“Mom. Dad is–”
“I know he has Elk’s Club on Thursdays, but he also likes to check on the A/C unit in the winter to make sure the pipes don’t burst again. Do you remember that year when the copper tubing got so cold it just snapped?”
“Yes, but, Mom–”
“We had water pouring down the walls! I thought the whole house was going to come down. Do you remember that, Ash?” she asks.
I sit up straighter in my chair and reach for my work phone, punching in the number of her nurse. “Yes, Mom. I remember.”
“You know what I think,” she goes on. “I think he’s been playing poker with the guys again at Rumors.”
“I don’t think so,” I tell her.
“Oh, I do. He knows I hate that seedy bar. Just a bunch of old men drinking domestic beers and throwing peanut shells on the floor while griping about whatever game is on the TV. I don’t mind him going out with his friends, but I haven’t seen him in days. Days, Ash. I don’t know whether to be worried or mad.”
“Mom, is Jennifer there?” I ask, referring to the nurse who takes care of her.
“Jennifer? You mean the maid?” she asks.
“Yeah,” I pinch the bridge of my nose, squeezing my eyes shut before wiping my hand down my face. My work phone buzzes with a text from Jennifer.
“Oh, I fired her. She didn’t keep the bathroom the way I like.”
“You can’t fire her, Mom. She’s a—” I’m cut off when I hear Jennifer talking softly in the background.
“Mrs. Levine, why don’t we take a nap? You had a rough night.”
“I don’t need a nap, young lady. I need to talk to my son. I need to figure out where my husband is. Have you seen him?”
“No, Mrs. Levine. I’ve never met your husband.”
“Well, sure you have,”
“Mrs. Levine,” Jennifer goes on, and my jaw tenses so hard it makes my teeth hurt. “Your husband is dead.”
“Dead? What are you talking about?”
The voices turn to mumbles, including the voice of one of the doctors. Eventually, I can’t listen to it anymore, and I hang up to let them do their thing. They are experienced in how to deal with these situations. She’s in good hands.
I take a moment, leaning back in my chair. But before I have a chance to get upset, Harper walks in.
“Good morning,” she says, filling the room with the scent of flowers and freshly washed hair. I swear it still smells like coconut and saltwater. “Personal assistant, reporting for duty,” she says with a mock salute.
I get up from my chair, nearly knocking my coffee over, and her smirk turns to a pout.
“Uh oh. Am I in trouble already? Am I late? I thought I was early.”
“No, you’re fine,” I shake my head.
“Okay,” she says with a slight smile. “Then why do you look so surprised to see me?”
I open my mouth to say something when Jaylen walks in. “Did you know they took artichoke dip off the menu at Highball? Oh, hey sis!”
