The Corporate Wife by Michaels Leigh

Author:Michaels, Leigh [Michaels, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: PBL Limited
Published: 2013-03-09T22:00:00+00:00

*****

When Erin came into Angela’s room on Monday evening, she was startled to see how well her mother was looking. She was still pale, she obviously tired easily, and there were a few new lines in her face, but for a woman who just days ago had been on the edge of death, Angela looked wonderful.

Her hair had already been styled and a hospital volunteer was bending over her wheelchair, makeup tray in hand, putting the finishing touches on her eye shadow.

“If I didn’t know better, Mother,” Erin said dryly, “I’d say you were the visitor instead of the patient.”

Angela waved the volunteer away. “If you make me look too healthy, they’ll kick me out of my room, and I’m not ready to go home till tomorrow.”

The volunteer laughed. “And you wouldn’t want to outshine the bride.”

Angela tipped her head to one side and studied Erin. “That wouldn’t be hard to do. Please tell me you’re wearing that ratty old trench coat of mine as a cover-up, not a fashion statement.”

“I’m wearing it because it’s raining,” Erin said, “and because I seem to have misplaced mine.” Feeling incredibly self-conscious, she laid the trench coat across the foot of Angela’s bed and turned slowly, making the spangles on the bodice of her white cocktail dress sparkle for her mother’s inspection.

Angela sighed. “Much better. That’s a lovely dress, dear. I’ve always thought so. Of course, I had no idea when you bought it for that convention last spring that it would end up being your wedding gown.”

“It’s my something old, that’s all.”

“I’ve always envisioned you in embroidered white satin, with a train and a long lacy veil.”

“The train would just get in the way of the wheelchairs and stretchers.”

Angela smiled reluctantly. “I expect down deep you think I’m selfish, insisting on this hurry. Don’t you?”

“Not selfish, I think you’re just being silly. It would make a lot more sense to put off the wedding till you’re back on your feet. Did you say they’re letting you go home tomorrow? You can’t be by yourself, Mother.”

“I won’t be. You know all that volunteering I’ve done for the last ten years? People are standing in line to help me in return, so you can feel free to concentrate on your husband.”

Erin didn’t trust herself to answer that.

An aide came into the room. “Your mother looks better than she feels, Miss Reynolds,” she said, “and we don’t want to tire her out too much. I hate to hurry you along, but perhaps you’d better go on down to the solarium. Sorry about protocol, but this guest will be the last to arrive and the first to leave.”

Erin leaned over to kiss her mother’s cheek.

The hallway was – incredibly – deserted, and the walk to the solarium seemed to stretch out forever.

Exactly like the consequences of this decision, Erin thought. Was she doing the right thing?

“Fine time to ask yourself that,” she muttered.

What she was feeling was only last-minute nerves anyway. Every bride had butterflies, no matter what the circumstances of her wedding day.

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