But, of course, she couldn’t. The movie ended and then it was time to go. Uncurling her body from where it had been tucked into Max’s side, she slid off the seat and stretched. Then she reached out her hand to pull him to his feet. “C’mon, buddy. Time to take us home.”
When they got to the apartment building and Suave had gone inside to bed, Silken walked Max back to the elevator. There, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him into her. “I had a wonderful day with your parents. You were right. They’re really cool.”
He smiled down at her. “Glad you think so. And, based on what I heard through the grapevine, they think you’re cool, too.”
She tilted her head. “What grapevine?”
He put up a hand to stroke her hair. “The one where my mom pulls me into the living room when nobody’s watching and tells me she really, really likes you.”
Silken’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open. “She didn’t. Really?”
Max smiled. “Really.” He dipped his head and gave her a smack right on her parted lips. Then he pulled away, a look of regret in his eyes.
“I wish I could have had you tonight but I guess I’ll have to wait.”
And then, as he stepped into the elevator and the door began to close, he yelled the words that made her eyes smart with sudden tears.
“Did I tell you? Mom always dreamed of having a daughter.”
The elevator door closed so she couldn’t give him her answer. Instead, she whispered it to herself. “And I’ve always dreamed of having a mom.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Time was flying like the wind and Silken wanted to slow it down and speed it up both at the same time. Her wedding day was fast approaching and there was still so much to be done. She needed more time. On the other hand, she could hardly wait for the day when she would walk down the aisle and take Max’s hand in marriage. She was caught smack in the middle of a tug-of-war that was driving her round the bend.
“You need some time off,” Suave told her. “You need to focus. The wedding is just a month away. Don’t bother to come into work this week. I’ll hold the fort while you finalize your wedding plans.”
“Are you sure?” Silken had never left Suave alone before. She’d always been there to share the workload.
“Very sure.” Suave gave her a little push toward the door. “I want everything to be perfect on your wedding day. Now meet the wedding planner and tie up all those loose ends. Go on, get out of here.”
And so Silken went and she was happy she did. You never knew how much it took to plan a wedding until you were in the middle of it yourself. Even with the services of a wedding planner it was a lot of work. She wanted to be sure things went just right. After all, this wasn’t just her wedding. This was a Davidoff wedding and that meant it had to be perfect.
The fact that Max didn’t seem to be worrying himself about anything was small consolation to Silken. Typical man, he didn’t care if the wedding ceremony took place in a palace, on a beach, or in the back of a pick-up truck. He just wanted to show up, stick the ring on her finger and move her into the house where he could make love to her twenty-four-seven if he so desired. And, knowing Max, he would probably so desire pretty often.
But Silken knew better than to take the affair so lightly. This would be the most important day of her life. Not only that, but the world would be watching. She had to get it right. And even more scary, Mother Davidoff would be watching.
And, as nice as she’d been on the visit when the track opened, the last thing Silken wanted to do was give the family’s mother hen reason to regret her son’s choice of bride.
And so she went all out, spending the entire first week of May on the road, leaving Suave to run the show until she got back.
And then, just three weeks before her wedding day, a tsunami of disaster barreled in and Silken’s world came crashing down around her.
***
“Silken, can you head back to the office? Something’s going on with Suave and I can’t figure it out.” Bill’s voice came crackling into the phone, the sound weak like he was out of range. One thing came over loud and clear, though. He was worried.
A feeling of dread rose inside Silken. She gripped the cell phone tighter. “What’s wrong? Is Suave hurt?” She’d made sure to put Suave in charge of the books, particularly because she wanted to keep her out of the work area and out of harm’s way. Now it looked like her plan had failed.
“No, nothing like that. She looked pale when she came in this morning but she insisted she was all right. But then by lunchtime she came over and said she felt weird, like half of her was numb and the other half was tingling. But still, she didn’t look sick…” His voice trailed off as if something was distracting him.
“And then what, Bill? What happened? Where is she?” Silken’s heart pounded as she waited for the news. Dear God, please let Suave be all right.
“And then she started walking funny, like she was off balance, and she said she felt dizzy.”
Oh, Jesus. A stroke. “Where is she, Bill?” Silken yelled. “Can she talk? Call an ambulance.”
“No, no, she can talk. She’s fully conscious. And I know what you’re thinking but this doesn’t look like a stroke.”
“Put her on the phone, Bill. Let me talk to my sister. Now.” It took her frenzied shout to shock Bill out of his seeming stupor. Within two seconds Suave was on the phone.
“Silken,” she said, her voice weak, “I don’t feel too good.”
“What’s the matter, honey? Where does it hurt?” Silken had to fight to keep the fear out of her voice.
“It doesn’t. I just don’t feel right. And my body…it’s going numb all over.”
“I’m calling 911 right now.”
“No, don’t,” Suave said, her voice breathless. “Can you come?”
“I’m on the highway, heading to you right now. Just hang in there.”
When Silken hung up she had to bite her lip to keep a sob from escaping. Suave’s question cut her to the quick. Can you come? There was nothing that could keep her away.