Page 12 of Wisteria Winds (Wisteria Island #2)

Danielle blinked in surprise. Her mom had never been one for casual exercise. Her fitness routine in New York always involved personal training sessions or Pilates classes with celebrities.

“Wait, you were, like, hiking voluntarily?”

Cecilia laughed, a light sound that reminded Danielle of those rare carefree moments from her childhood. “Oh, don’t look so shocked. I’m not completely set in my ways.” She gestured toward the gazebo under construction. “I see construction’s underway. Bennett certainly doesn’t waste time.”

“He’s very efficient,” Danielle said. “And when he decides something is important, he makes it happen.”

“That’s a quality I’ve come to admire about him,” Cecilia admitted.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about the gazebo designs.

The current plans are lovely, but I wonder if we might incorporate some lighting elements within the structure.

You know, something subtle that could transition from daylight ceremony to an evening reception. ”

Danielle stared at her mother. “You’re… you’re, like, really getting into this island wedding idea, aren’t you?”

Cecilia smoothed her hair. “Well, I mean, once I accepted that you weren’t going to come to New York City, I decided I needed to make the best of it. I will say there’s a certain charm to this place. Besides, it’s on an island. That doesn’t mean it can’t be memorable and elegant.”

Impulsively, Danielle hugged her mother. “Thank you for trying. And for being so open about doing things differently.”

Cecilia returned the embrace, awkwardly patting her daughter’s back.

“Well, yes, your happiness is what matters, after all.” She stepped back.

“Now, I know you have patients waiting, and I’m meeting Dorothy for breakfast so we can discuss the centerpieces.

That woman has surprising taste for someone who wears sunglasses indoors. ”

As her mother continued on her way, Danielle shook her head. Wisteria Island was definitely working its magic again. Cecilia Wright, renowned epidemiologist and Manhattan socialite, was power-walking at dawn and planning beach decorations with a retired movie star.

The clinic day passed quickly, and at eleven, Danielle locked up, put a sign on the door, and headed toward the gazebo.

She saw Bennett before he saw her. He was standing at the edge of the marked foundation, deep in conversation with one of the contractors.

The morning sun caught the little bits of red in his dark hair, and his hands moved as he explained something in an animated fashion.

He was pointing at various areas of the site.

She couldn’t help but feel a wave of love wash over her. This man could run a tech empire from afar, and yet chose to take big parts of his day involving himself in every aspect of island life.

“Is that my coffee I see?” she called as she approached.

Bennett turned, his face lighting up at the sight of her. “Ah, you’re right on time. One large vanilla latte and a chocolate croissant, as promised.” He handed her the treats and leaned in for a quick kiss. “So, what do you think?”

Danielle looked around where concrete footings were already being prepared. “It’s happening fast.”

“Oh, Miguel’s crew is the best. They understand when something is urgent.” He put his arm around her waist. “I want you to be able to stand in it and really feel what it will be like on our wedding day.”

“At this rate, we could get married next month,” Danielle joked, taking a sip of her coffee.

He looked at her with a sudden seriousness. “Hey, why not?”

“What?”

“Why not next month? Once the gazebo is complete, what are we really waiting for?”

Danielle blinked, caught off guard. “I mean, I just thought we’d have a longer engagement. Most weddings take months to plan and?—”

“Do we need months?” Bennett interrupted. “We know we’re getting married. We know where we’re getting married. We know who’s coming. They all live here. Morty and your mother have practically planned every detail. Why wait?”

Danielle thought about it. The truth was she’d been thinking of a longer engagement just out of convention, more than desire.

She’d been married to her career for so long that she’d internalized the idea that big life decisions took extensive lead time.

But standing there with Bennett, watching their wedding venue take a physical form, she felt only certainty. There really wasn’t any reason to wait.

“Okay, let’s do it,” she said suddenly. “When the gazebo is finished, why not?”

Bennett smiled. “Really?”

“Really.” She set her coffee down on a stack of wood and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t need a long engagement or a bunch of planning time. I just need you.”

He kissed her then, a full kiss of promise and joy, not caring at all that a construction crew was a few yards away.

“Should we tell the others?” Danielle asked when they finally broke apart.

Bennett laughed. “And deny Morty the pleasure of planning for months on end? Oh, it seems cruel.”

“True. But he’s probably designed our first anniversary party already.”

They stood together watching the work, Bennett’s arm around her shoulders, Danielle’s around his waist.

“My mother seems to be coming around,” Danielle said. “I saw her this morning in workout clothes of all things, coming back from hiking around the island. She’s apparently meeting Dorothy to discuss centerpieces right now.”

Bennett smiled. “Wisteria has that effect on people. You know, it grows on you.”

“Yeah, like a certain island owner I know,” she said, squeezing his waist.

“Is that a complaint, Nurse Wright?”

“Not at all, Mr. Alexander. Not at all.”

* * *

C ecilia sat alone on the bench overlooking the gazebo construction site.

She pressed a handkerchief discreetly against her temple.

The momentary dizziness had passed, but the headache was still lingering.

It was the third one this week. She took a couple of slow breaths, willing the pain to subside before anybody noticed.

“Mom, are you all right?”

Cecilia straightened immediately and tucked the handkerchief back into her pocket as her daughter approached. “Oh, I’m fine, darling. Just taking a minute to appreciate the view.” She gestured toward the gazebo where workers were installing the railing.

Danielle sat down beside her and studied her mother’s face. “You’re pale, and why are you squinting against the light?”

“Well, it’s bright today,” Cecilia said. “I forgot my sunglasses.”

“Mm-hmm,” Danielle murmured. “You know, you’ve been forgetting a lot of things lately, like you never mentioned why you canceled your keynote at the Nashville conference next month.”

Cecilia frowned. “And how did you find out about that?”

“Dr. Patel mentioned it. Apparently, she was looking forward to hearing you speak.” She turned toward her mother. “What is going on? And don’t you tell me nothing. I’ve been a nurse long enough to know when someone’s hiding symptoms.”

For a minute, Cecilia considered maintaining the ruse. She’d spent her whole life presenting strength, never weakness. But there was something about Danielle staring directly into her eyes. It was so like her father when she wasn’t being forthright with him.

“Look, I’ve just had a few headaches,” she said, making her tone sound dismissive. “Probably tension from all the wedding planning. It’s certainly nothing to concern yourself with, especially not right now.”

“How frequent? Do they come with dizziness or vision changes?”

Cecilia sighed. “Yes, to the dizziness occasionally. No visual disturbances. And my blood pressure was a bit elevated at my last checkup, though my doctor didn’t seem overly concerned.”

“And when was this checkup?”

“Three months ago.”

“Mom! And you haven’t followed up?”

“Well, I’ve been a little busy with your wedding, if you haven’t noticed.” Her tone was sharper than she intended. She softened, reaching for Danielle’s hand. “Look, I’m fine. Once this wedding’s over, I’ll make an appointment.”

Danielle was quiet for a long moment. “I want to take your blood pressure now at the clinic. Please.”

Cecilia recognized the mixture of professional concern and daughterly worry. “And will that set your mind at ease?”

“It would be a start.”

“Okay, fine,” Cecilia said, rising from the bench. She walked with deliberate steadiness despite having another wave of dizziness that she wouldn’t tell Danielle about. “I have to check in with Dorothy about the orchid delivery first. She’ll be impossible if I miss our appointment.”

“The orchids can wait ten minutes,” Danielle said firmly, taking her mother’s arm.

They walked toward the clinic, and Cecilia found herself grateful for her daughter, but would never admit it out loud.

The headaches had been worsening, and the dizziness was becoming a bit concerning, even to her scientifically objective mind.

But the wedding was less than three weeks away.

Whatever might be happening with her health would just have to wait until after her daughter’s special day.

She wasn’t going to allow anything, least of all her own body’s inconvenient timing, to overshadow her daughter’s happiness.

* * *

D anielle wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her mom’s arm, trying to maintain some kind of professional detachment even though she was growing quite concerned. Cecilia sat perfectly still on the examination table, her posture as impeccable as ever, despite the paleness of her skin.

“Deep breath,” Danielle said, inflating the cuff and watching the gauge.

As the reading became clear, she kept her expression neutral.

“165 over 90.”

“That’s a little bit high, isn’t it?” Cecilia said, as if they were discussing someone else entirely.

“It’s significantly elevated, Mom. How long have you been having these headaches?”

Cecilia considered for a moment. “About three weeks, I suppose.”

“And the dizziness?”

“More recent. Maybe a week?”

Danielle made notes in a fresh chart. “Chest pain? Shortness of breath?”

“None,” Cecilia said, smoothing an invisible wrinkle on her linen pants. “You know, I’m sure it’s just stress and all this wedding planning. I haven’t been sleeping well in the guest cottage. The mattress is firmer than what I’m used to.”

Danielle knew deflection when she heard it. “Mom, hypertension at these levels is concerning. It’s not something we can just dismiss as wedding stress, especially since it’s been going on for a while.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of the implications, Danielle,” she said with a hint of irritation. “I did complete medical school, you know.”

“Then you also know you need medication to bring your blood pressure down and further testing to make sure there’s no underlying causes.”

Cecilia stood and reached for her handbag. “And I’ll consult with my physician when I return to New York after the wedding.”

“Mom…”

“I won’t have your special day disrupted because of my medical issues,” she said firmly. “And I feel perfectly fine. I’m more than capable of monitoring my condition for the next couple of weeks.”

Danielle recognized the stubborn set of her mother’s jaw. “At least let me get a doctor to prescribe something to lower it in the meantime. And you need to rest more. Reduce your sodium intake and take regular breaks throughout the day.”

“Fine,” Cecilia said. “Get a prescription if it will ease your mind. But not a word of this to Bennett or anyone else. The focus needs to remain on your wedding and not on my minor health concerns.”

“They’re not minor.”

“Well, they’re manageable,” Cecilia said. “Dear, please, I’ve waited so long to see you this happy and to be a part of your special day. Don’t let this little medical hiccup overshadow that.”

Danielle sighed, knowing that she wasn’t going to win the argument. “I’ll get the prescription, but promise you’ll take it as directed. And that you’ll tell me immediately if your symptoms get worse.”

“I promise. Doctor’s honor.”

She made a mental note to check on her mother more frequently in the coming days. She knew Cecilia was reluctant to become the center of attention. But elevated blood pressure combined with headaches and dizziness worried her a lot.

For now, though, she would respect her mother’s wishes. The medication would help. Maybe she would rest and reduce some of her wedding duties enough to get her blood pressure down.

But as she watched her mother depart the clinic with her characteristic poise and grace, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something serious might be brewing beneath her mother’s perfect composure.