Page 74 of A Bossy Roommate
“Everything’s fine. Nothing that can be done right at this moment.” I force a smile, and my aunt relaxes. Eden knows something is up, but she also knows not to press and turns her full attention back to my aunt.
Lunch proceeds uneventfully. I wish I could say that I push Huxley’s phone call to the back of my mind, but that would be a lie. I’m itching to get back to work so I can try to solve the Granger situation. I know if I’m able to talk to them, I canconvince them to reconsider. When the ladies are refreshing in the bathroom, I fire off an email to Bradley.
Between that mess and the fact that my aunt is insistent on continuing our outing, despite her clearly being exhausted, I’m getting impatient. Still, I agree to a leisurely walk through Central Park and a stop at a coffee shop or bakery along the way for a coffee and some pastries.
“All right, what else is there to do?” Aunt Eleanor asks as we climb back into my car in the afternoon. Eden takes her seat next to my aunt in the back, which I’m happy about. “Oh! We could pop over to the Museum of Natural Hist?—”
“We’re going home, Auntie,” I say, trying to sound breezy. Hattie, sitting next to me in the passenger seat, gives me a thankful glance. She, too, appears exhausted, and her expression says it all:Museum, you say? Dreadfully dull! Let’s beat a hasty retreat!
“Carter, we still have time,” my aunt argues.
“I don’t care that we have time. We’ve been out all day, it’s been exhausting, the weather is getting hotter, and you have a plane to catch this evening,” I say, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. “I think it’s best if we just take the next couple of hours to relax.”
“I’m sure stopping by the museum wouldn’t be so bad,” Eden counters. “It’s not far from here. There’s A/C. We wouldn’t have to stay long.”
“I said we’re going home,” I snap. “End of discussion.”
My aunt huffs. “There’s no need to get testy, dear. We heard you the first time.”
Hattie smiles at me, grateful. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen her smile warmly at me.
In contrast to that, in the rearview mirror, Eden is glaring daggers at me. Because I’d insisted we take the less-exhausting ferry ride first and now have no time for my auntie’s belovedmuseum. If we had started with Auntie’s beloved museum first, we’d all have been exhausted for the rest. Strategically, it had been the better choice. Not just strategically, mentally too. I can feel Eden’s disappointment, and I know she’s biting her tongue to stop herself from arguing with me in front of the ladies. She has to move on from it, simple as that. I’ve been on edge for hours and am tired of arguing. It’s time for a break.
When we pull into the parking garage, I notice that my aunt’s hands are shakier than usual. “Are you all right?” I ask and see Eden immediately grab her hand, concern written all over her face.
“Just fine. I think perhaps you were right, and I need some rest. Help me upstairs.”
I help my aunt out of the car, and Eden goes ahead of us with Hattie, calling the elevator and holding the doors open as I usher Aunt Eleanor in. Once we all say goodbye to Hattie—rather shortly, in which the two elderly women only quietly wave at each other—and enter the apartment, my aunt goes to lie on the couch.
An hour later,Eden re-fluffs one of the throw pillows my aunt is lying on. “No worries,” she tells Auntie. “You just stay here on the couch, and Carter and I will prep your things for your flight.”
“I’m sorry, dearies, but I don’t really think I’m in any state to travel,” Aunt Eleanor says, slowly lowering herself back onto the couch.
“I’m taking you to the emergency room.” I immediately reach for her. “Eden, grab one of her bags.”
“No, no! No doctors!” Aunt Eleanor exclaims, outraged. “I don’t need them to tell me what I already know. I’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Out of the corner of my eye I see Eden looking at me, but I don’t meet her gaze. “Auntie, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you not to get checked out,” I insist. “We shouldn’t take any chances. If you’re too weak to fly?—”
“Carter,” Aunt Eleanor says in a firm voice, “I amnotgoing to the hospital and that is final. All they are going to tell me is that I need to rest. I do not need to waste time hearing what I already know.”
“I’m sure she’ll be okay,” Eden says, trying to be positive.
I’m not having any of it. “I don’t like this, Auntie,” I insist. “You’re playing with your health.”
“It is my life, Carter. I will do with it as I please. Eden, help me to the guest suite,s’il te plaît, I wish to take a nap.”
Eden pushes past me to do as my aunt asked. As they walk away, I make for the kitchen. I need a drink. A strong one.
I pour myself a large glass of whiskey and drink half of it in one swig. It burns my throat all the way down. I shut my eyes and revel in the feeling, trying to figure out what the hell I’m going to do. It’s not my aunt’s fault that she’s grappling with a medical issue. However, her behavior today didn’t help the situation and has most likely made it worse. That, coupled with the loss of the Granger account, has me at the end of my rope. The beginnings of a headache have started to take route.
After another quick drink, I go to my room.
“She’s resting.” Eden joins me a few minutes later. “Care to tell me why you’re acting like this?”
“Not now, Eden. I’m not in the mood.”
“Well, it’s not aboutyou, Carter. She’s tired. If she says she’s not up to traveling, then so be it. We’ll deal.”