Chapter 37

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

ATHENA

Ellen and I keep chatting about this and that. I don’t want to upset her further. It seems when I upset her, she slowly slips back into madness. I need her to be calm and happy. She is telling me about Paris when he was a child, so full of life and so smart. Always the picture of a well-behaved young man in public, saving his emotional outbursts for home.

I help her out of the tub and into a nice clean dressing gown made of soft cotton. I then get her back to her chair and comfortable before I approach what we are going to do from here.

“Ellen,” I start.

“Mother,” she corrects.

“Mother,” I say, ignoring the lump forming in my throat. “I’m afraid Paris may not be back for a while.”

“Oh, is he on a trip?”

“Yes.” I give her a smile. “Something like that. It all happened so suddenly, and we aren’t sure when he will be back. I don’t feel right leaving you here alone.”

“Oh, you’re a sweet thing, but I am sure my Paris wouldn’t leave me for too long.”

“I’m sure you are right.” I place my hand on her shoulder. “But for my peace of mind, would you be open to letting me put you up somewhere nice, where the staff can see to your needs? Just until Paris comes back. ”

“Oh, that sounds lovely, dear.” She smiles at me, and I feel sick to my stomach. I hate not telling her the full truth, but she isn’t well, and I don’t want something to happen that I can’t safely handle.

“Okay. I am going to make a few calls. Why don’t you watch your show?” I turn the TV back on and step out of the room. Heph is waiting for me.

“She okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, and she is good with going to a facility until Paris is back.”

“Shady Pines?” he asks.

“No, I was thinking Elysian Fields. My dad’s mom was there the last year of her life, and it was really nice. She liked it, even if she ran the staff ragged,” I say while typing on my phone, looking for the number. “Wait.” I look up at Heph with wide eyes. “Was that a The Golden Girls reference?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” He turns and heads down the hallway.

Oh My God. Heph likes The Golden Girls . He would, he is such a Dorothy. I smile to myself as I find the number and make the call, arranging for them to prepare the nicest suite for Ellen and get her medical records. I give them the name of her doctor on her pill bottle and my credit card to prepay for the next three months. If we are all wrong, it will take at least that long to refurbish the house as an apology. It is the least we can do. And if we are right, then three months should give us enough time to make a plan.

I help Ellen pack a few things, mostly worn slippers, threadbare dressing gowns, and her rollers that are older than I am. She makes me call down to the facility a few times to make sure they have a rocker and TV, even after I assure her each room will. The room I am moving her to is more like her own apartment. She will have a bedroom, dining room, living room, and a kitchenette with an electric kettle, a microwave, refrigerator and things of that nature. Though I have also paid for a meal package that will have her food brought in from the main kitchens for each meal. It takes less than two hours for the front desk to call me back saying her suite is ready. Her doctor’s office is sending over files, and her doctor will be in to do a checkup in the morning. All that is left is to arrange transport. They do offer to come pick her up, but I decline, saying she needs to arrive in style. Once again, the Godwin name does me well, and this process wasn’t anywhere as difficult as it could have been.

I call my father’s Town Car service and have them take both of us so I can make sure she is settled. I don’t know why, but I think about my mother, and how if she was in this position I would want someone to help her.

I suppose she was in a similar position, and her boys took care of her for a time, even Paris. I will repay that debt by taking care of his mother.

If I was worried that getting Ellen settled would be difficult, I shouldn’t have been. She is sweet, and the longer her medication has to work, the more coherent she becomes. The fog in her eyes seems to clear to reveal a sharp woman with a quick wit and a kind heart.

“Athena, dear. Can I ask you something?”

“Anything,” I say, sliding into the Town Car next to her while Heph gets into the front to give the driver directions.

“My son, is he a good man? Or is he like his father?”

I don’t expect such a blunt question. I take a moment, struggling to find the right words. “I don’t know. Paris and I have only known each other a short time.”

Ellen’s lips purse, and she looks down at her hands folded on her lap.

She knows something is wrong, but not what, and I can’t bring myself to leave her like this, worried for her son and what kind of man he is. I still don’t know if he is as calculating and cold as Eros seems to think…

“But,” I add, “in the short time we have known each other, Paris has shown himself to be a kind gentleman. He is charming and sweet, and the portrait of modern chivalry.”

Ellen’s eyes light up at my words, and it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Like the pride she feels for her son is somehow reflected in me.

Heph helps me get her settled, and by the time we are back in the car, it’s getting dark, and I am starving.

“Hey, should we grab dinner before heading back?” I ask.

“They already ate,” he answers, “but why don’t we go have dinner?” He rubs the back of his neck. “I feel like I owe you an apology, and I want to do it right.”

“Okay.” I’m a little hesitant and looking for the trap, but I can’t see one. We are in my father’s car, with one of his drivers, and we will be in public. What’s the worst he can do? And more importantly, I really am hungry. “What kind of food are you thinking?”

“There is a steakhouse not too far from here. Is that okay? ”

“It is.” I grab my phone and send Eros a text.

Athena: Heph is taking me to dinner. Should I steal his knife?

Eros: Only if you want him eating half a cow with his bare hands.

Athena: Seriously, how worried should I be?

Eros: It will be fine. We know who is behind everything. Enjoy your dinner and when you get back, I’ll explain everything.

Athena: Or you could tell me now.

Eros: Enjoy your dinner, baby girl. Perseus and I are still gathering information. We should be done by the time you two are back.