Page 84 of Someone to Watch Over Me

While I’m online, I decide to do a search on something I want to know more about: the so-called widow-maker heart attack. I’ve heard the term before but never gave it much thought. Since Tom mentioned his father dying from one, it’s been on my mind. As I type the question into the search bar, I’m aware that I’ll probably regret this, but I press Enter anyway.

Google reports that “a widow-maker heart attack isa type of heart attack in which you have a full blockage in your heart’s biggest artery. This artery, theleft anterior descending(LAD) artery, sends oxygen-rich blood to your heart’s left ventricle.”

With my own heart in my throat, I scroll down to learn the survival rate is a measly twelve percent. I glance at Tom’s discharge paperwork sitting on the counter, and before I can talk myself out of it, I get up for a closer look.

On page four, I find a description of his presenting condition: ninety-five percent blockage of the left anterior descending artery.

I draw in a deep breath.Oh my God.He had the same heart attack his father did. Does he realize that? He must. They would’ve told him that in the hospital when he—or his sisters—shared family history.

I knew his condition was extremely serious but reading that it was the exact same condition that killed his father has left me shaken and needing more information. I want to talk to him about it, but I’m not sure how I’d bring that up.So, Tom, I was reading your discharge paperwork and realized you suffered a widow-maker heart attack like your father had. Did you realize that?

I can’t just ask him that.

My phone rings with a call from my mom.

“Hey, Mom, how’s it going?”

“It’s going. How about you? How’s Tom?”

I push the wordswidow-makerout of my mind for now. “He’s doing great. Took himself off to cardiac rehab this morning.”

“Should he be driving yet?”

“He says he’s fine, so what could I do? I keep having to remind myself that his situation is not like Jim’s was. He’s going to be fine eventually.”

“That must be so challenging for you.”

“It is, but he’s going to be fine, so that makes it as different as night and day, you know?”

“I do, but it must still be stressful for you.”

“It’s been okay, actually. He’s doing really well and is like his old self. The key thing is making sure he doesn’t do too much too soon.”Including have orgasms. My urge to giggle like a fool at that thought is tamped by the wordswidow-makerpopping into my head again. I knew I shouldn’t have googled it.

“I’m so glad to hear he’s doing well. That’s such a relief.”

“It really is.”

“Dad and I were wondering if you two would like to come for dinner tonight.”

“We’d love to, but Tom is eating super healthy.”

“I was going to make salmon with green beans and salad.”

“That sounds perfect. He’ll love it.”

“He’d probably love a steak more.”

I laugh. “He would, but he’s on best behavior going forward.”

“I’m glad to hear he’s taking it seriously.”

“He is. He says he has a lot to live for.”

“Including you?”

“It seems like I might be on the list.”

“That’s wonderful, Lex. I’m so happy for both of you. He’s such a nice guy.”

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