Page 23 of Gratification in Gluttony

“So, this is the secret to getting you to visit your mother,” she said without looking at him. “You don’t call. You don’t write. But sure, your mother cheats death by the skin of her teeth, and here you are.”

Utterly bamboozled by this turn of events, Toni looked around to search for the hidden cameras and the prank show host whowas surely lying in wait for him. But he was alone, save for his mother who was clearly not dying. He hated when Gem was right.

“What is going on?” Toni asked as his mother took a sip of her mimosa. “I thought you were sick!”

“Sick? No, of course not. Why would you think that?”

Toni gestured dramatically to the medical equipment around her. “Because you’re hospitalized. Flo said your surgery went wrong—”

“It did!” Goldi lowered her magazine, mouth pinching. “It went horribly wrong, Toni. Horribly! I mean, look at my breasts.” She parted her fluffy robe to reveal the gauze wrapped around her chest. “Terribly lopsided, they are. Your father is very upset.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Toni blew a slow breath through pursed lips. “Are you telling me that you’re here because of a boob job?”

“Of course. Why else would I be here? It was a gift from your father, you know? For our anniversary. I’ve always wanted one, though I wish your father had done better research on the surgeon. He ruined my left breast. Three inches off center, if you can believe that.”

Toni gaped at his mother. She licked her thumb and turned the page of her magazine.

“I thought you were dying, Ma!” he roared, and she scoffed.

“For all you know, I could have. Thank the deities, I pulled through.” She sniffed and took another drink from her mimosa. “But you know whoisdying when your father gets through with them? The surgeon. I demanded that he set it right, but he refused. Can you imagine?

“Something about how I can’t go under again so quickly,blah, blah, blah.Risk to your heart,blah, blah, blah. But what doeshe expectmeto do? Walk around for three months with this monstrosity on my chest? What would the neighbors say!”

The adrenaline drop left Toni weak-kneed, so he stumbled to the chair next to his mother’s bed and collapsed into it. He didn’t exactly want to study his mother’s chest, but he took a quick gander. “You can’t even tell, you know?”

Goldi went eerily still, setting her magazine down as she slowly, coolly turned to face her son. “You can’t even tell?” she echoed, and Toni knew he’d made a very big mistake.

“That’s not what I meant,” he backtracked. “What I meant was, if the doctor says you shouldn’t go under so soon, then maybe you should listen to him. It’s for your health. Think of your heart.”

“My heart is not the problem!” She gently clutched her bandaged chest. “It’s my breasts I’m worried about.”

Toni grimaced. “Can we maybe stop talking about your breasts? I’m your son.”

“Do not talk back to me, Tonus. I am your mother. I fed you with these breasts!” she practically snarled.

“Technically, notthosebreasts. You know, ’cause of the boob job,” Toni mumbled, and his mother’s gills flared. “But you’re right. It must have been a very trying morning for you.”

With an unimpressed hum, she lifted her magazine and smoothed open the pages. “It was. You know how my nerves get. Spasms and flutters all over me.”

Reaching out, Toni laid a hand on his mother’s forearm. “Well, I’m very glad you’re okay. I was worried.”

“Oh, baby,” she cooed, giving his cheek a pat. “It’s gonna take more than an idiot in a surgical gown to take me out. You know this.”

“Yeah, Ma, I know.” Toni smiled wanly as she patted his cheek again.

“You look tired. Are you sleeping okay? You have to take better care of yourself, you know?”

“I’m taking care of myself just fine,” he grumbled.

She tisked. “Well, maybe try showering more often. You’re smelling a bit ripe.”

“I was in a hurry,” he barked.

“Watch the tone!” Goldi warned him. “Be that as it may, it’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, Ma.”

“Though I wish it didn’t take a medical emergency to get you to visit,” she said with an almost childish pout. “I know you and your father have had your differences, but it breaks my heart to see you both this way. It’s not how a family should be.”

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