My Blind Husband

Yolanda’s voice dripped with flirtation in the delicate cocoon of her ear. “Damien, you mentioned you’d come over once Cherise drifts into slumber. When might that be?”

“I’m a bit weary. When do you think Cherise will doze off?”

“Why not utilize the sleeping pills you’ve prepared? Didn’t you prepare them?”

Cherise offered no reply.

She simply listened, her silence a canvas for Yolanda’s monologue, punctuated by soft utterances of “Mm,” “Ah,” “Okay.”

“Excellent. Let’s convene at our usual haunt tomorrow!”

Confronted with Yolanda’s buoyant tone, Cherise sighed inwardly, rubbing her temples. “Ms. Weiss.”

Finally, Yolanda exclaimed through the line, “You are…”

“I am Cherise.”

With the phone nestled in her palm, Cherise sighed again, her brow furrowing.

While she didn’t consider her initial “hello” particularly loud, it wasn’t muted.

If her voice reached Yolanda’s ears, why did Yolanda persist in this charade?

her softened tone, which could

this game, which is evident in her calculated

behind her carefully

faint smile. “Ms. Weiss, I presumed your late call was in pursuit of an accord regarding the issue of the shares with my

too, wish

of words only muddies the waters between you and my

concur that my husband maintains a distance from

icy. “It’s late, Ms. Weiss. Rest well. Perhaps in

Yolanda’s retort, Cherise terminated the call.

and

No way!

“Finished?”

exuding the scent of tobacco and the chill

“You… you

“Mhmm.”

imposing frame once again enveloped Cherise. “My dear little fool, you’ve grown, defending

against him. “I’ve told you I’m

be