Chapter 3

The last couple of days, I hadn't reached for him the way I usually did.

Les must have sensed something off. Before leaving that morning, he even wrapped my scarf around my neck himself.

That weekend, out of nowhere, he offered to take me out.

"It's Gabriel Whitney's birthday thing tonight, everyone's going. You can't just sit shut up in the house all the time. I'll take you, get you out for a bit."

I didn't refuse.

This was probably the last time I'd see his friends before I left.

The door to the private room swung open, and the noisy crowd went quiet for a beat.

"Les, you brought your wife along."

Gabriel forced out a couple of dry laughs.

Les steered me into a seat in the corner.

He poured warm water, set it in front of me, and lowered his voice.

"Sit here and don't wander off. I'm going to go have a couple of drinks with them."

The little things like that, he never forgot.

But he hadn't forgotten to park me as far from Sharon as possible either, so I wouldn't spoil their fun.

He let go of me and walked straight to the head of the table.

The whispering started around me.

"Why'd Les even bring her?"

"Right? And now somebody has to wait on her. Poor Sharon, another rough night for her."

A little while later, a heavy wave of perfume.

Sharon.

"Evie, are you thirsty? Let me get you a glass of juice."

Her voice was gentle.

"No, thanks."

"Evie, are you still angry at Les?"

She dropped her voice, though it carried just far enough for the people around us to hear.

"The necklace was really a misunderstanding. Les wanted to buy you one, but you can't see, so there's no point in a diamond that sparkles like that. I told him to save the money and buy you more supplements instead."

She paused.

"That necklace I bought myself. I only borrowed Les's membership card."

Someone jumped in at once.

"Evelyn, that's enough. Les has been good enough to you, hasn't he? He spent everything he had fixing your eyes. What more do you want?"

"Exactly. Sharon waits on you every single day, and instead of being grateful, you're always suspicious of everyone."

Les sat not far off, a glass in his hand.

When people glanced his way, he only said, mildly,

"Evie's been sick for half a year, she's sensitive. Don't hold it against her."

Sharon caught my hand.

"Evie, don't listen to their nonsense."

"I'll always be your best friend."

I yanked my hand back, hard.

Sharon seized the moment, cried out, and knocked over the wine glass on the table, red wine soaking down her front.

"Sharon."

Les rushed over instantly and pulled her up.

Then he turned to me.

"Evelyn, what did you do?"

His tone wasn't harsh, but his eyes had gone cold.

I rose slowly to my feet.

"Sharon, do you think that just because I went blind, my head stopped working too?"

I didn't raise my voice, but the room fell silent all at once.

"The perfume on you is exactly the same as the smell on the collar of Les's shirt."

"The two of you carrying on right in front of me, did you think I couldn't hear it?"

"Are you here to be my eyes? Or to be the lady of the Sanchez house?"

Every word landed on their faces.

Sharon went white, tears rolling down in fat drops.

"Evie, how... how can you accuse me like this..."

"Enough."

Les cut her off, then stepped in front of me, blocking me from everyone's view.

"Evelyn, come home with me."

He gripped my wrist and lowered his voice.

"You're going to apologize to Sharon, properly."

Even now, the one he wanted to protect was still Sharon's dignity.

I didn't move.

Les's jaw tightened.

"You know exactly how Sharon has looked after you these past six months. If you don't have proof, don't say it a second time."

I felt for a glass of water, picked it up, and threw it in his face.

Cold water dripped off his hair, and he froze completely.

I took up my cane, turned, and walked toward the door.

Behind me came Les's voice, straining to hold back his anger.

"Evelyn, I gave you the chance. Walk out that door today, and don't count on me coming to coax you back."

My steps didn't stop.