Page 80 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“My love, I twisted my hand.” I move it to show him. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine with a bandage.”

The color comes back to his face.

“What happened?” asks Graciela as she and Laila come into the room.

“Got me, my love,” says Dexter. “All I know is I suddenly saw Judith flying over the back of the couch and hitting herself hard against the floor.”

Graciela, who’s also a nurse, quickly goes into action.

“I’m fine, but my wrist hurts.”

“OK, let’s go. I’ll take you to the hospital so they can do an X-ray or two,” says Eric.

“Don’t be silly,” I say, laughing. “Graciela will fix this with a bandage, right?”

She checks out my hand and nods.

“I don’t think there’s a fracture. Take it easy, Eric.”

But of course, Eric insists.

“I’m going to feel better if they do an X-ray.”

“I agree with you,” says Laila. “It’s best to make sure everything is OK.”

“Listen, my love, my hand is OK,” I say. “I just need a bandage, and everything will be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’ll go get the medical kit from the kitchen,” says Laila.

Graciela and Dexter follow.

“Happy birthday, Mr. Zimmerman,” I say, finally smiling.

Eric smiles back. Finally!

“Thank you, my love.”

We kiss tenderly.

“This is the one-year anniversary of that free dinner I had with my friend Nacho at Moroccio when I pretended I was your wife. You came to my house later that night with a sour face and an angry voice and asked, incredulous, ‘Mrs. Zimmerman?’!”

He busts out laughing.

“Do you remember?”

“Yes...little panda bear,” he responds.

Oh, he’s so cute!

I laugh. It amuses me that he remembers my black eye that day. I can’t believe it’s been a year. How time flies!

Happily bringing back those memories, I search for my gift and find it under the table.

“I hope you like it and, above all, that it works after all the abuse it just took.”

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