Page 62 of The Other Side Of the Game

“I’m so sorry, Evelyn. What Phil has done to you is unconscionable.”

“Don’t apologize for your father’s treachery, Saundra. It isn’t healthy.”

She nodded and fell back with her arms folded across her chest. “I’ll never forgive him.”

“Then you didn’t learn anything from me, Saundra. You have to forgive him for your own peace of mind.”

My words sounded hollow probably because I knew it would take an in-person visit from the Dalai Lama himself to make me ever forgive Phil.

She tried to put her arms around me but something deep inside me just couldn’t accept the gesture. Her hands fell away and she looked uncertain.

“Evelyn, what can I do to help you?”

I tried to laugh at that but it came out as a bark. Was I losing my mind? “Nothing, baby. Just try to understand if I don’t make it to your wedding. I’ll certainly be there in spirit.”

“I’m not getting married. Yero and I broke up.”

Now I had to pull her into my arms. “Don’t be a fool, Saundra,” I whispered. “Yero is the real thing and you deserve no less than a good man like him. Promise me that you’ll reconsider?”

She cried quietly. “I promise.”

We made a little small talk but I felt uncomfortable. It was time for me to go. My job was done.

Chapter 37

ASHA

Yero showed up just as I was heading out for lunch. I expected him to look sad or angry but not dazed and confused.

He looked over at me from the armchair near my desk while I sat with my arms folded, trying to look stern and official.

“Thank you for seeing me, Asha,” he said in a very tired voice.

“What happened to Saundra last night?” I demanded.

“I didn’t see Saundra last night. We had a little spat earlier in the evening and I went home. She called this morning to say she had moved out of Phil’s house and the wedding was off.”

“It must have been more than a little spat for her to kick you to the curb.”

His eyes filled with pain. “Then she really means it? We’re through?”

I shrugged. “Looks that way.”

“But why?”

I couldn’t understand why he looked so bewildered. “Evidently, it felt like more than a spat to my sister.”

“No way,” he shouted.

“Lower your voice,” I whispered. “Are you trying to get me fired?”

“There is no way that Saundra would call off our wedding because of that petty mess.”

“What did the two of you argue about?”

He looked embarrassed. “I can’t tell you.”

“Yech! That means it’s a sexual issue and, you’re right. I don’t want to know.”

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