Danna Wilberg [Wilberg - The Black Dress

LOVE IS BLIND

M onday morning proved uneventful, the way psychotherapist Grace Simms liked it, until her cell phone rang. The unlisted number triggered a chill. Jess. She didnt answer.

Graces secretary and best friend, Sal, handed her a fresh cup of coffee. Concern twisted her features into a scowl. Whats wrong?

Nothing.

Youre pale.

Blood sugars probably low. Do we have any crackers? Grace still battled PTSD symptoms. Nothing could push her whiny, fearful, negative-Nelly button faster than Jess. She struggled to keep her bitch factor in check.

Sal rummaged through a cupboard in the offices small kitchenette. Voila! she exclaimed, extracting a waxed-paper tube from a box and handing it to Grace. Not much of a breakfast. I can make you a slice of toast. Lennys running late. Says hes on a job interview.

No thanks, said Grace. Ill be in my office.

Dont forget my doctors appointment this afternoon. Im leaving early.

Forget? I plan to take you myself.

Dang, Grace, thats a lot to

Not another word. I wouldnt have it any other way.

All right, I feel better having you there. John? Love him to death, but he frets too much, and biopsies are nerve-racking enough.

Everything is going to be fine. Grace stepped closer to Sal until they were eye to eye. Its a tiny lump. Could be anything. The biopsy will prove its benign; then we can celebrate at Victorias Secret.

Grace hugged her friend. Something she wouldnt have easily done before. Before Paul. Before love. She realized all her life she had been trying to smell the roses by putting them to her ear. Now, she inhaled their sweetness. Thoughts of making love to Paul pushed away the ugliness of cancer and the Jesses of the world. She wanted peace of mind. Happy .

Im going to give my mother a quick call, Grace said. When Lenny shows up, tell him Ill be right with him.

Give her my love, Sal called over her shoulder. Tell her Im glad shes better.

Grace flashed on the severe concussion her mother sustained at the hands of Jess Bartell, the man who claimed to love me . Her mothers recoverytouch and gocaused Grace insurmountable guilt and stress. Me too, Grace smiled, gratefully at her friend, Me too.

Behind closed doors, Grace still fretted at not being able to spot a monster in her midst. Shed known Jess for more than eight years. Love is blind . She was grateful her mother survived. Others werent as lucky. Never again.

* * *

Paul Fortier typed in his search request and clicked on the link, Foreign Press. He scrolled down to the bottom of the page.

Puerto Madero Buenos Aires Argentina

Womans body found strangled and mutilated

He continued to read on, massaging his throbbing temples. Is that your handy work Jess, you son-of-a-bitch? He clicked the arrow for the next page and scanned the crowd of people in the photo. Hundreds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the body lying under the blood-soaked tarp. Paul pointed his mouse at the plus sign to enlarge the photo. He moved the mouse around, looking for anyone resembling Jess. He enlarged the image of a blond haired man in his mid-thirties. The mans face was turned toward a beautiful blond woman, a woman who resembled Grace. It appeared as though he were about to whisper something in her ear.

The pain in Pauls head sharpened. Ill find you, and when I do The phone rang.

Paul answered, disguising his anger. Ah, chr, what a surprise!

I called to tell you what a happy woman youve made me. I could say the same for you! His chuckle came out shaky.

I didnt interrupt anything, did I?

No, no. Reading the news. Bor-ing.

Thought you caught up on current events this morning.

You were a distraction. How could I possibly read with you touching me like that?

Sure it wasnt the other way around? Graces cheeks warmed, thinking about skin on skin.

How about having lunch later? he asked, refreshing his computer screen.

Sorry, cant. Im taking Sal for her biopsy this afternoon, otherwise

No worries. Well connect over dinner.

Deal. She hung up the phone chasing butterflies from her stomach. She imagined their bodies fitting together deliciously while Rod Stuarts Tonights the Night played in her head. Her lady parts hummed along.