Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes

sure did love to lead the blind.
    â€œMy wife passed away last year. While it was a good marriage all in all, we separated twice for short periods in our twenty-four years together. Rough patches happen to the best of us. You don’t need to be embarrassed. I know as well as anyone how painful love can be. Most people find it helps if they talk about it.”
    The hands of misery squeezed tight around my throat. No matter what hocus-pocus Hershing pulled, though, he was not going to manipulate me into crying. No way.
    I opened my mouth to say that I wasn’t embarrassed, that it was no big deal, things weren’t that bad between us really, but the lump rising in my throat told me my voice might crack if I did. Instead, I crossed my arms and stared down the light switch.
    He laced his fingers and tapped his thumbs together. “Here’s what I’ve been told, Eric. Stop me if I get something wrong. You work a lot. Kyra is alone a lot. She was very upset by your son’s departure.” He paused, looking at me as though expecting confirmation.
    I just blinked back. This was my personal business. Between me and Kyra and maybe our son, but no one else. Certainly not this stranger.
    After a few seconds, the doctor sighed. “The good news is she no longer thinks you’re dead.”
    I straightened my collar. “So you told me on the phone yesterday. Are we finished here?”
    â€œNot quite. There’s still a problem.”
    I looked at my watch again. Why wouldn’t he just come out with it already? “I’m listening.”
    â€œI don’t think Kyra remembers that you two are separated.”
    At last, I let my eyes meet his. “Why do you think that?”
    His hands stilled. “Once she realized you were alive, she was so relieved, she couldn’t stop crying. She spoke about you like a woman in love. She gushed about what a hard worker you are. How perfect you two are together, and your upcoming vacation.” He studied me a moment. “Frankly she went on and on so much so I had to cut her off so I could make time for my other patients.”
    I was stunned to silence. I had no idea what to make of any of it. Kyra hadn’t acted that way toward me in years, and the last time we’d discussed the possibility of a vacation was well before she’d found my and Danielle’s e-mail exchange. “Wow,” I finally said.
    â€œWow is right.”
    I couldn’t stop my head from spinning. What did this mean for her? For us? “Did you tell her the truth?”
    The beeper clinging to Hershing’s waist wailed. He unclipped it, read the number, then hit a button and slipped it back on. “I didn’t think that best. She’s fragile right now. You just came back from the dead for her. I think it would do more harm than good to take you away again.”
    My leg bounced up and down as I considered the situation. “What am I supposed to do in the meantime? I can’t tell her and I can’t not tell her. This is terrible.”
    He nodded empathetically. “It’s a difficult situation. There’s no clear-cut right or wrong, but if I were you, I’d let her figure it out in her own time rather than overwhelming her too soon.”
    This was just great. Was I supposed to pretend I wasn’t staying with Larry? Just crawl into bed with her like nothing was wrong? Then what would happen when her memory returned? I could just hear her screaming for me to get out of her bed before she called the police or threatened to kill me. No, I would definitely have to tell her.
    On the other hand . . . I’d never wanted this separation in the first place. What if this was my do-over? a chance to get it right the second time around?
    â€œI can see your wheels turning, Eric.”
    I stilled my leg as an idea came to me. “Maybe she should stay here a little while longer. Just until the rest of her memory comes