MY CELLPHONE RANG at a few minutes before six. It was Mark.
“What are you doing?” he asked, his tone lighter than the last time I’d spoken to him.
“Sleeping. Where are you?” I asked, hoping that he was calling to let me know he couldn’t make it.
“I’m almost there,” he said. “Did you find box?”
“Of course.”
“And you’re wearing the items?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes. Well, not the blindfold. You know, Doris has made a wonderful meal. Shouldn’t I put the teddy on later? After we eat?”
“Don’t worry about Doris seeing you. I sent her home,” he said, a smile in his voice.
“Oh. Okay.”
“You sound disappointed,” he mused.
You think?
The last thing I wanted was to spend the evening with him.
“No, I’m good,” I lied. “I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay, though. I have to get home and w
