Page 39 of The Pursuit of Her Happiness

I blink my eyes open, knowing I need to get moving. The boys need to get up and get ready for school. It’s still dark in my room…it shouldn’t be this dark even at this hour. I rub my knuckles into my eye sockets, sit up, and spin around until my bare feet touch the soft carpeting of my bedroom. I blink again…and again…and again.

I can’t see. OHMYGODICANTSEE! Don’t panic, Quinn. Just relax. I inhale deep and slow, filling my lungs and desperately trying to clear my mind, then exhale just as slowly. I blink again and nothing. Ok, I can handle this.

I blindly fumble for my phone, hoping like hell that I am remembering my screens correctly. I tap a few times, put the phone up to my ear and heave a sigh of relief when it starts ringing.

“Hello, you have reachedSpanky’s.We are currently closed.”I pull the phone away and tap the screen to end the call. I’m successful, thank God. I forgot we ordered dinner from there last night. Ok, another deep breath, and I guess where his name is now on my recent call list and hopefully tap the right buttons.

“Quinn? Is everything alright?” He answers immediately and my entire body sags at the sound of his voice.

“Bently,” I whisper, my mouth dry.

“Quinn!”

“I can’t…I can’t see.”

I think he was running, but he stops, his voice slightly winded, “What?”

“I woke up and…I can’t see anything. I don’t know…I don’t know what to do. The boys have school and I—”

“Go back to bed, I’ll take care of the boys.”

“What? No, you have surgery this morning.”

“I know, and I love that you know my schedule.” I can practically hear him smirking, it loosens the constriction in my chest that he’s being all sexy and teasing. It must not be as dire as I think it is. Lots of people are blind, they live full lives just fine. I ain’t no different.

“I don’t want to be blind,” I admit out loud, my voice small.

“We’ll figure it out, darlin’. I promise. Go back to sleep. I’m gonna call Marco, and I’ll send Audrey over to get the boys to school.”

“I shouldn’t need—”

“Gonna stop you right there, Quinny. People need people. Don’t make you weak or incompetent or inadequate. Makes you human. And I happen to love just how human you are.”

“Mmhmm,” I hum.

“Between your legs. I was talking about your human vagina. It’s very nice.”

I wipe at the tears coating my cheeks and grin. “Just nice?”

“I’ll show later how much I appreciate nice.”

“I don’t think I can go back to sleep, Bent.”

“Try the meditation and breathing techniques we looked up.”

“Ok. I’m…I’m sorry to bother you—”

He growls before saying my name sternly, “Quinn. You don’t ever apologize for reaching out to me. It’s my honor and privilege.”

“Your mom did a good job raising you.”

“Eh. I learned everything about being a good partner from Morticia and Gomez Addams.” I chuckle, laughing harder when he tacks on, “Raul Julia and Angelica Huston.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t be with you otherwise.”

“Quinny, we’re gonna figure this out. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

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