Page 22 of Blind Trust
“And here is our main course,” he said.
“They smell delicious,” she said.
The food was delicious, and she did try several bites of the different things in his paella.
Later when they were done, she turned down dessert.
“We can always get an ice cream, after we walk on the beach, if your sweet tooth kicks in,” he said.
“Okay,” she said. “I’m so full now though, I have no desire for a sweet.”
The waiter brought the check, and Brian paid for their meal, leaving a good tip.
“Ready to go?” he asked. “Or would you like to enjoy this for a bit longer.” He could always add on a coffee if she wanted to linger.
“I’m ready,” she said. “The air is cooler now that the sun is down. I think it might be chilly later.”
“True.” He stood, pushing his chair back, and moved around to her chair.
She rose, accepted his arm, and as they were walking toward the entrance she leaned in and said, “I need to find a ladies room.”
“Yes,” he said. “I’ll take you there and wait outside.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“Of course,” he said.
He took her to the door of the ladies’ room and said, “Straight ahead.”
She pulled her collapsible cane out of her bag, and after putting it together, used it as she moved forward and pushed on the door.
This had been their routine many times on the trip out to San Diego, and he was quite used to it by now.
If they were going to be together long term, and he had the feeling that they were, this would become a pattern neither of them even thought about in the future.
Like watching his grandfather with his grandmother.
There had been something so loving about the way they’d looked after each other. He’d known since he was a young boy that, if he ever married, he wanted the relationship to be just like theirs.
Those manners though, they seemed to be from another time.
He wondered what his grandparents would have said about that, and what they would have thought of Cecelia. He was almost certain they both would have approved of his new girlfriend.
Tonight, he would kiss her. Normally he wouldn’t have told her ahead of time, but he just couldn’t see how to handle a first kiss any other way when the woman was blind.
What if she doesn’t see it coming and it startles her, taking her too much by surprise?
He wasn’t going to risk that. He didn’t want anything to go wrong. With Cecelia, he would ask before he made any moves, and he would wait for each yes from her.
When she came out from the ladies’ room, she put her cane away again and took hold of his arm. Then she smiled up at him. “Ready,” she said.
He walked her to the truck and helped her in. “Ready to walk on the beach?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s leave our shoes. I like to feel the sand beneath my feet.”
“Okay,” he said. “There’s a spot near the entrance where we can leave them. Then we won’t have to carry them.”
“Good,” she said.
