Blind Trust Read online

She snuggled into the pillow and kept on sleeping.

  He couldn’t believe his good luck. Here he was, driving down the highway, this beautiful woman by his side, as they headed to San Diego.

  He wondered how she’d feel about walking on the beach. Then he remembered she wouldn’t be able to see the sunset.

  How will she feel about that?

  There were so many things he would have automatically done when dating, but now he needed to put even more thought into it.

  Dating her was going to be both challenging and exciting, and he looked forward to every moment of it.

  The day was spent with Cecelia dozing and waking, with a thirty-minute lunch at a burger place, which was nothing special but was the only place where she could get the milkshake she craved. She’d passed on the fries and ordered onion rings, a burger, and a chocolate shake.

  They spent the time talking about their high school days and places they went after a football game for late night meals and snacks. He had played football. She had been a cheerleader. Both had enjoyed high school very much.

  Then they were on the road again, miles behind them and many more to go.

  Cecelia dozed off again after they ate lunch, and when he woke her for a gas refill and bathroom break, he asked if she felt all right as she’d been sleeping so much.

  She confessed she’d been having nightmares lately about fires. The nights of short sleep, and restless sleep when she did get it, had caught up with her.

  “Then I’m glad you’ve been sleeping,” he said. “It sounds like you needed that rest.”

  He was also glad she felt comfortable enough with him to fall asleep like that. That was very good.

  “I’m going to suggest something, which of course you can say no to, but I think it might be better for us both. We can get one hotel room with double beds, then I’d be there to hear you if you have another one of those dreams. I can wake you.”

  Her expression showed surprise, or was that shock?

  Chapter 4

  Brian hurried to go on, before Cecelia said no, hoping she would say yes. “We would each sleep in our own bed though, so don’t be getting any ideas just yet. It’s too soon in our relationship for that.”

  His final tone closed the door, making it clear that sex of any sort was off the table…for now.

  She sat quiet for a moment, thinking, and just when he’d thought she would say no way, she said, “Yes, I think I might sleep better, if you’re there to hear me in the night. Sometimes when I wake up, I’m really disoriented and think I’m back in that fire and can’t get out. Leah has suggested everything she knows to suggest, but nothing has stopped the nightmares yet. And I wish they would stop.”

  “I hope they stop too, and I hope you sleep well tonight, all through the night,” he said. “If I can do anything to help with that, please let me know. I would like to help.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “I will.”

  About an hour later, he pulled the truck into the parking lot of the Dusty Trail Inn.

  It was an older motel, but the ratings said it was clean, and all they needed was a clean, safe place to sleep on their route. Just a quick one-night place.

  They registered for one room with two double beds, instead of two rooms, and then he carried their bags inside, while she followed behind him.

  Once inside the room, he said, “Claim your bed.”

  She moved into the room and took the bed farthest from the door, which was the one he’d have picked for her, as it put him nearest the door in case of trouble.

  She’d be closer to the bathroom. Her choice also spoke of her trust. Had she picked the one near the door, he’d have known she wasn’t trusting him yet. Subconsciously, she’d have wanted a route away from him, if she didn’t fully trust him.

  They’d begun to work out a pattern at meals, now that they’d had lunch and dinner. He would look at the restaurant and choose his seat, where he could watch the doors and be the first to see trouble looming, so he chose whichever seat protected her more.

  Once he’d explained the why, and that he didn’t sit with his back to the door, she had understood and complied quite easily.

  As long as he didn’t tell her what to do and where to sit, she seemed fine with him taking charge.

  He put her suitcase near her bed, on the low table across from the foot of the bed, and then told her where the suitcase was and that she could have the bathroom first for a shower. Then he turned on the TV, sat on the bed, and tried to give her the privacy of not watching her constantly.

  When she was awake, she always seemed to sense when his gaze followed her, as if she had a second sense about it. As fascinated as he was, by how she got around and did things, he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, so he was going to tune out with a TV show and let her settle in for the night.

  She opened her suitcase, pulled out a soft pink nightgown, a white terrycloth robe and pink slippers, along with a bag of toiletries, and then went into the bathroom to shower and prepare for the evening.

  Tired of the TV show he was watching, he got up and double locked the door, so they were in for the night, and then pulled out the things he needed for the evening. Gym shorts, as he didn’t own pajamas. He’d forgo his normal nightly routine out of respect for her. Though she’d never know it.

  He found a Jackie Chan movie, one of his favorite actors, and was laughing at the show when she came back out of the bathroom, toweling her hair.

  “What are you watching?” she asked.

  “Jackie Chan,” he said. “Are you familiar with his movies?”

  “Yes,” she said. “I’ve watched a couple. Before I lost my sight. Now, I don’t go to movies with anyone.”

  He watched her speculatively.

  Did she want to go to movies? Or did she avoid them because she no longer enjoyed them?

  She was quiet, and moving over to her bed, before taking off her robe and sliding beneath the covers.

  He wasn’t sure how to ask her and wanted her evening to be pleasantly spent on good topics before she went to sleep.

  Then she spoke. “I would probably enjoy going to a movie if it had good dialog and wasn’t relying on the visuals. No one has ever asked me to one since I lost my sight.”

  “That’s a shame,” he said.

  “It’s not like I never get to hear movies anymore,” she said. “I like it when we have movie nights at the ranch. It’s even better than a movie theater, because I can ask a question, or someone will tell me if the actors stop talking, what is going on. Many suspense scenes for instance, I’ll know by the music that something is happening, or going to happen, but I don’t know what. You can’t really be talking in a movie theater though, without upsetting people. And there’s no rewind and replay in a movie theater.”

  “So, you’d enjoy curling up on the couch with popcorn to snuggle and watch a movie,” he said.

  “Oh, yes. I’d enjoy that very much.” She nodded. “Especially the snuggling part.”

  “Good.” He smiled and took off his shoes. “I like snuggling and watching movies at home, too.”

  “Don’t get me wrong,” she said. “Being blind doesn’t mean we can’t do or enjoy television, movies, or theatre. Just think of it like those old-time radio shows. We need to hear the story, and that can be just as exciting and enjoyable, if It’s done well.”

  “That’s good,” he said. “I hadn’t thought of radio shows.”

  “Oh, and books on tape. I like those, too. Though of course, I can read with my braille reader. It’s nice to be able to relax and just listen.”

  She was chattier than he’d thought she’d be tonight. He was glad she wasn’t nervous to be in the same room with him, but maybe her chattiness right now was a sign of her nerves. “Okay, I’m going to hop in the shower. You want me to leave Jackie on, or do you want the remote to find something else?”

  “This is fine,” she said. “I might be asleep when you come out. I took one of the pills
Leah recommended to help me sleep, and it only takes twenty minutes to kick in.”

  “All right. I’ll be quiet so I don’t wake you. My alarm is set for seven thirty. I’d like us to be on the road by eight. We can get breakfast further down the road. There’s a pancake house and a local coffee shop just a few miles away.”

  “Sounds good,” she said. “Well, good night Brian.”

  “Good night, Cecelia.”

  Cecelia nestled into her pillows, sheets and blankets, feeling the melatonin start to work. Once she laid still, it wouldn’t be long until she slept. She didn’t know why she had been so tired on the trip today.

  Am I really that behind on sleep? Must be more than I realized. And Brian is so much nicer than I realized. He’s really going out of his way to make sure I’m comfortable, safe and enjoying the trip.

  Why was I so hesitant to go out with him?

  Not every guy is like Elijah, which I know in my head, logically, and Leah and I have gone over that enough, but the fear of dating has been a stubborn sticking thing.

  Leah said give Brian a chance and just get to know him as a friend, first. Then whether I decide to go out or not, I’ll have made a new friend and that’s always a good thing.

  All this time on the road getting to know Brian has been so nice. And he is so nice. I guess there really are nice guys out there. You just have to find one.

  If he asks me out again, I think I’ll say yes. It feels right to say yes. I really like him a lot.

  It was her last thought before falling asleep, and she slept soundly for the first time in months, and without one bad dream.

  When she woke the next morning, and realized this, it felt somewhat like a miracle.

  She was in the bathroom before his alarm went off and came out just as it began to ring.

  “Good morning,” she said after he turned off the alarm.

  She started digging in her suitcase for fresh clothes to wear today on the second day of their trip.

  “Morning,” he said, watching her rummage in her suitcase for something. “I didn’t hear you last night. How did you sleep?”

  “I slept all night long, like a baby,” she said. “I feel so much better this morning. It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep can do.”

  “Good. Yes, it is,” he said. “Are you done in the bathroom?”

  “Yes. Go ahead.” She lifted her jeans and sniffed them, and then held them out for him to see. “Any spots on these? If not, I’m wearing them again today.”

  “Nope, no spots.” He walked past her into the bathroom and closed the door.

  She’d have privacy to get dressed, and then they’d check out and get on the road. He needed coffee to catch up with her cheerfulness, but he was happy she’d slept well.

  The second day of driving went well. The weather remained good, except for one brief, drizzling rain that didn’t last more than thirty minutes, just long enough to wash the dust off the truck.

  They ate lunch at a truck stop, which she’d never done before, and they shared one slice of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

  “I know what your plan is,” she said when they were back in the truck.

  “What’s my plan,” he said, one side of his mouth curving.

  “You’ve going to ply me with milkshakes and pie with ice cream, and all manner of sweets, so that I’ll think of our days spent together as sweet ones. It’s all an evil plan to tempt me with sweets until I’m besotted with you.”

  He laughed. “You’ve got me. Is it working?”

  “Oh, yes,” she said. “I’m just not sure I’ll fit into these jeans if you keep this up.”

  “Well, then we’ll have to work it off of you,” he said.

  Her eyes went wide again as she froze and got quiet.

  “We could start going for a walk after dinner, before we turn in for the evening,” he said. “Or when we stop for lunch.”

  Relief showed on her face.

  Did she really think I was talking about sex right now? We haven’t even kissed. She must have gone out with some real winners, not just that guy who attacked her.

  He wondered what her other relationships had been like. Before the attack.

  “Unless you have some other, nefarious plan to get me naked and work the sweets off,” he said.

  She laughed. “No, I’m not the nefarious type. No dastardly naked plans in this girl.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing,” he said. “Cause I’m not ready to get naked with you.”

  Surprise showed on her face. “You’re not?”

  “Nope. It’s too soon,” he said. “We’re just getting to know each other. No reason to rush things.”

  He wished he could capture the look on her face just then, as she sat taking in what he’d said. There were a lot of expressions he’d like to capture.

  The many looks she’d shown him so far on this trip. He’d never forget them, as they’d be frozen into his memory. But for a moment, he wished he could capture this image.

  He wondered how she felt about having her picture taken.

  “I would like to rush into one thing, though,” he said.

  “You would?” she said. “What one thing?”

  “Kissing,” he said, smiling wryly. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for weeks. But the timing needs to be right for a first kiss. At some point on this trip, after we see your friend, I’m going to kiss you—if you’re all right with that.”

  “I’m all right with that,” she said, her words rushed. “But I thought maybe you were going to ask me out again.”

  She sounds disappointed.

  Inwardly, he wanted to shout, Yes! But he kept this to himself. “Does that mean you’re ready for me to ask you out?” he asked instead.

  “Mmm-hmm,” she answered.

  Joy filled his chest. “Miss Cecelia, may I have the pleasure of taking you to dinner in San Diego, as our official first date, followed by a walk on the beach?”

  “Oh, yes!” she said. “That sounds fantastic!”

  Amazing, he thought. She’s gone from not wanting to go out at all to enthusiasm and a yes.

  And that was perfect.

  “It will be,” he said. “It’s a date.”

  Now, they had two more nights to anticipate their official romantic date. Everything about this trip was going perfect. He almost couldn’t believe it was going so well.

  He’d thought convincing her would be a lot harder.

  They reached the next hotel later than he’d planned. The only room available for them was a room with a king-sized bed on the second floor.

  Not what he had planned, at all.

  Cecelia could hear the frustration in his voice as he tried to get them another room.

  There was some kind of event in town, and all the local hotels were full.

  He’d started to argue with the front desk clerk, when Cecelia reached for his arm and tugged to get his attention. “It’s okay,” she said. “Take the room.”

  “Fine,” he said. Then to the desk clerk, he said, “Can I get a cot?”

  “We don’t have any left,” the clerk said. “Sorry.”

  “We don’t need one,” Cecelia said. “There’s no reason we can’t share the king.” She could feel his gaze upon her, though he didn’t say a word. She wondered what he was thinking.

  He paid for the room, and then asked if there was an elevator.

  There was not.

  “It’s fine,” Cecelia said. “I can manage stairs. No biggie.”

  Outside, they walked to the truck.

  “I’ll sleep on the floor,” he said.

  “No, I’m not having you sleep on the floor,” she said. “And I’m not going to argue with you about it. That’s silly.”

  They stopped at the truck, and he got their bags out.

  “It’s not silly. It’s respectful.”

  “No, it’s silly,” she said. “Unless you don’t think you can keep your hands off me, if we share a king-sized bed
. They’re pretty big beds, you know, and I’m not a large woman. In fact, you might have trouble finding me in such a big bed. Which is why it’s silly to sleep on the floor. Those beds are huge.”

  “I’m not going to argue with you about this,” he said.

  “Good, then you’ll sleep on the bed,” she said. “You do know I sleep on a single bed at the ranch, right? Even the queens and doubles seem big to me after my bed. Please share the king with me.”

  “Fine,” he said.

  Brian began to sweat. She had no idea what she was asking. Sleeping in the same bed next to her, with her soft curves and sweet face, her unique scent which he found so enticing, her soft snores telling him she slept, and the way she sighed in her sleep, he’d be lucky if he got any sleep at all.

  But she wanted him there, so he would do it.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I’ll sleep better now.”

  I’m glad one of us will, he thought.

  Too bad she can’t take a turn driving. A six-hour drive won’t be easy if I don’t get enough sleep.

  Maybe she’ll share one of those melatonin pills she takes. She said they’re all natural and not habit-forming, so it can’t hurt to try one.

  Going up the stairs was a slow process, as she found her way up by herself.

  He’d have liked to have carried her up, to get her in the room faster, but he had both their suitcases in his hands, and she wouldn’t have gone for him carrying her up anyway.

  He realized his lack of sleep from the night before was making him impatient and cranky.

  Again, he turned on the TV after they got in the room, and sat on the bed watching it, while she got her shower.

  He had dozed off when she came out saying, “What’s on?”

  Her voice woke him. “No idea. I dozed off.”

  “I’m out now. The shower is all yours,” she said.

  “Thanks.” He grabbed his clothes then went in to take his shower.

  When he came out, she was awake and listening to a rerun of Johnny Carson.

  “Johnny is still funny,” she said. “Even when the shows are dated. I listen to comedians more than I used to. It feels good to laugh.”