Blind with Love (7 page)

“Well?” Chase turned his head in the direction of the door to his room. He’d recognize Margo’s soft step and fresh scent anywhere. With his eyes still bandaged for another day, he really had no way of knowing how successful the surgery had been. Waiting was driving him insane. Worrying was making him even crazier. What the hell had happened to Kristen?

Did I do something to offend her?

He had expected her to be standing by his side when he came out of surgery. He didn’t know why. After all, they had just met hours earlier. Why would he assume she would be in his life forever? It had seemed so…perfect, their evening together. So…right. Like some divine being made them for each other. Where was she?

“Nothing.” Defeat creeped into Margo’s voice. She sounded just as worried as Chase. “Mom and Dad will be here soon. They took the first flight out this morning.”

Chase had turned away, barely listening to his sister. Thank God she couldn’t see his eyes. They would be misty.

He felt like an idiot. Had it only been a one-night stand to her? She had seemed so…into him. Hadn’t she?

“Do you want some more water?” Margo was moving around the room, keeping herself busy. He knew her well.

“No, I’m fine.”
Liar
.

“How about something to eat? They brought your lunch about an hour ago. You’ve barely touched it. I’m sure your stomach is settled now. Surely the anesthetic has worn off.”

“No.”

He couldn’t talk to her right now. He silently pleaded with her to stop jabbering. “I think I just need a nap. Could you…?”

“Right. Sure. I’ll just go down to the cafeteria for a while.” Margo’s voice got stronger as she spoke. She reached for his hand. “I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe it was all just a little too fast for her. Maybe she just needs some time.”

“Whatever.” Chase was through talking right now. He slunk down into the bed and turned on his side, away from her. Was there a window on that side? Would he be able to at least see the light coming in tomorrow when they removed the bandages? God, he hoped so.

“Chase…Chase…” Voices were calling to him from far away. Where were they coming from?

Chase moved to sit up and started to remember. Oh, yeah, the hospital. The surgery. The bandages. Kristen…

“Are you awake?” His mother’s voice yanked him back to reality.

“I am now.”

“Sorry, baby. I was worried about you. We’ve been here for hours and you’ve been asleep the entire time. You were having a nightmare.” Cynthia Edwards’ soft voice reached out to soothe Chase’s precarious nerves.

What had he been dreaming about? He had no idea, but whatever it was left a hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Mom…”

“Right here, honey. And Dad, too.” His father’s hand gripped his shoulder on the tail end of his mother’s sweet words. “Are you okay? Do you need anything?”

“I’m fine, Mom. Just waiting. They say tomorrow they can take the bandages off.”

“I heard. Margo told us.” His mother bustled about, smoothing out the blankets covering his body. He had the urge to ruffle the whole lot when she pulled her hands away. Did she think smoothing his blankets would also smooth his life? Of course not. She probably had no idea what had just happened to him Friday night. No idea his world felt upside down because he’d met the woman he was sure he wanted to spend the rest of his life with…and she had left without a trace. As the hours ticked by, he became more and more convinced she wasn’t interested. The night had not meant the same thing to her it had meant to him.

“Where’s Margo?” Maybe she knew something.

“We sent her home. She looked tired. I think she must have stayed up all night with you. A nice man came by and took her home. Ryan? I think that was his name. She didn’t mention she was seeing someone new.”

“Yes.” Chase didn’t feel like going into details, but he was relieved, and truth be told, a bit jealous, that Ryan was with Margo. At least one of them hadn’t been abandoned the morning after.

* * * *

Sunday morning came too fast. After only a few hours of sleep Friday night, Kristen spent all of Saturday hurrying around in preparation for her flight to Chicago. She didn’t know when she might be able to come back to her apartment, but she wasn’t willing to let go of it yet. She just wasn’t ready for that kind of finality. Instead she arranged for her mail to be forwarded, and gave all her potted plants to a neighbor.

After another restless night, barely getting any sleep once again, Kristen now sat for the first time in nearly twenty-four hours, waiting for her flight. Deep breaths did not help calm her racing heart. It had all seemed like such a clean break, up until Friday night. How had she let this happen? Why had she agreed to go on that date?

Kristen stared out the window at the tarmac and wondered for the millionth time how the surgery had gone. What was Chase thinking about her hasty departure? Hell, what was Margo thinking? Knowing Margo, she probably thought aliens had abducted Kristen. As a last minute thought, Kristen had slipped a note under Margo’s apartment door before heading for the airport, letting her know she was fine, she had some “things” she had to take care of, and she didn’t know when she would be back. Now she wondered if Margo had read the note yet, or if she was still at the hospital.

Kristen’s cell phone had rung all weekend. Finally, she turned it off, never allowing herself to listen to the messages. What good would it have done to hear their voices? It wouldn’t change anything. The clean break was better. Right?

Chewing on her bottom lip, Kristen tried to squeeze off the tears threatening to spill over onto her cheeks once again. Now that she was idle, she couldn’t hold back her emotions any longer. When were they going to call for boarding? If she could just get on the plane. If she could just get out of town. If she could just put some distance between herself and her past…

* * * *

Dr. Russell walked into the room Sunday morning at almost the same moment as Margo and Chase’s parents. “Are we ready? I bet you are chomping at the bit to get that bandage removed.”

Chase pulled himself to a sitting position. This was it.

He lifted his face to the doctor, pasted a small grin on. “Let’s do it.”

Dr. Russell clanked something onto the little table next to Chase and began to speak again. “Now, I want you to be prepared. We have no guarantees here. If the surgery was successful, it will take time, several weeks, to be sure of the level of success. You won’t be able to see everything this very afternoon. What we are hoping for right now is just a distinction between light and dark, perhaps even moving shapes.” He paused before adding, “May I?” He asked the question while placing his hands on Chase’s bandages.

Someone had a tight grip on Chase’s arm. His mother. Fear had an even firmer hold on Chase. His chest was aching, and he didn’t have any way of knowing how much was pain over Kristen’s disappearance and how much was fear about his eyesight. He held his breath as Dr. Russell removed the bandages.

And then…light! For the first time in nearly twenty years. Nothing distinct, just shapes and light. Movement of objects even.

“Well?” Dr. Russell questioned.

“Oh, my God. Things are moving in front of me. I can’t believe it. I can see shadows. Slight colors. Movement. This will get better? Do you really think?” Excitement coursed through him, temporarily knocking aside all other thoughts.

Dr. Russell chuckled. “I believe it will each day. We’ll keep you here a few more days to monitor the progress. It’s hard to tell how much sight you may get. At some point it will level off and then we’ll have a better idea. I’m very hopeful though. This is a good sign. Hold still a minute. Let me have a look at those new corneas.”

The doctor leaned so close to Chase he could distinguish the shadow in front of him, feel the doctor’s warm breath on his face. And then a bright light shined in his left eye, causing him to jerk in surprise.

Dr. Russell chuckled again. “Good. Good. Everything looks perfect. Healing fine…” He moved to shine the light in Chase’s right eye. Blessed bright light that warmed his soul.

Chase was stunned. He wanted to jump up and force himself to try harder.

“I don’t want you to do too much,” explained the doctor, as if reading Chase’s mind. “Give your eyes time to adjust. Don’t rub them. The corneas need to heal. I’m going to put some drops in each eye, and leave them here on the table for you to put in anytime they feel dry, but at least once every few hours. Sleep. Rest. Each time you wake up, you will probably see improvement. Literally.”

The doctor’s congratulations continued as he exited. Chase was still dumbfounded. Hope for the first time in so long. Chase could feel the pull of sleep dragging him under. He needed to escape. To let his mind relax. The mixture of excitement and disappointment was wearing on him, tugging at his heart.

“Chase, we are so happy for you. This is wonderful.” If he could see clearer, Chase knew his mother’s smile, a memory from so very long ago, would be wide and sincere. God, how he wanted to see that again. And it all seemed within reach now.

If only he could see Kristen, too. Where was she?

* * * *

Later Sunday afternoon, Chase heard Margo’s approach from down the hall long before she entered his hospital room. The quick precise clop clop clop of her heels. She had always walked like her life depended on her getting “there” right this minute.

Breathlessly, before she even made it all the way into the room, Margo began, “She left a note.”

“What? You’re kidding.” Chase sat up straighter and stared in Margo’s direction. So far all he could make out was her form, but his vision was improving by the hour. “Well? What the hell did it say?”

Margo rustled around in her purse before yanking out a piece of paper, which she proceeded to shake through the air, as if to straighten it before beginning. The crisp sound of the fold being shook out increased Chase’s anxiety.

“Margo?”

“Okay, okay. ‘Dear Margo, I’m so sorry to run out like this without talking to you. I have some things I need to take care of out of town and I’ll be gone for a while. Please don’t think this had anything to do with your brother. He’s a gem. I’m sure he’ll make some girl incredibly happy some day. The timing sucks, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Tell Chase how sorry I am and how much I enjoyed our evening. I hope the surgery was a success. He deserves all the best. Hugs and Kisses, Kristen.’”

Chase couldn’t speak. He couldn’t even swallow yet. He was frozen like a statue, soaking up every word as though the meaning of life had been about to be revealed as it pertained to him.

“She’s gone?”

“That’s what it says. I tried her apartment and there was no answer. Her cell just goes to voicemail.” Margo’s voice got perceptibly louder as she walked closer to Chase and then took his hand in hers. “I’m so sorry. I know you really liked her. I’m so confused. I thought we were really good friends. How could she do this?”

Margo kept rambling about
her
relationship with Kristen, but Chase could barely hear anything else she said. His ears were ringing as if he were under water.
She left?
For where? Why? So many unanswered questions ran through his head. Within the span of just two minutes, Chase went from worry to anger. Now he was pissed.

Interrupting Margo’s own personal pity party, Chase sputtered out, “Margo…
Margo
…”

“Yes?” Margo began to squeeze Chase’s arm, probably unaware she was even doing so.

“Please, could I just have some peace and quiet for a while? Could you like…go get some coffee or something?” He wanted her to leave. He wanted to throw things at the wall. Scream. Have a tantrum like a big baby.

“Oh… Yeah, sure. I’ll just…be back in a few.” Clomp clomp clomp, her heels seemed even louder receding from the room than they had arriving moments ago.

How in the hell could he have met the perfect woman for him, and then she just left the next day, with no word? Had he misinterpreted so severely their time together?
Think, Chase
. No. There had been no hint. The night had been perfect. The best ever. And he was genuinely sure Kristen agreed. Did she have cold feet about how serious they seemed to feel about each other? Did the blindness scare her off?

None of that made sense, considering she said she had planned
this
for a while. Hadn’t she? Why wouldn’t she tell even her best friend?

Chase grit his teeth and reached for a pair of sleeping pills on the rolling table next to him. Perhaps if he just took a long nap, he would wake up later to find this had all just been a bad dream. A really bad nightmare.

Kristen walked into Dr. Hanson’s office promptly at six o’clock Monday morning. She waited only minutes in his outer office before a quiet-spoken, sweet, elderly receptionist showed her in.

“Good morning, Ms. Nickels. Are you ready?” Dr. Hanson was not wasting any time.

“As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess.” Kristen sat in the chair across from him. The same one she sat in two weeks ago, making this controversial decision. She looked down at her hands, shaking in her lap.

“I just have some final paperwork for you to sign and then we will get started. Surgery is scheduled for eight.” Dr. Hanson carefully set a small pile of papers in front of Kristen. Did he think she would change he mind if he weren’t gentle? “Just sign in the places I have highlighted and we’ll get started.”

With trembling fingers, Kristen reached for the expensive silver pen the doctor held out to her. She wondered briefly what a pen like that cost. She wondered how many pens he could afford.

As soon as she signed all the papers, Kristen stood and walked over to the window. The tiny office was on the eighteenth floor and she could see the entire city below her. Chicago was bustling about, like nothing was wrong in the universe. How could all those people be hurrying around to start their workweek while her world was about to turn upside down?