Two months later …

Brooklyn sat on the edge of her seat, her back erect. Dax’s mom, Lindsay was sitting across from her. Lindsey was a petite, matronly woman with short brown hair. She had Dax’s same eyes and nose, or rather he’d inherited them from her. Dax was in the kitchen with his dad and Colton, leaving Brooklyn and Lindsay in the living room, making small talk.

The ticking of the minute-hand on the grandfather clock marked every painful minute they sat there in stilted silence, trying to think of something to say. Brooklyn took a quick assessment of the stodgy living room with the heavy gold drapes and formal, mahogany furniture. More than a dozen family pictures in gold frames adorned the walls, and sitting catty-cornered was a glass cabinet with china plates and ceramic figurines. Brooklyn felt like they’d gone a decade back in time to when ornate was the height of fashion.

Lindsay flashed an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good at conversation.”

Brooklyn’s eyes widened as a laugh rose in her throat. “Neither am I … obviously.”

They both laughed, breaking the ice.

“I’m really grateful Dax has you.”

“Thank you. I’m grateful to have him too.” She’d not expected Lindsay to be so direct, but then again, Dax was the same way.

“I know we’re just getting to know each other, but I’ve seen a big difference in Dax ever since you came back into his life.”

Brooklyn tilted her head, surprised that Lindsay had used the phrase “back into his life.” She wasn’t sure how much Dax had told his family about her, but from the sound of things, he was obviously closer to his mother than she was to hers. Then again, Lindsay seemed a lot easier to talk to than her mother.

A smile tipped Lindsay’s lips as if reading Brooklyn’s mind. “Dax told me the two of you were good friends in high school.”

“Yes, we were. We had a science class together.”

Lindsay crossed her legs and adjusted the pleat on her dress pants. “Dax has been through a rough time. Losing his sight … his racing career …”

Brooklyn nodded.

“Dax is in a good place now, and much of that is owed to you.”

Contentment buzzed over Brooklyn. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad you talked Dax into getting the procedure. I hope and pray with all my heart that it works.” She hesitated, bringing her hand to her mouth as she coughed to swallow her emotion. “Sorry.” She offered a thin smile.

Brooklyn felt a sudden kinship with this stately woman who’d no doubt been a beauty in her youth. Time had taken its toll, etching her eyes and mouth with wrinkles, streaking her hair with gray. But unlike Brooklyn’s mom, Lindsay seemed to be content to grow old gracefully rather than trying to defy her age with every beauty technique and cosmetic known to man.

“No worries,” Brooklyn said, then turned her attention to the pictures on the wall to give Lindsay space to reel in her emotion.

Lindsay adjusted her shirt. “I have mixed feelings about this treatment. If it works it’ll be the greatest blessing.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “If it doesn’t, Dax’ll be devastated.”

A pang of misgiving darted through Brooklyn. Maybe the procedure wasn’t such a great idea.

Her thoughts must’ve shown on her face because Lindsay was quick to add. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming you for talking him into it. I know you have only his best interest at heart.”

Had she talked Dax into it? She’d thought they reached this point through mutual agreement. “Despite his reservations, Dax wants to get the treatment. I only want what’s best for him.”

She waved a hand. “Of course you do, dear. Like I said, I really appreciate you.” She gave Brooklyn a meaningful look. “Truly.” She brushed her hair from her face. “I just wondered.” She pulled at her shirt and squirmed in her seat. “Have you thought about what will happen if the treatment works and Dax’s sight is restored?”

Yes, she’d thought about it. Thought about it … fretted over it. She’d thought of little else. She fought to keep her voice even. “I think so.” Lindsay locked eyes with her, and Brooklyn had the crazy impression she could read her mind, sense her fears.

“Dax is my son, and I love him dearly.” She hesitated. “But he’s not perfect. He was a much different person before the accident—not the man you know. I’m afraid the fast world of racing went to his head. He was taken in by the glamour of that world.” Her eyes narrowed. “And he was taken in by a conniving woman.”

Brooklyn flinched like she’d been slapped, and the words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them. “Cassidy Cline.”

Lindsay scowled. “Yes.”

Why was Lindsay bringing this up? The air seemed to be holding its breath as Brooklyn waited for Lindsay to continue.

“When Dax was living that other life. I felt like I’d lost him forever.” She clasped her hands in her lap. “I can’t tell you the number of times I prayed.” Her voice broke as tears brimmed in her eyes. “I prayed that my son would come back to me. And, Dax did come back.” Her lower lip trembled. “But not in the way I’d hoped.” She swallowed, clutching her throat. “When the accident first happened …” she hesitated as if she were afraid to speak the words out loud. “I—I thought it was my fault,” she whispered, a trembling hand covering her mouth.

Tears rose in Brooklyn’s eyes and she had the urge to spring from her seat and throw her arms around Lindsay. The poor woman was carrying guilt for something over which she had no control. “It wasn’t your fault. It was an accident.”

Lindsay nodded, but Brooklyn could tell she didn’t believe her.

“Seeing the anguish and hardship that Dax has been through.” Lindsay’s words spilled out between them. “I would give anything to take his place.”

This time, Brooklyn did get up. She sat down beside Lindsay and put a hand on her arm.

“You can’t keep blaming yourself. Bad things happen sometimes. I don’t think God was punishing you or Dax. We all have to go through certain trials.” A scripture flowed into her mind, something she’d memorized in Sunday School. Maybe she shouldn’t bring it up. Lindsay might think she was being preachy. The prompting came again, this time stronger, causing emotion to well in her chest. “Do you remember the scripture about Jesus and the blind man, in the New Testament?”

Lindsay shook her head. “Not that I can recall.”

“‘And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.’” She paused, meeting Lindsay’s eyes. “This treatment could be God’s way of working through the ophthalmologist to help Dax. And your family,” she added softly.

Tears streamed unabashed down Lindsay’s cheeks as she gave Brooklyn a grateful smile. Hastily, she wiped them away.

“Thank you. I needed to hear that. I’m so glad Dax found a good Christian girl. A girl of faith.”

If only Brooklyn had more faith. Her doubts were plaguing her, and she kept praying for strength to overcome them. But she was determined to put Dax’s well-being before her own, no matter what. At least she could do that.

A tiny smile crept over Lindsay’s lips as she chuckled dryly. “You didn’t know what you were getting into when you agreed to have a chat with me. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to burden you with my emotional baggage.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad you told me.”

A comfortable silence settled between them, and then Lindsay spoke. “When my kids were younger, I used to sit back and keep my mouth shut, not wanting to interfere. But now I realize that as their mother, I have a responsibility to speak up.”

Brooklyn wasn’t sure how to answer, so she remained quiet.

“Like I said, you’ve been wonderful for Dax. He’s happier than I’ve seen him in years.” She grew thoughtful. “No, I take that back. This may be the happiest I’ve ever seen him.”

Without warning, tears moistened Brooklyn’s eyes. Things had been going too smoothly. A part of her wished she and Dax had never heard of the infernal treatment.

Lindsay’s intuitive eyes swept over her. “I can tell I’ve unsettled you by bringing up Dax’s past, and that’s not my intention. I just want you to be prepared … in case …”

Brooklyn leaned forward, her jaw tightening. “In case what?”

“In case Cassidy tries to weasel her way back into Dax’s life.”

She drew in a hard breath. If Dax got his sight back, and Cassidy Cline went after him, there was no way she could compete. She’d might as well throw in the towel right now. A feeling of despair settled over her, and she wanted to flee from this place and Dax’s perceptive mother who read Brooklyn like a book. She wanted to look away, but Lindsay held her gaze. Then her expression grew pleading.

“Promise me you won’t give up on Dax. If it comes down to it, fight for him. Please. He needs you.”

Could she make that promise? Would it come to that? This was ludicrous! Did she even want to fight for a man who didn’t love her heart and soul like she loved him? Was that what this was about? Dax must’ve been deeply in love with Cassidy for his mom to be so worried about it. Brooklyn didn’t want to be second choice, no matter how great Dax was. She couldn’t live like that. Maybe this whole conversation was for nothing because odds were the procedure wouldn’t work. And if it did? Like Lindsay said, Dax was a changed man. The last two months together had been heaven. They had a connection, a connection greater than sight … greater than physical appearance. They spent nearly every waking hour together, confided in one another. Dax understood her in a way no one else did. She couldn’t imagine being without him. She balled her fist, and the words came out, almost before she realized she’d spoken them. “I promise.”

* * *

Classical music wafted through the air as Brooklyn stepped inside the front door of Dax’s home. He’d given her a key, telling her to come and go as she pleased. Tucker raised up, his ears perking when he saw her, but Dax didn’t realize she was there. He was sitting at the piano, his fingers moving over the keys as the music flowed. As Brooklyn stood there, watching, she felt like her heart would overflow with love. Dax was everything she’d ever wanted and more. She knew his features, almost better than she knew her own. His pronounced jaw was set determinedly, his hair tousled in that sexy way she loved. His eyes were dark blue, the color of the deepest part of the ocean. At first the vacant look in his eyes, as if Dax were looking straight through her, was a little unnerving. But she’d grown accustomed to it, accepting it as part of Dax.

Once Dax made the decision to go through with the treatment, he had to undergo a series of tests to see if he was even a candidate for it. After a week, Dax was given the green light to proceed. Since then, he and Brooklyn had spent many an evening discussing the surgery and possible outcome. It nearly carved out Brooklyn’s heart when she heard the longing in Dax’s voice as he talked about what it would be like to see again. Dax would be crushed if the treatment failed. And if it worked … Well, that brought another set of problems. She let out a breath. For better or worse, the cogs were in motion, and there was no stopping the train. Early tomorrow morning, they would go to the John A. Moran Eye Center by The University of Utah. The procedure or surgery would take roughly four and a half hours. If it worked, according to the ophthalmologist, Dax would see immediate effects, and then his full eyesight would return in a day or so. The ophthalmologist was optimistic the surgery would yield positive results. However, he warned them that since they were dealing with nerve damage it was hard to know for sure. No one could tell definitively how Dax’s body would react to the stem cells. The scary part was that even if the treatment worked, there were no guarantees the results would last forever. Dax could have his sight restored, only to lose it all over again. She pushed aside the negative thoughts. She couldn’t mourn the hypothetical. They needed to take things one step at a time, deal with the reality in front of them. The surgery prep required going to the eye center for the stem cell harvesting process, which took three to four hours each time. Thankfully, the summer rush was over at the flower shop, making it easier for Brooklyn to break away and take Dax. They’d gone to the center four times before the medical staff felt they had enough to proceed.

One aspect Dax incessantly worried about was keeping his treatment under wraps from the public. The doctors and nurses assured Dax they would take every precaution to ensure that his privacy was protected. But Brooklyn could tell Dax didn’t fully trust them, because that’s precisely what he was told the previous time he underwent a procedure. Like it or not, Dax was a former celebrity and with that came publicity. Brooklyn suspected word of this treatment would get out, just as the other had. If it did, they would have to deal with it the best they could. Unfortunately, there were so many factors beyond their control that all they could do was hope and pray all would go well.

Her personal fears came rushing back with a vengeance, sending hot prickles over her. What would Dax think when he saw her? Brooklyn was so worried about her appearance that she’d done the unthinkable—asked Madison to take her shopping for a new outfit. Earlier today, Brooklyn got her hair trimmed and highlighted. For a minute, she’d even considered getting her eyelashes done, but decided against it. She had to be who she was. And while getting artificial enhancements was everyday business for Madison, it wasn’t Brooklyn’s thing.

When the classical piece was over, Brooklyn clapped. “That was fantastic.”

Dax’s head shot up in surprise before a smile inched over his lips. “Thanks, playing relaxes me.” He cocked his head. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

Brooklyn laughed. “I know, it’s not often I manage to surprise you.” Dax had the uncanny ability of being super aware of what was going on around him. He claimed it was because he had great hearing, but she suspected part of it was intuition.

Dax leaned over and ruffled Tucker’s head. “You’re falling down on the job, boy. You’re supposed to warn me when someone comes.”

Tucker tipped his head and looked the other direction, and Brooklyn could’ve sworn she heard him sniff. Her eyes went wide as she laughed. “You know, I think he understood every word you said.”

“Yes, he understands, much more than people realize.” He frowned. “And he should’ve let me know you were here.” His voice took on the tone of scolding.

Brooklyn stepped beside Dax and draped an arm around him. “Hey, now. Don’t be hard on Tucker. He’s gotten used to me coming and going.”

“As have I. Brooklyn’s part of the family, huh boy.”

A river of warmth flowed through Brooklyn, and she hoped with all her heart that Dax would still feel the same way about her after the surgery.

“So, would you like to grab dinner? We could walk up to SoDa Row. Have dinner at The Porch restaurant.” His voice went husky. “Maybe come back here, and hang out. Watch a movie on iTunes.” He chuckled. “You watch … I’ll listen. I’m sure we can figure out a way to entertain ourselves.” He kissed her hand, then trailed kisses up her arm.

Shivers circled down her spine as she laughed. “I wish I could, but I need to go shopping for a new outfit.”

He made a face. “A new outfit?”

“Yes, I want to look my best tomorrow.”

Tension spread over his face as he let out an uneasy breath. “I guess tomorrow’s coming, whether I’m ready for it or not.” He angled to face her. “You don’t need a new outfit.” He gave her a slight smile. “I know you, Brooklyn Reese. I’ve seen you.” He pointed to his chest. “In here.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. “I hope you feel the same way tomorrow … after.” The words dribbled off.

“Absolutely.” He pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms tightly around her. “Let’s get one thing straight. You’re mine, I’m yours, and eyesight or not, that’s not gonna change.”

She nodded, liking how protected she felt in his arms. If only they could stay like this, with her knowledge of his affection secure.

“I mean it,” he insisted. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” The certainty in Dax’s voice was reassuring, but it wasn’t enough to loosen the knot in Brooklyn’s stomach. She kept thinking about Lindsay’s warning. Would Dax remain the same as he was now? Or would he go back to his old ways? Would Cassidy Cline try to come back into his life? She’d looked Cassidy up on the Internet the night before. Big mistake! Cassidy was disgustingly beautiful with her perfect features and glossy, blonde hair. According to the entertainment news, she wasn’t in a steady relationship at the moment. Brooklyn hated that she was so insecure about this. She needed to let it go. She was the one with Dax now, not Cassidy. She was the one who’d been here for him. That counted for something, didn’t it?

A look of concern crossed his features. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she said, forcing a cheerful lilt into her voice.

He touched her face. “No matter what happens, it won’t change us.”

She couldn’t stop tears from dribbling down her cheeks. “I hope so.”

“I promise,” he whispered as his lips sought hers.