The rain is coming down in sheets by the time I make it into my driveway. Sadie’s vocalizations carry over the sound of the rain hitting my windshield. I’m sure she’s pissed off at me for leaving her, but she doesn’t have enough sense to get in her shelter out of the rain. She will definitely need to be groomed again.

I run from the truck to open her pen and she springs out, bouncing to the shelter of the porch and stopping in front of the door. “Stay right here until I get a towel to dry you,” I say as I unlock the door. I don’t know why I think she understands me. She nearly pushes me over to get inside. “Meh-meh,” she squawks at me.

I take off my boots and grab a towel and start drying her before she can get everything in the house wet. “Why couldn’t you go inside your little house to stay dry?” She rubs against me. “Now you need another bath before I can take you into town to meet Emma.”

“Emma. Even her name is beautiful. She is a classic beauty and her style is simply gorgeous. She has a bit of a potty mouth.” I have to laugh to myself at all the times that August would get onto Nash for using bad language. It would drive him crazy, but it was okay for him to drop the F-bomb.

Sadie makes a loud noise at me again. “I know, she’s probably too good for the likes of me, but God is she beautiful. And Tennyson is an adorable little girl with silky brunette curls and huge chocolate-colored eyes with eyelashes I swear are an inch long.” I finish drying Sadie off. “I don’t know why I’m telling you any of this. Go get in your bed.”

Pain surges down my legs as I stand up. I close my eyes tight and steady myself on the back of the couch. Once the pain passes, I run back out to my truck and grab my prescriptions, opting to chase a pain pill down with a glass of whiskey. Probably not the best idea, but it will definitely help to ease the pain.

* * *

“Meh-meh.”

“Oh my God, Sadie, you don’t belong in my bed.” I pick her up and put her on the floor. Morning is shining brightly through the window. I really need to get some curtains in here. I get out of bed, only wearing my boxers, and put Sadie in her outside pen. I stop and put on a pot of coffee before quickly jumping in the shower.

My day goes by quickly, working on the computer for a few hours and then spending a couple hours on my remodeling project. The office should be done in a few weeks if I keep up this pace. I call the groomer and get the latest appointment possible to get Sadie in again. It should put me at Emma’s shop right around closing time. I know I told her I would bring Sadie by in a couple of days, but I really want to see her again, as soon as possible. That gives me an idea. There is a little shop downtown that prepares picnic baskets - I’ll order one and surprise her after work.

I drop Sadie off at the groomers and head to the Picnic Basket. It’s a tiny store that specializes in picnic-style food. I’ve ordered a little bit of everything because I really don’t know what she likes. At the Cupcake Zone around the corner, I add a few varieties of cupcakes to the basket. By the time I finish filling the basket, Sadie is finished at the groomer and garnished with a fresh pink bow around her neck.

The door chimes as I enter Emma’s shop, being led by Sadie on her leash. Sadie immediately pulls me over to Sunny, who stands to greet her.

“Hi, Sam,” I hear from the back of the store.

I turn and see Emma helping a client. I wonder how she knew it was me? I let go of the leash when Sadie curls up next to Sunny, who is licking the top of her head. It’s a little awkward being in a woman’s clothing store, but several of the pieces of jewelry catch my eye. My hands fall to a fine, leather-braided rope with a half-moon dangling from it. It makes me think of my mom. She’s always told me that she “loves me to the moon and back.” I place it on the counter and wait for Emma to finish up. I step aside and let her ring up her current customer, who leaves with a smile and two bags full of clothes.

“Sorry you had to wait,” she says as she flips over the closed sign. She knows her environment so well, most people probably would never realize she is blind.

“No need to be sorry, I didn’t tell you I was coming. Sadie got soaking wet in the rain last night and she needed a bath.” I’m rambling. Why do I feel so nervous all of a sudden? I’ve looked forward to seeing her all day.

The corner of her lips turn up into a sweet smile. “I’m glad you came by. Tennyson should be here any minute.”

“How did you know it was me?” I ask her.

“Well, I heard six sets of footsteps and the fresh smell of a groomed goat,” she says, laughing.

“I guess that was a dead giveaway.” I hand her the necklace. “Before you close your register I want to buy this.”

She holds out her hand and I place it in it. Her smile that she was wearing disappears. “For someone special?” she asks.

“My mother, she loves moons.”

Pink flushes through her cheeks as she tells me the price. I watch her as she meticulously wraps the necklace in floral-print tissue paper and places it in a tiny bag adorned with her store logo.

“Does your mother live here?”

“No, she’s back in Utah with her husband.”

“Her husband? Not your father I take it?” she says questioningly.

“No.” I don’t give her anymore details and quickly change the subject. “I bought a picnic basket from down the street. I was thinking if you and Tennyson don’t have to go straight home, maybe we could walk down to the park with the lighthouse monument and have dinner?”

“I would love that, but I can’t be out too late. Chase is picking up Nana from the hospital and bringing her home.”

“We could do it another time if you would like?”

The door chimes and Tennyson comes running in to see Emma, but changes direction when she sees Sadie.

“You brought your goat! She’s so pretty with her pink bow,” she says, hugging her.

Chase stands beside me. “We didn’t officially meet. I’m Chase, Emma’s bodyguard,” he says and sticks out his hand.

“Oh Chase, don’t be such an ass,” Emma says and he laughs.

“You said a bad word.” Tennyson points at Emma.

I return his handshake with a strong grip of my own. August taught me to always have a firm hand-shake. It sets a precedence and I want him to know that I’m not intimidated by him. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Sam and that is Sadie.” I point in her direction.

“Sam has invited Tennyson and myself on a picnic,” Emma says.

“Am I invited too?” he asks with a cheesy smile on his face.

I start to answer him and Emma interrupts me. “He is teasing with you. He has to pick up Nana and he knows it.” She reaches out and smacks his arm.

“I could eat first and then pick her up,” he laughs and rubs the red spot on his bicep.

I’m not thrilled about it, but I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with him. “There is plenty of food. I didn’t know what you ladies like so I ordered a little of everything.”

He moves closer to Emma and kisses her on the cheek. “I’m just messing with you, man. Go enjoy your picnic.”

“Thanks, Chase. Love you!” Emma yells as he leaves.

“Can Sadie go on our picnic with us?” Tennyson asks.

“Sure, she can.” Both Sadie and Sunny get up to accept the invitation.

“Let me lock up,” Emma says.

I hand Sadie’s leash to Tennyson, who beams brightly at the chance to walk around town with a goat. After the store is secure, we walk to my truck and grab the basket of food and a blanket. Emma wraps her arm around mine and walks close to me. I love how she feels on my arm. A guy could get used to this feeling.

The five of us make our way past dozens of waddling ducks and out onto the jutting peninsula with the lighthouse looming proudly over the flat water. I release Emma and lay out the blanket. Tennyson plants herself right in the middle of it.

“Do you have any bread for the ducks?” she asks.

“I’m sure there is something we can feed them.” I place the basket down and she opens it, digging through it.

“Cupcakes!” she squeals.

“Tennyson, mind your manners. Sam didn’t tell you that you could get into the basket,” she scolds her.

Tennyson already has the paper off the cupcake and half of it shoved in her mouth. I can’t help but laugh at her. “It’s okay, I like dessert first too.” She takes Sadie’s leash and chases the ducks, Sunny running after them.

“Her name is as unique as she is,” I say, laughing as I take out the containers of food.

“Both of our parents were literature teachers. She was named after their favorite poet, Alfred Tennyson.”

Sadness covers her face at the mention of her parents. “At least they didn’t call her Alfred,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “I have chicken salad, tuna salad and pimento cheese sandwiches. Which do you prefer?” I ask, holding out a plate to fill for her.

“I’ll have half of each,” she says, smiling and holding out her hands.

I laugh and fill her plate with sandwiches, chips and macaroni salad. “I’m glad you’re hungry.”

“I’m always hungry. Chase says I eat more than him,” she says as she takes a bite of her tuna salad sandwich.

“What can I fix for Tennyson?”

“She probably filled up on that cupcake and will chase the ducks around until it’s time to go home.”

“I’ll pack her some food to take home with you.”

“So, where is your father?” she blurts out.

I’m thrown off by her question and I’m quiet.

She lays her plate on the blanket. “If this is a date, asking questions is how we get to know one another.” She places her hand on my leg.

My eyes are glued to where she is touching me. There goes that feeling again. Her touch feels warm and soft. I want to hold her hand, but instead I continue to stare at it.

“Sam, are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just thought maybe we could talk about something else,” I stutter.

“I’m just trying to get to know you,” she says and squeezes my leg.

“Well, then, how about you tell me why you’re terrified of the rain?” I realize this is a bad idea as the words are leaving my mouth. This is not going well at all.

Her hand slips from my leg and she picks up a sandwich and quietly finishes eating.

“Can I give the ducks a sandwich?” Tennyson bounces up to the blanket.

“Are you hungry?” I ask her.

“No, but the ducks are.” She tilts her head and bats her eyes at me.

“Here you go.” I hand her one from my plate and she runs off again.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you about the rain. Can we have a do-over?”

She smiles sweetly at me. “I would love that. Tell me about Utah, I’ve never been there before.”

“This I can do.” I describe my childhood home and my mountain-climbing adventures August and I shared together, leaving out the part about me being paralyzed from the waist down. I want her to see me for me and not the person I used to be.

“Tell me about the colors in the mountains,” she says.

“Do you see any colors now?” I ask.

“No. Every now and then I see streaks of light, but I remember colors. But in my mind they are like an old faded photograph. I used to get color swatches out for clothes that I wanted to design and I loved running my hands over the different shades of colors like I could soak them into memory. I love every facet of colors.”

“The mountains in Utah are a bright burnt orange color. They have different shades of orange that ripple through them, some spots are even purple. The colors change as the sun sets over them.”

A dreamy look glazes over her face. “I love being outdoors, I would love to go mountain climbing. I think when I got to the top, I would enjoy the wind blowing on my face. It has to feel so different than it does here.”

“I could take you sometime.” If August could get my ass up that mountain with braces on, blindness should be a piece of cake.

“I would love that, but it’s so hard to get away.” She glances down and feels the hands of her watch. “We really need to get going. Nana should be home anytime.”

“I really am sorry about earlier. Do you think maybe we could do this again sometime, just the two of us?” I take her soft hand in mine.

“Sounds like a great idea to me.”

I give in to a sudden strong urge to lift her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. Even her scent is beautiful, just like her. Her cheeks flush as I take her hand and help her up.

“Come on, Tennyson, Nana will be getting home soon,” she yells after her.

Her clothes and face are smudged with dirt from running around with Sadie. “I’m so glad Nana is feeling better, I’ve missed her,” she says. Sadie and Sunny follow close behind her.

I load the basket and fold up the blanket. A low roll of thunder sounds in the distance and the clouds begin to take on an ominous darkness. I need to get the girls home before it rains. “Come on and load up in my truck.”

“That’s a really big truck,” Tennyson says. “I don’t know if I can climb up into it with my dress on.”

I place my hand on her head. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” She wraps her little hand around mine.

I manage to get them home safely before it starts to rain. Emma and I make plans for a date on Saturday. Somehow I manage to bypass the rain just long enough for Sadie and me to make it inside. Her bowtie is as grubby as Tennyson’s dress was. So much for her being groomed.

As I lean back in the recliner and kick my feet up, another twinge rolls through my back. I ignore it and take my phone out of my pocket. My finger hovers over August’s name. A million questions about women and dating are burning in my mind, and I long pick his brain for answers. I remember our last conversation, when he told me that I should wait to have sex with someone that I loved. I put the phone on the arm of the chair. I’m a grown man. I can do this dating thing on my own. I’m just not sure how to get past all the awkwardness of neither one of us wanting to tell too much. If she won’t even tell me why she’s afraid of the rain, I very seriously doubt she will let me in on what surgery the doctor was talking to her about.

For now, I will have to find other ways to get to know her. She says she loves to be outside. The sailboats floating lazily out on the waves during our picnic give me a great idea.