Still on the phone with his mother, Scott glanced at the clock. She’d been rambling on for the past ten minutes about how everything in the house was ready for them. Tori had gotten the green light from her director the other day to head to Texas for one week—as long as she made it a partial business trip. Scott would be staying longer, but a week with his family would be plenty of time for them to get to know her. “I’ve got clean sheets in both bedrooms…” his mom chimed.
“Mom, Tori and I are going to sleep in the same room.” He wasn’t sixteen anymore. They were grown adults.
His mother cleared her throat. “I suppose it would be easier, you know, so you can help her out with things.”
Whatever lets you sleep at night, Ma. That wasn’t his reasoning at all, but if his conservative mom needed Tori’s blindness as an excuse to clear her conscience, fine by him.
“Now what else do I need for her? I mean, how long has she been… I mean you never told me how…”
He groaned inwardly. He didn’t want to get into this over the phone. He’d dodged the question the other day when he first called her and told her she was blind. He hated having to tell people about it—making it seem like Tori came with some kind of warning label. It wasn’t what defined her.
Their first conversation days ago had brought on a slew of phone calls and texts.
“I’m coming home for a visit, ma,” Scott had told her the other day.
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” She’d exclaimed. “You in between jobs right now?”
“Actually,” Scott had told her, “I’m leaving the field.”
“You didn’t get injured again, did you?” Her voice had dropped an octave.
“No, I’ve still got the rest of my body parts.” He’d chuckled. “Actually, I’ve met someone. Well, I’ve known her for some time,” Scott then went into the PG version of how he’d known Tori since college. “I’m bringing her home with me.”
His mother had actually burst into tears of joy. “Oh my goodness! Wayne!” She shouted to his father in the background and began relaying everything while Scott just sat there and listened to her ramble.
“Mom… Mom!” Scott had finally hollered through the line.
“Sorry; I’m just so excited. Oh, I can’t wait to meet her. Oh… what does she look like? I bet she’s gorgeous. What does she do for a living?”
“She’s stunning, Mom. The most beautiful girl I’ve ever laid eyes on. She’s got an MA in art and museum studies. Works at the Smithsonian…” Scott rattled on for several minutes about all her achievements and how proud he was of her.
“Well that’s impressive!” He knew his mom was beaming.
He took a deep breath. Here goes. “She’s blind, Mom.”
The line had gone quiet for a beat.
“Mom? Did you hear me?”
His mother sucked in a breath loud enough for him to hear. “She’s blind?” Her voice inflected.
“Yes.”
“As in, can’t see blind?”
“Yes.”
Another long pause, then her throat cleared.
“Well, if she’s as lovely as you say, I’m sure we’ll love her.” And that’s how his first conversation ended with his mother. Yeah, he’d shocked her. His parents would be fine with it; it just needed to sink in. Now that his mom had wrapped her mind around it she wouldn’t stop texting him questions on how to accommodate her. After a million texts that day, he’d finally called her. He loved his parents to death but his mom could get smothering with her nurturing.
“Scott… are you listening to me?” His mom’s voice snapped him back to the present phone call.
“Yeah, I’m still here.” He glanced up as Tori walked into the room.
“I never thought you left,” Tori said as she headed to the kitchen, obviously unaware he was on the phone with his mom. Again.
He pulled the phone away and covered the speaker. “I’m on the phone with my mom.” He sighed in relief at the reprieve, then went back to the call. “Hey Mom, I gotta go,” Scott said. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll chat more when I get there.” He hung up.
“Sorry about that.” Tori giggled. “Did you do the dishes again?” The dishwasher hummed in the background. “I should’ve asked you to move in years ago. I could get used to living with Mr. Clean.” She grinned as she grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Scott had done the dishes every single day for the past week. The household chores were a pain in the ass for her. As much as he loathed dishes, he did them to help her out.
“And I could get used to watching you prance around in those tight yoga pants.” He followed her into the kitchen and snaked his arms around her waist. “Damn that ass.” He squeezed her butt. “You all packed up for the flight tomorrow?”
“Yup.” She took a swig of water. She’d taken the day off work to get everything prepared. Packing, it seemed, was also a chore for her. It took her twice as long as it did him, but she refused to let him help. She “had a system,” as she put it.
“Did you like my present?” he whispered in her ear.
She chuckled and placed the water on the counter. “Cowboy boots? You’re really trying to win me over to this Texas thing, aren’t you?” She pulled back from his embrace, turned, and patted his chest. “Thank you. They’re lovely. I texted a photo to Keith and he told me they looked like something a bohemian cowgirl would wear, so I’m guessing you nailed my style.”
He’d actually shown the sales associate in the store photos of Tori so she could understand the type of clothing she wore. The ladies in the store swooned over him being “so sweet” for his girlfriend and at the end of the shopping excursion all the associates were tripping over their own feet trying to help him out. Nice try, ladies, I’m taken.
“Going to the gym?” Scott asked.
“Just downstairs for a run on the treadmill, then I need to come back and shower. I promised my sister I’d go over there for dinner tonight to say goodbye before I leave town.”
He snorted. “Did you ever consider asking me to go?”
“For the run?”
“To Jane’s, silly. You know, that sister of yours I’ve never met?”
Her spine stiffened. “You sure you want to meet my dysfunctional family? Jane just texted me that my mom will even be there. Apparently, she’s thirty days sober so you may not have the amusement of watching one of her drunken binges.” Tori laughed a little too loud.
“You’re gonna meet mine tomorrow; it’s only fair I meet yours.” Scott stood. “And I’m going to go with you to the gym. If nothing more than to watch your booty shake on the treadmill.” He slapped her ass again.
It was a thirty-minute car ride out to Jane’s house in Annandale. The address Tori had given the cab driver brought them to a nice two-story, red, brick house that looked like it had been built in the sixties. It lay on a large, wooded lot that backed up to a greenbelt. The house had a small one-car, attached garage, and a few steps leading up to the small covered porch with an American flag hanging overhead.
“Pretty, isn’t it?” Tori took Scott’s arm. “Jane’s always kept a nice yard. I—on the other hand—kill all my houseplants.”
“Yeah, it’s nice,” Scott remarked as the taxi pulled out of the driveway behind what he noticed was once Tori’s Mazda. “Did you sell Jane your car?”
“I gave it to her.” She shrugged. “It was paid for and I don’t need the money.” She explained further, “Insurance paid out my accidental disability and then the auto company offered me a hefty settlement for the faulty airbag.”
“Hefty huh?” He tried to remain aloof. “And all this time I’ve been paying for cab fare and here you’re loaded.”
“Yeah. I had a kick-ass lawyer. I’m sure you had no idea though.” She nudged him in the side.
Ok, so she’d figured out that he sent the lawyer to her, all expenses paid, shortly after she was injured. A guilty smile tugged at his lips.
“Step up,” Scott instructed her when they reached the porch step. Before he could even ring the bell, the door flew open and a young girl came rushing out. She had to be Tori’s niece, Hannah. Her long, curly, blonde hair flew behind her as she grabbed Tori’s legs.
“Aunt Tori!” she exclaimed. Hannah was immediately followed by a squealing, pint-sized, sandy-haired boy in a Superman cape, and a golden cocker spaniel jumping up on their legs, yelping at them.
Tori’s eyes widened and she drew in a breath at the ambush before she pleasantly smiled, returning the embrace. An average looking man in his late twenties with wavy, dark hair appeared at the door. Had to be Darren, Jane’s husband.
“Lady! Down!” Darren commanded as he glanced up at them. “Evening, Tori.” He raised his voice higher than the commotion of the kids and the dog, “You must be Scott.” He held out his hand and Scott returned the handshake as the dog circled around them still barking. “Sorry for the crazy greeting; welcome to our nutty house.” He opened the door wider, motioning them inside.
They entered with the kids still running around and squealing uncontrollably. Scott smiled, welcoming the chaos. It felt like a family.
The small entryway led into a decent sized living room to their left, with light, oak floors and modest but well kept furniture. “Jane is in the kitchen with your mom,” Darren informed.
Tori’s entire body stiffened.
Darren cleared his throat. “Scott, would you like something to drink? A beer?”
“A beer would be great, thanks.”
“Tori?”
“No; thank you,” she replied.
“Aunt Tori! Aunt Tori!” Hannah pulled on Tori’s shirt, demanding her aunt’s attention. “I’ve missed you!”
“Hey, sweetie.” Tori tilted her head toward Hannah’s voice. “I’ve missed you too!” She shifted her cane to her left hand and knelt to give Hannah a proper hug.
“I lost three teeth this summer!” Hannah puffed out her chest.
“Let me see.” Tori grazed her thumb across Hannah’s mouth to feel for the new spaces for the missing teeth as she opened wide. “I feel two gone here…” Tori rubbed her finger across the bottom, “and one more here!”
“I got five dollars a tooth!” Hannah held up her hand in the number five.
“Wow, the tooth fairy is paying very well these days.”
“I’m saving up to buy an American Girl doll.”
“Don’t you have some of those already?” Tori tugged at Hannah’s chin and grinned wide.
“I want more.” Hannah gave a sassy shrug as if to say of course. “You want to play with them?”
“Maybe later.” Tori patted her on the back. “Jacob? You still here, buddy?”
“He’s here, Tori.” Darren chuckled. Jacob was hiding behind his dad’s legs, peering at Scott’s prosthetic. “He’s a little shy around new people.” Darren gave Scott a wry smile.
“You gonna come give me a hug, Jacob?” Tori held her arm out, tilting her head to the side.
Jacob grinned and barreled toward Tori, wrapping his arms around her. Tori squeezed him tight and ruffled his sandy hair. “What’s this?” Tori tugged on his cape that flowed over her arm.
“I’m Superman!” Jacob put his hands on his hips in true superhero form.
“Well, of course you are.” Tori nodded in agreement.
Jacob peered up at Scott as he leaned into Tori’s ear and whispered something.
“Maybe he is Ironman. You should ask Scott.” Tori gave him a playful nudge.
Jacob’s blue eyes raked him up and down. Scott gave him a grin, leaned over, whispered, “I am Ironman,” followed by a wink. Jacob’s eyes bulged and he opened his mouth, but instead he ran back behind his dad’s legs. He was a cute little thing, with his button nose and big, doe eyes.
Out of his peripheral, someone approached. Scott broke his gaze away as a woman that had to be Tori’s mom walked in the room. Scott had built Maureen up in his mind to be something almost fierce and gruff due to Tori’s hatred of her. But she was much frailer than he’d ever imagined. He could tell at one point in her life she’d been an attractive woman, but years of substance abuse had taken its toll. Based on what Tori had told him he estimated her to be inching toward fifty, but she looked much older in the face.
Maureen stood in between the entryway to the kitchen and dining room. The old wood floor creaked causing Tori to tilt her head that direction.
Tori stood and turned. “Mom?”
Her mom forced a smile and walked toward them. “Yes, Tori, it’s me.” The two of them exchanged the most uncomfortable hug he’d ever seen between a mother and daughter. Tori pulled away, flashing her own phony smile.
“It’s so good to see you.” Her mom cringed and added, “I’m sorry should I not say that?”
Scott died a little inside and prayed his mother didn’t say anything that stupid to Tori. The entire exchange was painful to watch.
“It’s fine, Mom. It’s only an expression—I say it all the time. I’d sound like a damn weirdo saying it’s nice to hear you.” Tori rubbed her mother’s arm and that’s when Scott noticed it was covered in gnarly burn scars. “Stop tiptoeing around me for Christ’s sake.”
Maureen scowled, causing her wrinkled mouth to look even more aged. “Language, Victoria.” Her mother tucked her long, greying hair behind her ear and Scott noticed more burn scars along her neck stopping shy of her chin.
Scott rubbed Tori on the back as her lips tightened. “Mom, this is Scott,” she hesitated for a moment, “my boyfriend.”
“Maureen.” She offered her hand as her eyes raked over him. “Nice to meet you.”
“You as well.” Scott tried not to stare at the scars. Man, and he got mad at people gawking at him? He felt like a hypocrite, but the curiosity was killing him. Hadn’t Keith mentioned something about Tori’s dad running into a fire?
“So, what’s for dinner?” Tori tried to make small talk, but it would have taken Scott an axe to cut through the tension in the room.
“Darren is grilling some steaks. Jane and I are working on the sides in the kitchen—if you want to come join us.” Maureen’s mouth formed an older version of Tori’s fake smile. That bogus grin clearly ran in the family. As did the eyes. Behind Maureen’s square, black-rimmed glasses she had the same sparkling, blue eyes as Tori.
“Sounds great.” Tori followed her mom into the kitchen with Scott on her heels. “Scott, can you put this in the corner for me?” She motioned over to the small breakfast nook, holding her cane out.
Maureen glanced at Tori, then quickly averted her gaze.
“Sure.” Scott propped it in the corner.
“Jane, this is Scott.” Tori leaned her arm on Jane’s kitchen island.
“Nice to meet you!” Jane said over her shoulder. “I’d shake your hand, but I’m elbow deep in potato peels.” Jane gave him a wide, genuine smile, unlike Tori’s and Maureen’s forced ones to each other. Jane had a warmness to her, maybe it was the round cheeks and dimples, or just a smile that wasn’t covering intense disdain. Her long, honey-colored curls were pulled back into a messy ponytail.
Darren grabbed the steaks off the counter and headed for the door. “Need help with those?” Scott jumped at the opportunity to head outside and get away from Tori and her mother.
“That would be great.” Darren knowingly grinned.
“Holy moly, Tori,” Jane said in a whisper. “Pictures do not do that man justice…” Jane’s breath was practically fogging up the window as she ogled him.
“Watch it. You’ve got a ring, remember?” Tori teased.
“Hey, I’m married, not dead.” She loved Darren, but Scott Harris was a sight to behold. His dark hair was cropped short on the sides, longer on top but effortlessly stylish. He scratched his thick, rugged beard and laughed at something Darren was saying. Suddenly, he didn’t look so intimidating. Scott had a boyish grin that softened his chiseled features.
“He was always fun to stare at.” Tori sighed, as if in remembrance. Jane’s chest tightened and she swallowed down the grief she still carried for her sister. At least Tori had her memories of him.
“He’s built like an ox. What is he—like seven feet tall?” Jane giggled. The way his bulging arms filled out his tight shirt made Jane’s mouth water.
“He’s like six three, you goof.” Tori’s mouth quirked up in the corner.
Her mom cleared her throat. “He looks…tough. All those tattoos…” Jane tried to decipher her mother’s tone: admiration or judgement. Jane suspected the latter. Whatever, Scott was perfect for her gorgeous sister. They complemented each other well. “What does he do for a living?”
“Former Navy years ago, now he’s a military contractor.”
“Years ago? How long have you been dating him, Victoria?” Her mom questioned.
“We’ve been old friends since college.” Tori remained aloof, as usual. “Things have taken a turn.”
“Oh, don’t let Tori downplay it, mom. They moved in together.”
“God Jane! You and the gossip. You’re like a leaky faucet.” Tori groaned.
Jane rolled her eyes. “This is a big step, sis. You should be proud.” Their mom wouldn’t be thrilled, but she needed to know and it wasn’t like Tori would spill the beans.
“Moved in together?” her mom’s voice went up an octave. Jane looked over her shoulder and shot her mom a look to cool it. Mom cleared her throat and her eyes narrowed, staring at Tori. “Tori, what happened to your eyes?”
Tori snorted a dry laugh. “Well, I was in this car accident almost a year ago—”
Mom frowned. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I noticed the black eyes when you walked in but didn’t want to say anything. He doesn’t hurt you, does he?”
A villainous grin passed over Tori’s face. “Not unless I want him to.”
“Oh, for the Love of God, Tori…” Jane butted in. “Have some tact.” Not much of what came out of her sister’s mouth shocked her, but that was over the line. “Remember, I have kids in this house.”
“I assume he lost his leg on duty?” Her mom asked.
“Yes. Explosion years ago while on duty in Afghanistan,” Tori answered flatly.
“Well, I guess that would make it easier for him to care for you, since he’s handicapped himself.”
Jane groaned. “Person with a disability is the proper term, Mom.”
“Geesh, Jane, that’s a mouthful. Disabled is fine.” Tori grimaced. “Also, I take care of myself.” Jane could tell that Tori was ready to choke her mom and it had only been five minutes. It was going to be a long evening. “So, what can I do, Jane?”
“You can make the salad. Cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce are in the second crisper drawer in the fridge.”
Tori went after the items and set them on the island.
“Second cabinet on the bottom has a cutting board and large bowls,” Jane informed as Tori fumbled through the cabinets, resisting the urge to go after them herself. One thing she’d learned over the past several months is to wait until Tori asked for help or risk getting her ass chewed.
“Thanks,” Tori mumbled, finally finding them.
“So, how’s your job, Jane?” Tori pulled apart the lettuce.
“Good. I’ve picked up a few new clients per week. Now that Jacob is old enough to go to preschool, I’m able to put in more hours.” God knows they could use the money. As much as Jane grieved how she came about the car, Tori giving them the Mazda was a godsend. Tori had offered money as well, but Jane wouldn’t dare accept it.
“That’s great.” Tori grinned. “How about you, Mom?” Throughout their life, Mom had held jobs mainly as front office clerk in the medical field. It had been a great way for her to get her paws on prescription medication from the drug reps. One of the many reasons that Tori and their mom never got along.
“Working the reception desk at an ophthalmologist’s office. It’s a steady job.”
Jane closed her eyes as her insides curled, fearing where the conversation would go from here. Mom was relentless about pursuing a fix for Tori. It was the only thing in their existence their mom was hellbent on ever repairing.
Tori opened the drawer and pulled out a paring knife. “That’s...nice.” Jane cringed, watching her slice the cucumber with a vengeance.
“He was telling me about some interesting things with stem cells to help patients with optic nerve damage from Glaucoma.”
And here we go.
Tori’s entire body stiffened. “Mom, you know my nerves were destroyed. There’s nothing they can do.” Tori sneered. “Aren’t Catholics supposed to be against stem cell research anyway?” It irked their mother that Tori no longer practiced their faith, and my God did Tori love to rub salt in that wound whenever she could. Not like their mother was truly full of the love of Jesus. She played the part well, though.
“It conflicts me, but it’s nice to think maybe someday they could develop a cure for you.”
“Maybe someday. But for now, I need to live in reality.” Tori’s hands shook.
“Do you want me to do that, Tori?” Her mom’s voice dipped. “You’re shaking.”
“Just add that to the list of fun side effects from a brain injury.” Tori laughed a little too loud.
Jane frowned, not liking the sound of that. “Tori, you need to get that checked.”
Her mom reached for Tori’s arm. “Here, let me.”
Tori recoiled. “I can do this.” She slammed down the knife on the cutting board. “I cooked a meal for twenty people at the end of my O&M training. If you would’ve bothered to show up for it, you’d have known.”
“I’m sorry.” Her mom looked wounded. “Twenty? That’s impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever cooked for that many people and I’m not…” Her mother couldn’t bring herself to say it; almost as if doing so would be like poison dripping from her mouth.
“Blind,” Tori finished her sentence. “You can say the word. It’s not contagious,” Tori spat, palmed the knife, and started cutting again.
Why couldn’t Mom just accept Tori for who she was? And why couldn't Tori let go of the past? It had always been like this as long as Jane could remember. Couldn’t they have one family dinner where they weren’t at each other’s throats?
“I’m gonna go check on the kids,” her mother said, and retreated from the room.
Tori leaned against the counter and groaned when she was out of earshot. “Kill me now.”
Outside, Scott and Darren continued to chat over the grill with beers, getting to know each other. Darren seemed like a decent dude. He’d let Scott rattle on about his plans to purchase a new jeep and seemed interested, unlike Tori who just tuned him out.
Eventually, they came in and settled around the table for dinner.
“Mommy says that you’re gonna paint again,” Hannah piped up. She had the cutest little sing-song voice that was slightly precocious, in an adorable way.
“I’m gonna try.” Tori sucked in a breath.
“Does it make you sad to paint something you can’t see?”
Scott had to hand it to Hannah, for only being seven, she was smart as a whip and intuitive. He suspected Tori was a lot like that when she was little.
“Hannah….” Maureen scolded.
Tori’s jaw clenched. The tension at the table was palpable between them. Tori wiped her mouth and placed her napkin on her lap. “I can choose to be sad about it or I can look at this as an interesting adventure. Art isn’t all about seeing. It’s about feeling it in your soul.”
Scott squeezed her leg, coming to her defense. “There are plenty of blind artists, Hannah. Your aunt is going to Texas to work with another blind painter—and even do some sculpting while she’s there.”
“Sculpting?” Hannah wrinkled her nose, looking very much like Tori when she made that face.
“Like Play-Doh but for grown-ups.” Scott winked at her.
“Oh, that sounds super fun!” Hannah went back to her food.
Tori cleared her throat. “So, Darren, what’s interesting on Capitol Hill?”
“Been advising on some foreign policy bills that will hit the House floor. Drafting policy proposals and such.” Darren took a gulp of his water.
“What representative have you been working with?” Tori bit into her food.
Jane’s fork hit the plate. The room fell silent for a moment as she exchanged an awkward glance with her husband.
“Congressman Patterson.” Darren swallowed hard and wiped his mouth.
Scott let out a slight cough and shifted in his chair. Patterson was the congressman who had been elected after Nathaniel Donaghue’s death in the car wreck that had taken Tori’s sight.
“Look at me, letting that big, old elephant in the room.” Tori’s face broke into a wide grin.
Everyone let out a chuckle, except for Maureen.
“Where’s the elephant?” Jacob’s sweet little voice piped up and he turned his head.
God, he was a cute, little thing. Scott couldn’t help but grin at him.
“It’s just a saying, sweetie.” Jane reached over and ruffled his hair. “Eat your dinner.”
“Foreign policy?” Scott asked. “Anything you can share?”
Darren rattled on for a while, chatting about some foreign policy bills he was working on. Scott was pretty sure Tori had checked out… until she chimed in.
“If you don’t mind me saying, Darren, very few of these bills seem likely to help victims and that’s my biggest concern. All it does is make it look like legislators are doing something. I don’t see how having personnel trained will help the situation other than add layers of bureaucracy and get more taxpayer money funneled toward it.”
Scott’s jaw dropped. Tori never talked politics. In fact, she despised it whenever he’d go on one of his tangents regarding current affairs.
“Well, I understand your thought process in that. I assure you, once you see all the details, you could be swayed.” Darren frowned. “What are you anyway, Republican or Democrat? I can never tell with you, Tori.”
“I’m an enigma.” Tori took a bite of her food.
“That’s for sure,” Scott huffed under his breath.
Tori kicked Scott’s leg under the table.
“I can guess how Scott leans, considering your shirt has guns all over it.” Jane scowled.
“Mommy doesn’t like guns.” Hannah licked the potatoes off her spoon.
“Is that so?” Scott smirked, folded his hands, and glanced at Jane.
“Scott has loads of guns. You all should talk about gun control for a while.” Tori bit back a smile and took a bite of her food.
“Don’t you know you aren’t supposed to talk politics or religion at dinner?” Maureen pursed her lips.
“Darren knows I like to yank his chain.” Tori wiggled her brow. “Right, Darren?”.
“Of course, Tori.” Darren let out a long breath.
“While we’re on the subject, Mom, Scott is Scientologist and I’ve decided to convert.” Tori’s expression was deadpan serious as she took a bite of her steak. “He’s a level three Thetan.”
Maureen looked at Scott to get some sort of truth.
“Protestant.” Scott shook his head and rolled his eyes. Tori could be a brat.
Maureen exhaled in relief.
To diffuse the tension, Scott entertained them with military stories, the ones he could share at least. After dinner, Scott and Tori ventured out onto the deck in the back yard with the kids while everyone else stayed inside to clean up.
Jane’s yard was lined with rose bushes, their sweet fragrance swirling in the evening breeze as they swayed on the swing. This had always been his favorite time of day.
Scott placed his arm around Tori as the kids ran out into the yard toward their swing set. Watching Jane and Darren and their family gave him a longing for one of his own. It would be so nice to sit on your porch after a long day and watch while your kids play in the back yard.
I was pregnant. It was yours.
His chest tightened a bit as he thought about what could have been.
I lost it, Scott.
He kissed Tori’s cheek. She turned to him, her eyes trying to hold onto him, but they couldn’t. It pained him every damn time. Would it ever get easier?
“What was that for?”
“This is nice.” The kids were cheerfully playing in the distance and the cicadas sang as the sun set. “Except for the awkwardness between you and your mother.”
“Mom hasn’t come to terms with me being blind. I don’t think she ever will.”
Guilt twisted his belly for almost having the same thoughts twenty seconds ago. “It takes time.” He patted her leg. “She’ll get there.”
“For the first few months after my accident Mom kept calling me, begging me to go see specialists, or to take this vitamin or to do this or that,” Tori stated.
“Did you?”
“They had everyone working on my case in the hospital. I went for a couple second opinions after. It’s not like I gave up on my sight.” She sighed. “When she started pushing me to pray to Saint Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes, that’s about the time I stopped returning her phone calls.”
“Speaking of that—you never told me you were Catholic.” He’d noticed that when they said the blessing at dinner. Add that to the long list of shit he didn’t know.
“I don’t like labels—too restricting.” She flippantly waved her hand. “I have a freaking cross tattoo on my back. What did you think that was about?”
“Pagan defiance.” He roared with laughter.
“You dork.” Tori elbowed him in the side. “Mom and Jane called a priest in to read me my last rites when I was unconscious in the hospital and they thought I wouldn’t recover.” Tori made a sour face.
Scott didn’t like the mental image of that, it churned his stomach.
“You can’t blame her. It has to be hard as a parent to watch your child go through what you did.” Hell, it was hard on him.
“Hey, I know we’re new to this whole relationship thing, but rule one of boyfriend etiquette is you’re supposed to be on my side here.” She scowled.
“I’m always on your side.”
She lowered her voice. “You were out here with Darren when she told me she is now working for an ophthalmologist who told her about stem cell research to help optic nerve regeneration.”
“She wishes her daughter could see? Oh God, what an awful bitch.” Scott chuckled.
“Scott…” Tori warned.
“Well, they’re having some promising work done.” Scott had done his own research after her injury to see if there was something, anything, for her. He would’ve given his other leg to fix her sight.
“Yeah, on lab rats.” Tori scowled. “I don’t need you to start as well.”
“I’m just saying, I read they’ve done some human trials and some people have had improvement of vision.” Still, they were decades away from any type of cure. There was a tiny part of him that held onto a sliver of hope, then again decades may as well be forever.
This is forever, man.
“Oh, you mean the miracle cure they make you spend thousands of dollars for in Mexico or Thailand? Injecting them into your eye, and people are miraculously restored of vision but there’s zero scientific evidence to back it up? Thanks, but no thanks, I don’t want to grow a tumor or sprout a third eye, even if I could see out of it. Damn her trying to turn me into a mutant.” Tori stuck out her tongue. “I’ve accepted this is forever. Mom needs to as well—and so do you, from what it sounds like.” She nudged him with her leg.
Scott laughed. Turn into a mutant. He loved Tori’s colorful rants. “Listen, I stay in the loop on medical advancements. You do remember I only have one leg, right?” Scott defended his position.
Tori tilted her head to the side. “How did your parents react to your leg?”
“Mom treated me like her baby boy, like she always does, loving and doted on me far too much. Got me a fucking housekeeper, pfft.”
“If I recall correctly, you put her to use.” Tori’s brow wrinkled, hinting at how years ago she’d walked in on the housekeeper blowing him in the shower.
He rolled his eyes. “Anyway,” he brushed that off, “Dad is a tough motherfucker. You’ll see. He was a soldier himself so he knew the risks.”
“Well, the day they told me that I’d never see again, Mom came upstairs smelling of booze and was high on some sort of medication she’d gotten her hands on. Just like always, just like when my dad died.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “If it wasn’t for her...” Tori’s voice cracked. “Never mind, it’s not worth getting into.”
He was insanely curious about all the things she kept locked away in her vault; her mother’s burn scars, how her father died. Presley quizzing him about it the other day had gotten him thinking about it all. But Tori was right. This wasn’t the time or place.
Scott turned his head and gazed out at Hannah’s blond curls bouncing in the sunlight and he envisioned for a moment a mini Tori, and a pang went through his heart. Had the baby Tori lost been a boy or a girl?
“Jane and Darren have a great family. The kids are adorable. Hannah reminds me of you.”
His words were too transparent, apparently. “I may not be able to give you that. We’ve talked about this.” She nodded toward the laughter in the yard. No, they hadn’t talked about it. Not once since she broke the news to him. Again, not the time or place.
“Who said I needed anything but you?” He squeezed her leg. “You’re about all the pain in the ass I can handle.”
“Who, me?” Tori jabbed him in the side. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m a delight.” She chuckled.
“You sure are.” He tugged at her chin and gave her a kiss. “I can’t wait for my family to meet you tomorrow. They’re gonna love you.”