Love Comes in Darkness (9 page)

“That happens to the best of us,” Gordy told him. “What brought that to mind?”

“I resisted getting a dog for years because I felt it would mean I wasn’t independent, but I can already see where Token will help me be more independent. Unfamiliar places were always hard, but now, with him to help me, I don’t have to shy away from them as much.”

“Do you want me to let you go into the restaurant on your own? I’ll be behind you, of course, but this way you can test the waters,” Gordy said.

“Okay,” Howard agreed. “It’s just going to be us leading the way,” he told Token, and Token licked his chin.

“He certainly is affectionate,” Gordy commented.

“That’s one of the qualities they look for. Leader dogs are companions as well as helpers. They’re chosen for their intelligence and temperament. At least that’s what Wendy told me.”

They turned and Gordy coasted the truck into a parking space. Howard opened his door carefully and climbed out. He heard Token jump down, so he took hold of the harness and closed the truck door. “Forward,” Howard said, and Token walked slowly. Howard felt him pause and then the angle of Token’s body shifted. He felt for the step and waited to see if there was another, but Token stayed level. “Find the door,” Howard said, and Token turned and guided him along what felt like a sidewalk. Howard heard people’s voices and then they cut off quickly. Then he abruptly heard them again.

“I have the door for you,” a strange voice said.

“Thank you,” Howard said as Token led him slowly inside the restaurant.

“Welcome to the Kettle, how many are there in your party?” a pleasant female voice asked.

“Two, and I need a table large enough for Token to sit beneath,” Howard explained.

“I’m sorry,” the woman began. “We don’t allow dogs in the restaurant. It’s against health-department rules.”

“Token is my leader dog,” Howard explained.

“I’m sorry,” the woman explained.

“Please get the manager or owner,” Howard asked politely without moving. He felt a light touch on the small of his back and knew Gordy was with him.

“Can I help you?” a chirpy male voice asked. “I’m the owner.”

“Your hostess says you don’t allow leader dogs for the blind in your restaurant,” Howard began.

“Kelly,” he heard the chirpy voice say, gently, “leader and service dogs are allowed.” Howard heard movement of what he presumed were menus in front of him. “Please follow me,” the man said. “We’re going to be heading into the restaurant. I’ll keep talking and remain in the center of the aisle.”

“I appreciate it,” Howard said and gave Token his instructions. The owner’s voice was so distinctive Howard had no problem following it. He suspected they were being given the nearest table available.

“I have you in a large booth,” the owner said. Howard found the back of the seat and slid in.

“Thank you,” Gordy said as Howard told Token to lie down.

The dog curled at Howard’s feet and didn’t move. “He’s amazing,” Gordy told Howard after Howard heard the squishing scrunch that indicated Gordy was sliding into his seat. He loved when things made noise.
Well, most things that make noise,
Howard thought as the man in the booth behind him belched loudly.

“Do you need me to explain the menu to you?” Gordy asked.

Howard reached into his pocket and pulled out his smart phone. He turned it on and issued a voice command. He gave the application a few seconds to load and scanned the phone over the menu. It began to read him the text. “You see what I mean about independence?” he said.

“Yes, but there are advantages to me doing it for you,” Gordy said. “Let’s see, crispy fried chicken with lusciously smooth garlic mashed potatoes and succulent baby carrots.” Gordy’s voice lowered as he accentuated the sexier words. “Beef in a headily aromatic wine reduction.”

“It does not say that,” Howard challenged.

“Does it matter?” Gordy whispered seductively, and Howard swallowed hard.

“Okay, you do it better,” Howard said, putting his phone back in his pocket.

“I do everything better,” Gordy whispered, and Howard was grateful he hadn’t been swallowing anything at the time.

“You’re teasing.” Howard chuckled and then jumped a bit when he felt Gordy’s foot brush his leg. “It’s not nice to get someone’s hopes up, you know.”

A throat clearing made Howard snap upright in his seat. “I’m Holly and I’ll be your server. What can I get you to drink?”

“I’d like a cup of regular coffee, black,” Howard said, and Gordy ordered an iced tea. “That’s sounds good, can I have that instead?” Howard asked.

“Of course,” Holly said. “Do you need more time to look over the menu?”

“We’ll need a few minutes,” Gordy said.

“Okay. I’ll be right back with your teas,” she said.

“It must be hard,” Gordy said. “I see people approach and leave the table, but to you they must suddenly appear and disappear.”

“I’m used to it,” Howard explained. “I don’t give it much thought any more unless people startle me.” Howard lowered his voice. “Or unless a certain person is being naughty and distracting me,” he said as Gordy brushed his foot up his leg.

“Do you want me to stop?” Gordy whispered.

“No,” Howard croaked as Gordy’s foot continued its upward trek.

“So where were we?” Gordy said and returned to reading the menu while his foot accentuated the best parts. By the time Holly returned, Howard had barely heard a word of what Gordy had said. He ordered the chicken pot pie because that was what he could remember. Gordy ordered the fried chicken. “What was it about the pot pie?” Gordy asked. “Was it the creamy sauce or the succulent vegetables that sold you?”

“Smartass,” Howard teased back. “Did it ever occur to you that I might just be hungry?”

“It wasn’t my sparkling repartee?” Gordy said with what Howard hoped was fake hurt in his voice.

“Okay, that too,” Howard agreed. He knew Gordy was smiling—he’d heard the happy lilt in his voice. Yes, he’d long ago accepted his blindness, but now was one of those times he wished he could really see for just a few seconds. Then he could see the smile he’d been responsible for.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yes, why?” Howard asked.

“You got still and looked hard. You know, your expression is an open book. You don’t see them, but your emotions are written on your face.”

“I always thought my expression would be largely blank, since I’ve never seen the expressions of others,” Howard said.

“Nope. You’re very expressive. I believe it’s the ability to hide what we’re feeling that’s learned. You never did, and many of your emotions show on your face if you’re looking for them.”

“I never really gave it much thought. My mother used to tell me I was her beautiful baby and that I was handsome, but I never really believed her. I mean, how I look doesn’t really matter to me much, and she was my mother. I could be ugly as sin and she wouldn’t think so.”

“Well, for the record, your mother didn’t lie. You are handsome, and I believe the term ‘cute’ has been bandied about once or twice.”

“Lizzy says ‘cute’ is the kiss of death,” Howard countered.

“Then apparently your sister doesn’t know everything,” Gordy retorted, “because you are handsome and cute.” Their server returned with their meals and placed plates in front of them. Howard ran his finger around the edge of the plate to get a feel for it before picking up a spoon. “It looks good,” Gordy told him. “There’s a flaky crust on the top that you’ll want to break up, then you’ll be able to eat it better.”

Howard felt his way around the dish and then broke through the crust with his spoon before scooping up his first bite of dinner. He made a happy humming sound before he thought about it as he swallowed the first deliciously creamy bite. As usual, he ate slowly and hoped he didn’t spill on himself. “It’s really good,” he said, offering Gordy a bite. He got a taste of Gordy’s fried chicken in return. They were both tasty, but Howard was pleased he’d ordered what he had. He and Gordy talked a bit, but mostly Howard concentrated on eating.

“You don’t have to worry. I would never put a tablecloth around your neck,” Gordy said, and Howard set down his spoon and wiped his mouth. “Just enjoy your dinner.”

“I am,” Howard said.

“Yeah, but you’re worried about spilling. You won’t. I daresay you know where everything is by feel. Don’t worry,” Gordy said, and Howard returned to eating, less worried about spilling and more into enjoying his food more than he had in years.

“Well, out for dinner.” Howard knew that sneer anywhere: Cedric. “You spilled on yourself,” Cedric added. “Here, let me wipe it up for you.”

“Leave me alone, Cedric,” Howard said. “I don’t want or need your help.”

“I saw you and thought I’d say hello,” Cedric said.

“I’m here on a date,” Howard explained. He really wasn’t sure what this dinner with Gordy was, though. He’d been hoping it was a date, and the flirting had been really nice, but he wasn’t sure. “So you aren’t welcome.”

“Cedric, I think you should leave,” Gordy said in a deep voice that broached no argument. “Your remarks and insults aren’t welcome. Leave him alone.”

“I was just being helpful,” Cedric said.

“Howard is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. He doesn’t want or need your assistance,” Gordy said. “He doesn’t need to be coddled or have his chin wiped for him by the likes of you.” Howard heard Gordy shift in his seat. “Especially someone who cared so little for him he’d strand him by the side of the road,” Gordy gritted between his teeth, just above a whisper. “What sort of sick, twisted person does that? Now go. I’ll be watching, and so will Howard’s friends, so don’t you dare try anything like the little stunt you pulled rearranging his furniture.”

Howard felt Token shift under the table, resting his head on Howard’s lap. Howard stroked Token’s head slowly. “It’s all right. Cedric is leaving,” Howard told Token, purposely not focusing his attention on where he knew Cedric was standing. “Lay down,” he told Token softly and felt him return to where he’d been resting by his feet. “Are you still here, Cedric?” Howard asked. “Because you can go away now.” He picked up his spoon and returned to his dinner.

“You’ll be sorry,” Cedric said.

“The only thing I’m sorry about is that I didn’t dump you months ago. Now please leave us alone.” Howard heard someone pass the table. “Excuse me,” Howard said.

“Yes sir?” a young girl said.

“This man is bothering us. Could you get the manager, please?” Howard asked as gently as he could. The floor was carpeted, but Howard heard Cedric walk away and felt Gordy pat his hand gently. “Thank you,” he said to the girl, but he didn’t get a response. “Don’t need the help of an ass,” Howard mumbled as he continued eating.

“Remind me not to piss you off,” Gordy said after a minute or so. “Cedric swayed from foot to foot like a tree about to fall in the wind.”

“There’s nothing like being ignored by a blind guy, huh?” Howard said. He knew he was being bad, but he didn’t care. Whenever he thought about being forgiving, Howard reminded himself that Cedric had left him on the side of the highway for the sole purpose of showing him how vulnerable he was. “Just because I can’t see doesn’t mean I can’t snub someone, big-time.”

“Yeah, I got that,” Gordy said.

They ate quietly for a while, and when Howard was full, he set down his spoon and wiped his mouth on his napkin. “That was good.”

“Yeah, it was,” Gordy agreed.

“Are you finished?” their server asked, and Howard groaned. “It was good?”

“Yes. Thank you. One of the best I’ve ever had,” Howard told her. He heard her take his plate.

“I’ll be sure to pass on the message,” she said, and Howard groaned once again. He’d definitely eaten too much.

“This was a great idea,” Howard told Gordy. “I don’t go out very much, and this was really special.”

“Is that part of the being independent thing?” Gordy asked.

“No, that’s part of the being blind and not able to drive thing,” Howard retorted. He began to laugh and heard Gordy join him.

“Now who’s the smartass?” Gordy said. “Thank you,” he added. “There you are.” It took Howard a second to realize Gordy was taking care of the check.

“You don’t have to do that,” Howard said, reaching for his wallet.

“I asked you to dinner.” Gordy placed his hand on Howard’s to stop him. “I mean it. I asked you and I wanted to do this. You need to get out and I wanted to take you.” Howard stilled, and Gordy took his hand. “I wanted to spend time with you. I… I’ve thought about you for most of the week, and I know I was foolish for being scared of you. I should have given you more credit.”

“You’ve lost me,” Howard said.

“I know. But I think you’ll understand once we get back to your house.”

Howard was indeed lost, but he figured Gordy would enlighten him. He didn’t want his curiosity to get the best of him, so he got himself ready and slipped out of the booth. “Token, come,” he said, and he felt the dog brush his leg. When he reached down, the harness handle was right where he could grab it. “You’re such a good boy,” Howard said and then told Token to find the door. He led Howard directly out front. Howard felt for the door and opened it, leaving on his own with his canine friend’s set of eyes to guide him.

“I’ll get the car,” Gordy said from behind him. “And that was amazing, by the way. If you hadn’t had the dog, I never would have known you couldn’t see.”

“Is it okay that I need to be independent?” Howard asked before Gordy could walk away.

He felt Gordy’s warm breath on his neck and shivered. “I think it’s very sexy.” Howard shivered again and listened as Gordy walked away. The truck engine started, and Howard walked toward the deep roar of the huge engine. He opened the passenger door and patted the seat. Token jumped in, and Howard climbed inside for the ride home.

When they got back to Howard’s house, Gordy parked the truck and Howard got out with Token. He loved that he didn’t need help and got to his own door efficiently with Token guiding him. What surprised him most was how easily he trusted and relied on the dog. He’d only had him for a matter of hours, but Howard could already feel they were going to be great friends. Howard parked Token and let him do his business before taking him inside.