Blind Love

“So that appointment lasted a while,” my mom says as soon the door closes.

“I know,” I say feeling my way to one of the two queen-sized beds.

“I am going out to dinner tonight,” I say.

“With who?” she asks incredulously.

“Dr. Bryant.”

“Dr. Bryant? Is that wise?” she asks. The concern is evident in her voice.

“It’s just dinner, mom.”

“That’s what they all say. You are a grown woman, Cathleen. I won’t bother trying to stop you, but just be careful.”

“I have gone out to restaurants before, mom.”

“But this is different. I saw the way he was looking at you. Like he wanted to eat you or something.”

“What if I want him to?”

“Oh, God, that is just way too much information to tell your mother, Cathleen Iona Mulligan. Just be careful,” she says laughing.

“I will, I promise. But I need your help. Can you turn the shower on for me?”

“Of course.”

Forty-five minutes later, I am dressed in what my mom says is a nice blouse and jeans with my trusty ballet flats. He knocks on the door and my mom opens it.

“Hi,” he says his voice washing over me.

“Hey,” I say giving him what I know is a dorky wave.

“Ready to go?”

“Yep. Bye, mom.”

“I won’t wait up,” she says chuckling.

“Gee, thanks mom,” I say locating the doctor’s arm and letting him lead me. I can feel how flushed my face is, but there’s no going back now. “Where are we going?” I ask as we get in the elevator.

“Lemon Square,” he says.

“I have never heard of it. I hope I’m dressed okay,” I say worrying my teeth over my bottom lip.

“It’s casual dining, don’t worry, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Dinner is fun and exciting. Wayne, as he insists, I call him, is engaging on a lot of levels. We talk about religion, politics, and sports. All the things that I think would be first date standard topics, though I wouldn’t really know for sure as this is my first date. At the end of the night, he brings me safely back to my room but the kiss he plants on me gives me goosebumps. His lips are firm but gentle and I imagine them all over my body. My pussy floods. Shit, I am in so much trouble here. He takes my key card from my hand and I hear the little whir of the lock. As soon as the door, opens I hear sheets rustling and mom getting out of bed.

“Have a good evening, Cathleen. Mrs. Mulligan.”

“You too,” I finally manage to say. The door shuts behind us.

“So how was it?” my mom asks, helping me to the bed. I know she’ll have already laid my pajamas out, so I sit on the edge of the bed and kick my shoes off. I quickly change and crawl under the covers. “Well?”

“Is it cliché if I say it was perfect?” I couldn’t tell you what I ordered for dinner or even if it was good, but I can remember every bit of our conversation. It really was the perfect first date for me.

“No,” she says patting my cheek. “You should get some sleep, your MRI is tomorrow at four, but I thought we could do some shopping first.”

“I am going to go to the appointment without you if that’s ok.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. We can share the Uber to the office and then I’ll meet you back here. I have my cane, so I’ll be fine.” Really, I have to get used to it. My mom can’t be with me every minute of every day and most places have Braille markings to keep in accordance with the law, so there’s that.

* * *

The following afternoon, we’ve been shopping and had lunch, now we are doing some more shopping. Shopping wasn’t my thing when I could see, now it’s just tedious and I am really just here to keep her company. She could shop 24/7 and without my dad here, there’s no one to tell her no. At three o’clock we head out.

“See you,” I say getting out of the car. She asks the Uber driver to wait while she helps me inside.

“I’ll see you later,” my mom says, kissing my cheek. Once inside, a nurse takes me directly back to the MRI suite. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised he has one of these here. He’s a one-stop shop. I lay down on the bed. It’s hard and uncomfortable, but the scan only takes twenty minutes. I’ve done so many of these over the last few months that I know exactly what not to do. Even without my sight, I don’t want to be trapped in that tube for any longer than absolutely necessary.

“Alright. Dr. Bryant would like you to wait in his office. He’ll go over the results with you there,” the nurse says.

“Really? Normally it’s like a day or two before I hear anything.”