Straight From the Hip(64)
“That was so cool,” the girl said, sounding excited. “I love riding. Can we go every day I’m here?”
“Of course. Flower would like that.”
“I’m going to call my mom tonight and tell her I want to take lessons. I don’t care if people stare. It’s too much fun. I can’t hide in my room forever, right?”
“Right.” Izzy felt all bright and light inside, like she could float away on a bubble of happiness. “By the way, have you ever been rock climbing?”
“No.”
“We’ll have to try that when we get back.”
“Is it fun?”
“I think you’re going to love it.”
MONDAY CAME TOO QUICKLY, Izzy thought as she hugged Heidi goodbye.
“You’ll call me?” the girl asked, tears thickening her voice.“I’m going to have to. It’s not like I can do e-mail.”
Heidi hugged her again. “You’re the best. I had such a good time. Thanks for everything.”
“You’re welcome.” Izzy let go and straightened. She fought the burning in her eyes. There was no way she was going to cry. At least not in front of Heidi.
The girl climbed in the SUV and closed the door. Izzy waved and had no idea if Heidi was waving back. When the SUV pulled away, she turned and practically ran into Nick.
He caught her and held her in front of him. “You okay?”
“Yes. Just a little choked up. I didn’t know it would be like this. She’s amazing and tough and still sees the wonder in things. After what happened to her, how is that possible?”
“She’s strong. You were good with her. I saw you two together.”
“I hope I helped. I loved hanging out with her.” She hesitated. “Whatever you went through, whatever you did, if it brought you here, then it’s not as bad as you think. This is worth it, Nick. This is magic. You’re helping children in a profound way. You’re making them believe in themselves. It’s amazing. Don’t believe me. Ask their parents.”
“None of this makes up for what I did.”
“Maybe not, but did it ever occur to you that you had to make that mistake to get here? To make this kind of a difference? How many others are there like Heidi? How many others will you help?”
“Not enough.”
He was so stubborn. “You won’t be able to reach them all, but each child is a chance. Why can’t you see the good you do?”
“This isn’t about me. It’s about them.”
“Maybe it’s about all of us.” She touched his arm. “I want to have the surgery.”
He didn’t say anything.
She shrugged. “It’s time. I get it. After spending the weekend with Heidi, how can I still be afraid?”
He touched her face with his fingertips, then pulled her close.
“Will you take me?” she asked, her words muffled against his shoulder. “I don’t want my sisters to know until after the surgery. I don’t want them to worry.”
“Yes.”
She waited. “That’s it? No ‘I told you so’ or ‘You should have done this weeks ago’?”
“No.”
“Can I stay here while I recover?”
He kissed her. His mouth was warm and sexy and tempting. “If you tried to leave, I’d drag you back.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE WORLD WAS TOTALLY BLACK. There wasn’t a hint of light. Not a flicker or a shadow. The world was black and still and filled with terror.
Izzy told herself to breathe slowly. To focus. It had only been a day since her surgery. A single day. She had to survive a week. Which was seven days. And how many hours? She tried to do the math, then bumped into a table in the hallway and wanted to scream. Who was stupid enough to put tables in hallways? Didn’t everyone know she couldn’t see?Except that table had been there since she first arrived at Nick’s ranch and she’d learned all the rooms so she could walk through them easily. She knew about the table, just like she knew about the stairs and the doors and the walls.
Only it was different now. There was only darkness. She hadn’t realized how much she’d depended on her faulty vision to help her figure out where she was and where she was going. She was going to have to relearn everything.
“I have a week,” she said aloud, only to hear someone’s footsteps.
“I’m pretty sure talking to yourself isn’t good,” Aaron said, as cheerful as ever. “And don’t take this wrong, but a bandage wrapped around your head, covering your eyes? Not your best look.”
“Gee, thanks.”