Her green eyes were bright with hope and promise. “I wanted you to know you saved my life.”
Her praise made him uncomfortable. “Like I said, you saved yourself.”
“Still not taking credit for what you do?” she asked. “Maybe I should go into psychiatry and figure out why.”
“No, thanks.”
“Typical guy.” She stepped forward and hugged him.
He hugged her back. “You did good, kid. You earned your way out of hell. Don’t ever look back.”
“I won’t. I just wanted to say thank-you. For the chance. For dragging me out here. You make a huge difference here. Aaron tells me you’re still having kids out. Don’t ever stop. You never know who you’re going to save.”
He didn’t know what to say to that.
Denise giggled. “If you could see your face.”
He desperately wanted to take a step back, turn and run. “That’s really, ah, sweet of you. Do you need anything? Can I help pay for medical school?”
“I’m fine. I have grants and scholarships and if all goes well, I won’t even need a student loan.”
“Come to me before you get a loan. I want to help.”
“I know. That’s why you’re one of the good guys.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to head back to the airport soon. I’m doing a one-day turnaround and want to drop in on a few friends. I just couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
They hugged again, then she waved and left. Nick watched her go. When he turned back to the picnic, he saw Aaron talking to Izzy and her sisters. Skye and Lexi were staring at him with identical “that’s so sweet” expressions. Izzy simply smiled.
He knew what they were thinking, but that was going to change just as soon as he told Izzy the truth about Garth. He’d already put it off too long—he knew that. But he’d wanted to wait until after the surgery. As soon as the bandages came off, he would tell her. Better to hear it from him than Garth. Because if the man he’d once thought of as his friend believed it would help his cause, he would tell Izzy himself. Former friendship be damned.
But however she heard it, she would be devastated. And not just her. Aaron, who was a better friend than he deserved, and Izzy’s family would be hurt. The information would wound them all and there was nothing he could do to make it better or easier for anyone.
IZZY TRIED HER BEST to keep still in the chair, but it was difficult. “Will I know right away? Is it going to hurt? Do I have to wear dark glasses?”
Dr. Greenspoon gently unwound the bandages from around her head. “We’ve dimmed the lights so don’t worry if everything isn’t as bright as you’d like. It will take a few minutes for your eyes to focus. Try to relax.”“You didn’t tell me to stop talking.”
“I didn’t think that was possible.”
Izzy tried to laugh at the joke, but she was too scared. The week was over, the moment was here. In a few seconds she would know if she could see or not. Her entire life would change based on the outcome of the surgery.
“I’m going to throw up,” she whispered.
“No, you’re not.”
The last of the bandages fell away, as did the pads that had been pressed against her eyes.
She sat in the exam room, terrified of opening her eyes and learning the truth—that she was blind forever. That she was going to have to learn to be strong and resourceful in ways she didn’t know were possible.
She wasn’t that kind of tough. She was…
Izzy realized she wasn’t in total darkness anymore. There was a hint of light. Slowly she opened her eyes and blinked several times. There was a second of blurriness, then the room came into focus. She could see Dr. Greenspoon, the equipment and just beyond that, Lexi and Skye standing together, hands clutched, their faces locked in identical expressions of hope and dread.
Izzy’s gaze dropped to the light tan Coach handbag Lexi had over one arm.
“Great bag,” she said. “Is it new?”
Lexi and Skye both shrieked and rushed toward her. Izzy jumped to her feet as they grabbed each other.
“I can see! I can see!”
“I knew it would work,” Skye said. “I knew it had to.”
“I was so scared,” Lexi admitted. “This is the best.”
More than the best, Izzy thought, practically floating with happiness and relief. She could see. She could see!
The three of them turned to the doctor, a delightful man in his seventies, then took turns kissing him on the cheek.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Izzy whispered as she hugged him. “You’re a miracle worker.”