Love Is Blind

Lunch

  After I had locked my office door behind me (you can never be too careful), I turned towards the left,"Follow me, okay?"

  I didn't need sight to know that she nodded, and only a second later I could feel her dainty hand grasp around the tail end of my shirt. It must have come untucked from my slacks and she had found a good grip to keep up with me. If she got lost on the way out to lunch it would be pretty funny to me and anyone else she encountered, but only embarrassing, and probably pretty frustrating, to her.

  As I headed towards the elevator, I began to talk, wanting a conversation to keep any awkwardness from seeping into the air surrounding us, "So, there's a few places we could head down to for lunch. It's up to you, really. Though, there is this small café that has indoor and outdoor seating. They've got the best eggplant parmesan I have ever tasted. Then again, if you don't like that, there's a barbecue place a few streets over. Or-"

  This time, Lacey cut me off, obviously signaling me to stop my rambling and just let her speak for a few moments, "I think we should go to the café. Eggplant parm would be a first for me, but it doesn't sound too bad."

  I smiled and nodded, "Sounds good to me," Just then, the elevator jolted and we stopped, both of us knocking into each other as we tried not to fall over from the abrupt motion.

  "Damn elevator," I muttered, steadying her gently and then leading her out, our canes smacking against the floor in unison, "I swear, one day that thing is just going to break down and someone will get stuck in the old thing. You think they'd replace it considering  that they've repaired and replaced everything else in the building."

  Quietly laughing, Lacey seemed to agree, her hand swinging with my shirt a little, tugging it further from inside my snug slacks, "That would be quite a story, huh? Someone getting trapped inside the elevator."

  Laughing myself, I agreed, pushing the revolving door at the entrance and making sure she was in the cubicle with me before I stepped forward enough for us to walk out. Pushing us out and into the chill of the air, I smiled some.

  "Brrrrr!" Lacey groaned, giggling quietly, "It's cold out here! Can we get indoor seating at this café?"

  I barked out a laugh, a grin spreading on to my face as my cane clicked against the cement, "Sure thing, Lacey," Slowing, I pulled her up a few steps and rested an arm across her waist.

  "I hope you don't think I'm being fresh," I began quickly, not wanting to creep her out or offend her in anyway, "I would just rather it if you didn't pull my shirt up my back."

  A small nervous titter left her mouth and she mumbled quietly, a smile in her sweet voice, "Sorry, Jacob."

  Only a few blocks later, I opened the door to the cafe to her. Upon walking in, the scents of freshly baked cookies and sizzling burgers filled my nostrils. Inhaling deeply, I let out a small, blissful sigh. To me, it smelled like home.

  Lacey seemed to inhale, as well. She seemed to be caught up in the homey atmosphere as I swiped my cane across the floor, only stopping when it hit the wooden podium up front.

  "Hello, how may I help you today?" A coarse voice asked and I instantly knew it was Ginger. Ginger was the hostess and she knew me well enough to know exactly who I was by voice.

  "Booth or table. Back, preferably. Thank you, Ging."

  I could hear the smile in her voice as she tapped my hand and I followed the click of her heels, "Late lunch, Mr. Anderson. Am I wrong?"