Love Is Blind

Late Night Walks

I led Lacey out of The Rose, still holding her hand tightly in my own, clasping our fingers together so that I wouldn't lose her if we got stuck in a crowd of people.

  "Where are you going?" She asked.

  Shaking my head even though she couldn't see it, I refused to give her any information, "I'm not telling you. You're just going to have to wait and see what happens."

  She whined out and I could imagine that if we had been standing still somewhere she would have stamped her foot like a child who was about to throw a temper tantrum. "Why won't you tell me now?"

  Shaking my head, I continued to focus on my cane scattering the stray rocks across the sidewalk as we walked down the street, "It is a secret and you'll just have to wait and see what happens and where we go."

  "I can't see! I'm blind, Jacob! For all I know you could be taking me out to murder me! Just tell me!" She groaned and yet again reminded me of a pouty child about to throw a fit to get what they want.

  Laughing, I shushed her, "Oh, relax, Ms. Drama Queen. I am not going to murder you, silly. It isn't a long walk and I promise it isn't all that bad."

  "But come on. Please? Just give me some sort of hint! I wanna know!"

  This time when I shook my head , I laughed and pulled her a few steps faster, wanting to make sure I wasn't actually dragging her behind me, "Would it even matter if I gave you any type of clue as to where I am taking you? Would you have even the faintest idea as to where I am going to take you? Nope. You wouldn't. You just moved here a couple of months ago, so you wouldn't have any idea as to where we're going."

  At that, Lacey seemed to realize that I was correct and she quieted herself. The walk really wasn't that long, as I had promised it wouldn't be. Soon, it was quieter than the city normally was and I was thanking the heavens that I remembered the way properly.

  A couple more steps and I smiled and slowly helped Lacey sit as I lowered myself to the grass below our feet.

  "So.. Where are we?" She asked and I laughed, sensing how impatient she still was.

  "We're sitting at the crest of a hill. I know neither of us can actually see it, but we're overlooking the city beside us. Claremont. My dad used to take my family here for picnics and things. It's calm here. Quiet. Good place for thinking..." I paused for a moment, whispering to myself, "A lot of memories here."

  "Memories?" Lacey spoke quietly, seeming to have been dragged into the same mood as I had, a deeply thoughtful one.

  "Mhm," I hummed out, confirming her question.

  "Memories like?" She prompted, not seeming to want to push, but honestly wondering what kind of memories this grassy knoll held.

  "All sorts," I said vaguely before continuing, "My first kiss, breaking my leg, my sister announcing that she was engaged, then pregnant, my cousin's dog attacking me and eating half the tie I had been wearing...." I trailed off before finishing my thought, "When my fiancée dumped me."

  This seemed to freeze Lacey in her tracks. Whatever joking comment she had been about to make, whether about the dog chomping down on my tie or me breaking my leg, was stuck inside her throat or on the tip of her tongue.

  Sat in silence for another few minutes, I allowed myself to mull over all the possible things that Lacey could currently be thinking.

  "Geez, he sure is throwing himself a pity party."  "Why is he telling me this?" "What should I say?"