They Say Love Is Blind

  “We’ll let you two visit,” she said but before leaving she and Mr. Torres leaned down and kissed him and then both of them kissed Tory. She was a little uncomfortable but only because she didn’t know if these people would decide that they didn’t like her anymore once they talked with the rest of the family and Rosalind.

  “It was nice to finally meet you.” She said politely.

  When they were gone Tory stood up again and leaned into Lee, her lips finding his neck and staying there so that she could inhale him. He reached up and rubbed her arm, careful of the cast. He turned so that he could explore her with his hands. His fingers moved slowly over her face finding every bit of swelling. He made a sound of distress when he discovered her oxygen line.

  “Are you in a wheelchair?” She nodded without answering. He moved over to the far side of the narrow bed and moved his covers back. “Lay with me.” A smile tugged at her lips. It wasn’t as easy as it seemed but a few moments later she was lying nestled against his side with her arm thrown across his body.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I am now that I know you are.” She felt him smile.

  “We’re okay, bela.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Tory was anxious when her parents came the next day to take her home and they finally got a chance to be introduced to her fiancée.

  Lee had been moved to a private room and he was never alone; far from it. Everyone present greeted her warmly, but she knew that some among them might have suspicions about her now. She put that out of mind as she kissed Lee’s smiling face.

  “Mama, Daddy, I want you to meet my fiancée, Lee.” Saying that word sent a shiver down her spine.

  Lee held out his hand and her father gripped it firmly and shook. “It’s a pleasure to meet you sir.” He shook her mother’s hand. “I’m sorry that our meeting is under such unpleasant circumstances.”

  “It’s fine, honey. I’m just happy that you two are safe.”

  Francie ushered everyone out of the room to give them time to visit and they talked for a few minute before her parents retreated to get her checked out of the hospital.

  Reluctantly she returned to her room to get her things together. Yesterday evening she had tried to convince everyone that she would be okay returning to Lee’s home to take care of him, and she thought Lee would support her efforts, but it was him that finally convinced her that she needed to return to her apartment, stay in bed and allow her mother to take care of her until she got the thumbs up from her doctor.

  Deep down she knew that he was probably right, but it hurt her feelings that he wouldn’t let her come home with him; that he actually said no to her. While her parents got her checked out and made sure that everything was billed to her insurance company, Macey helped her prepare to leave her room. She was preoccupied, wanting to tell Lee goodbye one more time but she had just left him so that was dumb. It’s just that if she was going to be on bed rest, she wouldn’t see him for days.

  “So…” Macey began. Tory gave her a quick look.

  “What?”

  “No comment on how scandalous Rosalind acted yesterday?”

  “Ugh. No comment.”

  Macey chuckled. “For the record, she didn’t gain any points when she jumped in and started talking to my comatose brother just when his fiancée was about to. That was your place, not hers!”

  “Agreed.” She stared at Macey. “Are there people that still blame me?”

  Macey looked away. “There isn’t a really good translation for this. Some have placed the responsibility of his condition on you without blaming you for creating the accident—but as a contributor to it.” She looked at Tory then. “I’ve told people my opinion and they listen. I think that maybe they just…doubt you. But no one doubts your commitment and your love for Lee.”

  “I’m sure Ros is one on the other team.”

  “I guess you could say that.” Macey replied with a mirthless grin.

  “And your mother and father?”

  “My parents don’t want anything or anybody stressing out Lee. Mama already went off on Ros and told her not to start up around him. She was not happy with the stunt she pulled. Ros tried to say that she thought he might respond to Portuguese since it’s in his heart.” Macey rolled her eyes. “Mama said it was between you and Lee and that shut it down.”

  Tory felt a smile tugging at her lips as she found herself liking his parent’s more and more. She had certainly hoped to make a better impression. Being accused of nearly killing ones son did not make for the best first impression. So the upside was that she knew they didn’t totally hate her. But the downside was that now she knew they were talking about her behind her back. She sat down on the edge of the bed suddenly tired. It was wonderful when the clan was all on her side—but having them against her was unsettling.

  But she knew that she would go up against any of them if she had to. They were not going to push her away from him. She had no doubt about that, but she did worry about one thing; If they didn’t eventually accept her as Lee’s woman and trust that she would be there for him in all ways, could they influence him against her? She knew how much he valued his family…

  She just wanted to be there! To balance everything so that Ros couldn’t stack the cards against her.

  “Don’t worry about this. Just be yourself, Tory. You don’t have to try to convince anyone of anything.” She nodded knowing that Macey was a good ally and friend. She trusted her, mostly because she had been woman enough to tell her face to face what was going on.

  Back at her apartment Tory got settled into her bed even though bed was the last place she wanted to be. There was tons of work that needed to be done; the spare bedroom needed to be straightened up so that her parents could move into it. The refrigerator needed cleaning because something had spoiled. The trash needed taken out and Daddy wouldn’t even allow her to take care of the insurance adjuster. He announced that she would be able to pick up a new car by the end of the week. With a sigh she finally decided to just relent and relax in bed. Within 5 minutes Tory was deep asleep.

  The next few days moved very slowly for Lee and Tory. They spent hours talking on the phone and telling the other how much they were missed.

  On the second day Lee seemed preoccupied but still attentive and happy to talk to her. After about an hour of talking he spoke hesitantly.

  “Tory…on the night of the accident what actually happened?”

  Her heart slammed against her tender ribcage. “How much do you remember?”

  “Honestly, not very much. The last thing I remember is holding your hand in the car. I don’t even remember the accident at all, just waking up in the hospital.”

  She wished that she could be so lucky. Sometimes she dreamed about a car driving right at them, always in slow motion so that it gave her enough time to realize that there was absolutely nothing that she could do to save them. Once the dream showed an alternative ending in which Lee hadn’t survived. Seeing him like that, even if it was just a dream, had shaken her to her core. After having known a love like the one she shared with Lee, Tory knew that she could not bear to lose him.

  She sighed. “We were driving. Another man approaching us was driving in the wrong lane. He never slowed. He just hit us straight on.”

  There was a long pause. “Did you swerve out of the way?”

  “I tried to. I turned the wheel fast but I…it wasn’t fast enough.”

  Another long pause. “He only hit us? Do you know how long he was driving down the wrong side of the street?”

  “I don’t know, baby. For me, it was as if he just appeared out of nowhere. I…I was driving, holding your hand. I turned to look at you and…it was just for a second. I heard a horn blow and I looked back and there he was.” Tory closed her eyes, feeling guilt, shame and fear of his reaction.

  “Okay,” he said simply.

  “I’m sorry Lee-”

  “It’s okay baby. It wasn’t you that caused the acc
ident. It was that man. He has to appear in court on Friday. I don’t know if you want to go or not-”

  “I don’t! No, I don’t want to.”

  “It’s okay. I don’t either. But I will write a letter and I want you to as well; for the prosecution, okay?”

  “Okay, I’ll do that. What are you going to say in yours?”

  “I’m going to tell him that his thoughtlessness nearly killed two innocent people and that I hope he gets the maximum sentence. My sense of touch is my life. I can’t transcribe Braille if I can’t feel with my fingers. I can’t see you or others without touch. He very nearly cost me my arms. You know, Tory, if it wasn’t for the fact that we chose a ‘safe’ car, we would not have survived. Carlos said the car had no front end but the rest of it was intact, almost perfect. We were in a safety cage surrounded by deployed airbags. He said he’s never seen anything like it.”Carlos had been kind enough to get their personal effects out of the car. She wondered if he was one of the ones that no longer liked her. Tears suddenly appeared in her eyes and she grew quiet.

  “Are you okay, honey? I’m sorry Tory, I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “No, it’s just that I know how close we came to not making it. I don’t know what I would do without you Lee.”

  “You will never have to know that, querida.”

  “You can never say never…” Look how close they had come.

  “Yes I can! Stop it Tory. There is no looking back, only forward, do you understand?”

  She was surprised at his brusque tone. He never talked harsh to her.

  “Y-yes.”

  “Good. I’m not going to lose you and you’re not going to lose me.”

  She relaxed. “Yes.”

  “I love you.” He said.

  “Eu amo-te.”

  She heard his soft chuckle. “Eu amo-te.”

  ~***~

  Friday was a day of anticipation for both Lee and Tory. After her check-up she was to meet him at his place. Daddy took her to pick up the replacement car early that morning and then rode in the passenger seat despite her assurance that she didn’t need him to. Mama wordlessly drove their rental car to the doctor’s office to meet them.

  Her father was wonderful. He never mentioned the fact that she was shaking like a leaf as soon as she got in behind the wheel. He never scolded her for driving too slow—so slow, in fact, that it could have caused another accident! But after a few miles she was comfortable again.

  When they got out of the car to go to her doctor’s appointment she threw her arms around her father’s neck and kissed his cheek.

  “What’s that for?” He smiled.

  “Because…” She thought about the fact that a few short days ago she nearly lost her life and might not have ever seen her Mom and Dad again. “Because you are the best father in the world.”

  He snorted. “If you say so.” But he took her hand and they headed to her appointment hand in hand just like he used to do when she was a kid.

  Tory received a clean bill of health and a reminder that after-care for someone with a lung injury was to be taken very seriously and followed strictly. She was strongly reminded that by not following the rules she was at risk for cardiac arrest; a heart attack.

  Mama stopped her as they left the building. “Daddy and I are going to catch an earlier plane out. We already have our things in the trunk.”

  “What?” Tory frowned. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll be back home later tonight-”

  Mama chuckled. “Tory, you don’t have to come home for us.” Her cheeks warmed and she knew that she was blushing. “You and Lee haven’t seen each other in days and I’m sure that you’d much rather be with him.” Mama patted her hand. “Besides, you’re well enough and Daddy and I need to go home.”

  “Well…” she sighed in distress, not wanting her mother and father to think she was ungrateful. “You didn’t even get a chance to really meet Lee. I thought we’d all go out to dinner or something tomorrow.”

  Mama kissed her cheek and then headed for their car. “We’ll be back up for the wedding.”

  Tory smiled and hugged her arms. Yes, she was getting married. Daddy kissed the top of her head. You call us if you need anything, okay baby girl?”

  “Okay, Daddy. But I’ll be okay.”

  He seemed reluctant to leave. “I know you will be.” She knew how difficult it was on her parents. First there were the events that happened when she was in college and now this. He finally joined Mama at the car.

  “I love you!” She called. They beeped the horn and were gone. For a moment she felt sad but then remembered that she was getting ready to see her man and she dashed to her car.

  ~***~

  When Tory reached Lee’s building she was not happy to see that the street was lined with familiar cars. Shit, that meant that the Torres clan was out in full force. She refused to admit to being horny. It seemed wrong to think about sex when she had a hole in her lung and Lee’s arms were in casts and both of them were still black and blue. But she missed him like crazy and maybe it wasn’t so much that she needed the release—she just needed the intimacy. She pulled into the underground parking garage. She saw a second car there with a rental license and knew it was his mom and dad’s.

  Lee evidently heard the elevator because he was standing there waiting for her as soon as the cage door went up.

  “Hi, Baby!” She said happily. A broad smile came over his face and he opened his arms allowing her to step into them. Even though his arms were now sheathed in hard plaster up to his elbows, being held by him felt amazing. She was reluctant to leave the comfortable space except for the fact that the large living room was filled with onlookers. How is it that Mama could figure out that they needed alone time but these people couldn’t?!

  She smiled at them and they suddenly converged on her, asking her how she was doing, telling her that she looked a lot better, kissing and hugging her. Everyone was very nice but she couldn’t help wondering which ones disliked her.

  She knew she wasn’t being fair. Questioning her ability to care for Lee did not equate to disliking her…well except for one person. Her eyes locked on to Rosalind who made sure to stay on the other end of the room. Mr. and Mrs. Torres greeted her equally as enthusiastically. She was ushered to the living room where Francine insisted she sit down before her lung opened back up. Tory bit the inside of her cheek so she wouldn’t laugh but she did sit down and Lee sat down right next to her.

  “How was your appointment?” Lee asked and everyone quieted to listen. Tory cleared her voice.

  “I’m doing well. The doctor just told me not to overdo it. I’m going to go back to work Monday.” Lee made a face. “And I picked up the replacement car.”

  Lee ran his hand through his curls. There was a patch missing just above his left ear but it couldn’t detract from his model good looks. As Tory watched him, she felt the breath stick in her lungs and for the millionth time she wondered how she had been so lucky.

  “Tory, I think you should take some time off from work.”

  She gave him a surprised look. “Really?”

  “Lee’s got 2 broken arms…” Senna said and she suddenly knew who else was on the Does-not-like-Tory-list. She looked from Senna to Lee who had a strange look on his face. He was shaking his head slightly and his brow was knit.

  “I don’t need you to take off for me. I want you to take off for you.” She glanced around the room watching the tide turn against her.

  “I need to work, honey…don’t I?” She didn’t know a lot about his finances. She knew he was more than comfortable in the financial department but now he would have someone else to take care of. She had a college loan to pay off and they had just bought a fifty thousand dollar car.

  “We’ll talk about it later,” he exhaled anxiously. “Excuse me.” He got up and she watched him in surprise as he tentatively made his way across the room. She noted that he moved slower, his arms out before him as if he was no longer familiar
with his surroundings. Just as he reached the corridor that led to the bathroom he stumbled over a toy that one of the kids had left on the floor. No less than 5 people jumped to his assistance before catching themselves and holding back. Lee caught himself before he fell but he kicked the toy in uncharacteristic anger.

  As soon as Lee was in the bathroom, Senna stalked into the kitchen muttering to herself in Portuguese.

  Macey frowned and sat down next to Tory. “Lee is not adjusting well to his injuries.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Macey glanced at the corridor and continued quickly. “He’s lost. It’s like he no longer has his confidence. He hasn’t left the apartment even to come to the restaurant. Tory, maybe you can help him.”