The Blind Girl in the Snow: part 1.

THE BLIND GIRL IN THE SNOW Part 1.

Another December. A different year.

“Where is that wife of yours?”

Janet hugged herself as she stood waiting next to the carrier on this bitterly cold Friday morning deep in the heart of Winter. Another heavy snowfall had left the landscape covered in shades of white as I turned back to the house with a knowing smile.

“You know what she’s like,” I replied as I unlocked and opened the right side door for her to get in out of the cold, “Besides, Gracey is with her.”

The older woman made a face and rolled her eyes to the sky blue heavens. “That’s my point,” she laughed as she slid into the rear seat and fumbled about for the belt, “Once those two get talking they’ll never stop!”

I was about to make my way up the path to our suburban home when the two women appeared at the door. Gracey was to her right and had her arm through hers to support her as Heather carefully stepped out into the fresh layer of snow that had settled overnight.

I waited as they walked up to me. “All set?”

Heather, wrapped up as snug as a bug in a rug, raised her head at the sound of my voice and her face broke into a wide perfect smile. “As set and as ready as I’ll ever be!” she beamed as I took her hands in mine and nodded at the thirty-six year old woman with her blonde frizzy curls standing next to her.

Gracey handed me the house keys, stepped to one side, and went to get into the car. “No smooching now or we’ll be late!” she laughed as she ran around the far side of the vehicle and slipped in beside Janet.

I raised my wife’s hands to my lips and kissed them. Heather gave me a slight nod and a nervous smile in return. The moment had arrived. All those questions, hopes, and fears were about to be answered. One way or the other. “Did Sarah say she would meet us at the clinic?” she asked as she let go of my hands and reached up to fiddle with her hat.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be there,” I reassured her as I could only imagine how she was feeling right now. I stared at her face. A face I had come to love with a passion and devotion that still shook me to my core and which deepened with each passing day we were together. There had been so many of those days since that day in the rain. I pulled her deep red overcoat tighter around her and made sure the special visor she was wearing and the bandages underneath were secure.

“Big day,” she whispered to me.

Yeah. No doubt about that.

“Big BIG day,” I whispered back.

I took her arm in mine and we began the journey which would change our lives forever.

*

There was a quiet comfort of feeling her arm through mine as we left Lucille’s cafe and made our way through the snow-covered tree-lined grove and out the park towards the promenade that looked out across the Hudson.

The sun was a cold bright halo in the sky as we rested against the iron railing and enjoyed the warm pleasures of mutual companionship. Heather lifted her face and closed her eyes as the crisp breeze moved and swirled around her. I had given her a black beanie to wear and stray strands of her rich thick hair escaped from its confines to blow around her face as the wind ebbed and flowed as it blew in from the North East.

She put her hands up to her pink cheeks. “Oh, it’s so cold,” she gasped as her breath hung around her like a misty shawl, “When I was little and in special school, our teacher taught us how to imagine things in our heads and give them meaning,” I watched as she held up her hands in front of her as if she was feeling for something, “I feel the cold on my face but in here,” She tapped the right side of her forehead, “In here, I can see it too. It’s almost like I can touch it.” she grinned as she turned to me.

I took both her hands in mine and interlaced our fingers together as I pulled her towards me until we were standing facing each other. She was sniffing and giggling as she moved her head from side to side as if she was listening to music.

After a moment, she pulled free and stood gently swaying with both arms outstretched as she found her balance. Then she began to hum to herself and slowly move around until she was drawing circles in the snow. I just stood there watching her as she danced in front of me like some Winter sprite telling me all her secrets. As she danced, I kept pace with her and felt that deep ache in my chest knowing that she had captivated me beyond all reason. The only doubt I had was that something this good doesn’t happen to scoundrels like me.

Finally, she came to a stop and stood there laughing as she leaned forward and put her hands on her thighs. “Where are you?” she gasped out loud as she looked around, “I know you’re there somewhere.”

“Right here,” I smiled. The girl looked positively angelic to me, “You look happy.”

She turned to the sound of my voice. “Uh huh,” she nodded. She raised her head and she did that cute thing she did with her overbite where she sucked in and chewed on her lower lip, “I guess sex does that.” she murmured as if caught by surprise at the thought of it. She stood there with a knowing look on her blushing face as if she was teasing and testing me.

I started to laugh at her brash cheek. Her innocent prod at my ego. Yes, Lady, sex does do that. Sex does make you happy. As I was discovering, sex with feeling makes you even happier and the world go round in a way that I had never felt before. We were like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle; slowly piecing ourselves together to make what we were going through the sum of a greater whole. And sex was going to be such an important part of that whole.

The game of fresh lovers was afoot. A game I knew well but it had always been a game without a heart. This girl was different. This girl had to be moved around the board with care and attention lest she dance away and I lose her. And that thought didn’t bear thinking about.

“Did you like it?” I asked her. We were standing no more than two feet apart and I could see the sparkle in her blind sea green eyes. She put her hands behind her back and clasped them together as she leaned forward towards me in that “I know a secret” way she had that was nigh on irresistible and endearing.

She bit her lip. “What would you say if I said I didn’t?” she asked mischievously.

Oh, this game is it. “I’d say the blame lies with you.”

“Me?” she gasped with a short laugh as she drew herself up, “Aren’t you my teacher?” she asked pointing in my general direction, “Those things we did.