Into the Light (Sequel to 'Living in Darkness')

A/N I had best say I PLAN on having him get his eyesight back…hence the title. If that changes on me (it better not), then the title will change. Also, don't be surprised if this turns out to be a short story. With all real life going on, I'm not going to try for a long version.

Chapter One

Joe stood on the porch letting the sunshine soak into his face. He couldn't help but sigh as he once again saw light filtering through the darkness he lived in. Ever since he'd married Eliza he'd get flashes of light here and there, but nothing that stayed more than a few moments and nothing that the doctors could explain. Even the best of doctors were perplexed; he knew that because both he and his pa had spent plenty of money on his visits to one doctor after another. Only when he heard Eliza walked up beside him did he turn come out of his thoughts.

"Supper is ready. If you don't come in, Hop Sing will be offended." Eliza laid her hand upon her husband's shoulder. "Are you all right?" She was concerned as Joe seemed more melancholy lately.

Joe smiled as he laid one hand on his wife's shoulder and one on her swollen belly. "I'm sorry, just wishing I knew what was going on with my eyes."

Eliza shook her head and gave her husband a quick peck on his cheek. She didn't blame him for wondering; she just hated what he was allowing the wondering to do to him. "You've lived in without the use of your eyes for four years, Joe. While it would be wonderful if you got your eyesight back, and it would, why worry about it? It doesn't change who you are or how much I love you." Then, as if reading his thoughts, she put her hand over his, which still rested on her swollen stomach, "And, this child will love you no matter what."

Joe felt the cloud that had been hanging over him for days lift just enough to make life feel a lot more bearable. "I guess I just want to be able to see the child's face when the day comes that you give birth to him," he paused and then chuckled, "or her, whatever the case might be."

Eliza didn't doubt for a moment that Joe wanted to be able to see their child and, to be honest, her heart ached at the thought of him only seeing the baby with his hands…thus creating a picture for himself. Still, she couldn't see where dwelling on something they had no power over was doing him any good either.

"Look, Adam and Mary are bringing Hank over for supper." Eliza made herself bite her tongue when it came to Adam Hank Cartwright; the young boy as fifteen months old, walking extremely well and into everything. Eliza figured the only reason she could control her tongue when Mary and Adam brought the lad over was because she didn't want her words coming back to haunt her once the child she was carrying was born. "I'm not sure about Hoss and Rebecca, don't know that she's up to visiting anyone yet." Rebecca had given birth to a baby girl, Inger Grace Cartwright, the month before only the birth had been hard, and Rebecca had almost died. Eliza really didn't expect to see Rebecca out and about for another couple of months at least. Joe was thinking along the same lines.

"I sure hope not." He said as he slid his arms into the crook of his wife's arm and turned her around and headed towards the living room door. "She needs to take care of herself first. Hoss needs her too bad." As it was, Joe figured it was bad enough that Hoss had had to hire a wet nurse for baby Grace. No, as far as Joe was concerned, Hoss didn't need to hire a governess as well…something he'd have had to do now only Mrs. Matthews had stepped in and was overseeing her daughter's recovery.

When Joe opened the door and let Eliza walk in first, Ben, who was sitting in his chair, looked up from his book. He set the item down when Joe and Eliza sat down on the couch. Knowing how Joe had been the past few days, and feeling that, maybe, he was partially to blame, Ben spoke up. "Before Adam and his family get here, Joe. I want to apologize."

Apologize? Joe sat up straight, confused. No matter what, he couldn't think of one thing his father had done that he needed to fee like he, Joe, was due an apology. "What are you talking about?" He asked, his confusion could be heard in his voice and seen in his eyebrows which had shot up in surprise.

Eliza was not surprised to hear Ben admit he felt he'd pushed too hard once it looked like Joe's sight might be returning, and she smiled. Of course, he'd pushed because he cared. Besides, Joe had pushed the issue just as hard. However, anything she had to say would have to wait as Joe, who had come out of the initial shock of hearing his father apologize for pushing things so, spoke up, basically saying the exact same thing his wife had just thought.

"I'm just as much as fault as you are. Now, let's just drop the subject. Life is still worth living." Joe smiled as he covered Eliza's right hand with his left one. "Adam and his family should be here soon. We can enjoy a good supper and then, tomorrow night, we'll go to the social the town is holding. If I hear right, they're actually holding it out at *Johnson's clearing."

"Sounds good to me," Ben said as he heard a wagon pulling into the yard. Adam and his family had to have arrived. That being the case, he stood up and headed towards the door, leaving Joe and Eliza to talk about the social.

*As far as I know they never mentioned such a place in Bonanza. If they did, it's pure coincidence.