It's nearly six in the evening by the time I finish my work at the blind school. I grab my coat from the back of my chair and throw it over my shoulder. I readjust my tie so that it is tight to my neck and I walk out, locking the door behind me. I know where my destination is but I realize I'm not exactly sure how to get there. I know the Wesley's address and so I tell the cabby and sit back in nervous anticipation.
By the time I get there it is quarter after six and I hesitate before I knock because I can smell the savoury essence of one of Mrs. Wesley's famous roast beef dinners. My stomach growls and I make up my mind and ring the bell twice. I can hear Nancy's cheery voice even before she makes it to the door and I laugh softly.
The door opens and the look of shock on her face makes me smile and then she swallows me up in her embrace and it is as if I never went away. "Brady Black," she says to herself and even though I can't see her face, I know there must be a stream of tears. She pulls back and I'm right.
"Mrs. Wesley," I say formerly. "I'm so glad to see you again." I take in her fiery red hair and plump features and realize she's exactly what I pictured and she's more wonderful than I could have imagined.
She looks up at me and notices my glasses and she puts her hand to her face. " You're wearing glasses Brady does this mean....You can see!?" It was more of a statement, but I nod my head yes nonetheless. "Craig! Craig, get in here! Look who's here." She yells over her shoulder and in a second Mr. Wesley is coming through the swinging doors with his napkin still tucked into his collar. His smile grows when he sees me and I stick out my hand for him to shake but he pulls me into a hug instead.
"My god," he says, stepping back in fascination. "It has been a long time Brady."
"Yes, it has." I can feel my trademark redness come to my face as they both examine me. I readjust my glasses in my nervousness and shuffle around. "Does Chloe still live here?" I ask and hope I left the desperation out of my voice.
"Sure she does." Craig says smiling and he and Nancy exchange a look, like they are privy to some secret. "She should be home any time now." Nancy pipes up. "You must be hungry, come and have dinner with Craig and I."
"Oh no, that's okay."
"Brady, you know my wife will take it as an insult if you don't stay, besides we have plenty and we can catch up while we eat."
I nod my head and follow them into the dinning room. We are just starting in on dessert when the front door slams shut and Chloe comes rushing into the room. This is it, my big reintroduction. The only problem is Chloe doesn't even seem to notice me as I stand like a true gentleman, she just continues to rant to her mother.
"Do you believe him?" Chloe squeals. Her hair is long and I bet it is just as soft as I remember it. Her eyes grow large as she raises her voice and I can't believe the girl I have yearned for every day since I was five is standing in front of me. I want to speak up but I hold my tongue and continue to watch her completely fascinated. When I couldn't physically see people, I had my own idea of what was beautiful. Chloe was beautiful in my eyes for all the qualities she possessed and she was beautiful now in society's eyes, but no one would know her true worth better than me. Even if people had been lucky enough to know her, they would never understand her true gifts that went beyond the makeup and the nice rack. As I look at Chloe with her cheeks flushed and her eyes narrowed, I can't help but think how sexy she looks.
"What did he do now?" Mrs. Wesley inquires in a tone that was one notch up from boredom, apparently she was quite accustomed to these little outbursts.
"We were at Tuscany when this woman walked by and do you know what he had the audacity to say?" Chloe asked fuming.
"Chloe Lane!" Craig's voice soothed softly. "Why you let Philip Kiriakis make you feel inadequate blows my mind, now stop being so rude and say hello to our guest. I believe you know him already."
Chloe's eyes shifted and she finally notices me, I stand up even straighter and give her a polite smile even though it feels like the butterflies in my stomach are playing a game to see which one could make me throw up first.
Her eyes scan me and slowly a smile spreads over her face. "Brady!?" She asks softly and I can see the tears collect in her eyes. I nodded my head because I know my voice would deceive me. "My god." She whispers and walks over to me so she is in front of me. "You really did it. You can really see."
I nod again and feel my throat get dry. It is the first time I have seen her. I refused to look at pictures, videos, anything that would rob me of this moment. Very gently I feel her hand come to my face and I can die now because she is looking into my eyes and then pulls me into a hug.
"We'll let you two get caught up." Craig says and ushers Nancy into the living room with him.
"It been a long time." Chloe says quietly as she sits down on one of the dinning room chairs.
I smile and sit down beside her, grabbing my napkin and nervously twisting it in my hands.
"Why are you here?"
My face falls and I think maybe she isn't that happy to see me after all.
"I came to run Basic Black's latest venture. Dad is building a state of the art blind facility. I didn't know if you'd want to see me." I tell her softly.
"Brady, of course I do."
"You're not still mad?"
"That you didn't even say goodbye when you left and I had to hear it from Belle in a letter that you were never coming back?" She asks and I can tell by her tone she's still hurt. "No, I'm over that." She says totally sarcastically.
"I'm sorry." I say and it's barely over a whisper. "I just couldn't say goodbye." I'm on the verge of begging for her forgiveness but when she smiles and hits my shoulder, I know things are okay.
"Guess what? You'll never believe this." She laughs and it's contagious.
"What?" I ask.
"I'm engaged to your uncle, how weird is that?" Suddenly my enthusiasm wavers and I don't think it's such great news, in fact I'm utterly shocked.
"You're what?"
"I know what your thinking but he really is a great guy, once you get past his arrogance." She smiles and I'm still sitting in stunned silence. "That was a joke." She says and I just look at her.
"Congratulations." I murmur and take a sip of the cold coffee in front of me as a distraction.
Why Philip? I could handle any other guy being engaged to Chloe but not Philip. This was a guy who thought I was stupid and always talked to me as if I were a child. He used to talk real loud in front of me as if I was deaf too. I'll never understand a guy like him and I'll never understand Chloe for wanting to marry someone so superficial.
Philip had been one of the biggest jerks to me in our childhood and now Chloe was engaged to the guy, I couldn't help but feel betrayed.
"You don't seem too happy for me?" She says softly and I can tell I've hurt her feelings.
"I am. I'm just confused. I thought you always said that Philip was a rich snob and you wanted nothing to do with him?" I tell her bluntly.
"I did. But when you went away he was so great to me. I guess we just fell in love." She says it so casual, I wonder if she even believes herself. There goes my expert plan to make her fall in love with me. I sigh. "It's getting late. I better go. I've got a long day ahead of me."
"So soon?" She asks and I wish I could stay forever, but I can't forget the hurt I'm feeling and need time to think it over.
"I'm afraid so. I still have to go over a bunch of paperwork tonight. We're opening the blind centre in less than a week and we're still so behind."
"Oh, well maybe we could have dinner sometime." She suggests and I give her a curt nod.
She walks me to the door, Nancy and Craig have already gone to bed and so I tell her to say I said goodnight.
"I will. I'll see you soon." She pulls me into a hug and I wrap my arms around her. I don't want to let go but I can't hold her forever, especially now that I know there will never be a chance for us.