Chloe does call and I suggest a picnic on the weekend. She agrees but we have to wait until noon to go because Philip's plane doesn't leave until after eleven. I agree of course because I have a weakness for her and will bend to her needs. I tell her to meet me at Salem park when she can get away.





"What is all this Brady?" She asks when she catches a glimpse of the picnic I've set up.

"Shakespeare in the park." I tell her with a wide grin. She smiles and that smile turned into a light laugh as she remembers. "I told you one day, I would be the one reading to you."

"That you did Brady, that you did."

I get her to sit down and I pull out a warn out copy of Shakespearean sonnets and plays. The wind blows through her hair and I nearly sigh as it cascades around her shoulders, but I hold it back as I have for the hundredth time since I've been back in town. I know she's engaged, I keep reminding myself, but somehow it evades my brain every time I look at her.

"Do you remember how you used to read to me, all those great books that we couldn't get in brail?"

"I remember." She tells me and smiles fondly at the memory. "You loved when I read to you, and I don't think I ever told you, but I loved it too."

I blush as usual. "I didn't know that."

"You weren't like other boys Brade." She says softly, and my heart flutters with the way she uses my old nickname as if no time has passed. "You were always so smart, so different, and it had nothing to do with the fact that you were blind." She looks me in the eye when she says this and I know she is wondering how I will take it.

"You were always there for me." I tell her and I can barely make my voice go above a whisper. "I never thanked you for everything you always did for me."

"You don't have to, I wanted to do those things. You and me had some of the best times of my childhood." She says these things and seems sad, which makes me sad because I think that we did those things a lifetime ago and it's too hard to go back. "Do you remember how we used to play cops and robbers?"

"Like it was yesterday."



***************





Chloe and I sit under our poorly made tent in the middle of my room, defending ourselves from the cops. We were the rebel outlaws and had just pulled off a large heist. The large refrigerator box and cotton sheets we've made into a fort is our hide-out.

"We'll be safe in here." I tell Chloe in my deep tough voice.

"That was close." She sighs. "Let's count our lute." Chloe suggested and dumped the pillow case full of our goods out on the floor between us. I didn't really know what we had gotten, but I knew by the jingling of one of the items, we had at least one set of keys. I'd never played games like this up until now, I always thought I was too limited. But with Chloe to guide me around my house as we prowled and stole whatever we could find, I changed my mind. I had changed my mind about a lot of things since I had known Chloe. She never treated me like I couldn't do anything.

"We'll hide out here until midnight and then we'll hitchhike to the airport." I say enthusiastically, really getting into the game.

"Should we go to Paris or Rome?" Chloe asked, unwrapping a snack cake and splitting it in half. "Here's your share." She says handing me the treat.

"Thanks." I take a large bit and mull her question over in my mind. "We might have to go to both." I reason. "The cops will be after us, so we'll have to keep moving."

"You're right!" She cries excitedly.

"We'll rob and steal all over the world and then when we have enough money I'll find a doctor and he'll cure me." I tell her enthusiastically.

"Can they really do that?" Chloe asks.

My heart is beating wildly and I want so desperately for it to be true.

"Brady?" I wasn't aware my father had been leaning against my doorframe until he called my name.

"Yeah dad?" I ask, hoping he hadn't heard what Chloe and I had been talking about.

"Come out here, please." He saya sternly and I knew I was in some sort of trouble. I felt my way out of the box and stood up straight.

"Relax buddy, you're not in trouble." He laughed and touched my shoulder. I relaxed a little. "You wouldn't happen to know where my keys have gotten to you, would you?"

"N-no." I drawl.

"Are you sure you and Chloe didn't accidentally take them?"

"I don't know." I shrugged.

"Brady, I'm going to be late for a very important meeting if I don't find those keys."

I hear the rattling of the keys from inside our hide out. "Chloe?" I ask and she hands them out to me without leaving the tent.

"I'm sorry Mr. Black, but see we really didn't take them."

"We didn't?" I ask surprised.

"No, we rescued them from pirates who were going to sell them and use the money for earings and jewels, so you should be thanking us!" Chloe told my father coming out of the tent, looking as innocent as ever, I'm sure.

"Is that right?"

"Yes!" We told him in unison.

"Well then keep up the good work!" He laughs and picks us both up in his strong arms. He kisses my cheek and then sets us down.

Chloe waited until the door closed and my father was out of the house before she spoke again. "Sucker!" She yelled and we broke down in fit of giggles.

**********





I shake my head, coming out of my memories of a time when we were both so happy. Now I look at Chloe and she seems haunted. "Philip takes care of you, doesn't he?" I ask and even I'm shocked at how forward it seems.

"He does."

"He's good to you? Treats you right and all of that?"

"Brady why are you asking?"

"It just seems... it seems that you're too good for him. He doesn't deserve you. And I don't think he realizes how special you are." Even as I say these things and even though I know Chloe will be angry I can't seem to shut my mouth. "I honestly didn't think you would still be living in Salem. I thought maybe you would be in New York waiting for your premiere at the Met. Your mother told me you don't sing anymore. Why not?"

"When were you talking to my mom?" She asks and I know she's trying to get out of answering.

"I saw her at Salem place. Now stop avoiding my question and tell me why you gave up singing."

"It's not that I gave it up, I just put it on hold." She says and tangles her fingers in her hair. I can't help but think she looks nervous and I wonder if it has anything to do with Philip.

"On hold for what?"

"I'm going to be married soon, Philip wanted me to concentrate on that and not worry about other things."

"Chloe, I really can't believe you're the same girl that punched Jeremy Collins in the fifth grade for making fun of opera. Why are you letting Philip run your life? I know you Chloe. I know the Met was your dream. I always thought you would get there one day."

"So did I." She says quietly to herself and looks up embarrassed.

I decide to change the subject because I see that Chloe is going to shut me out if I keep it up and that is the last thing I want her to do.



I realize she probably has had no one to really talk to since I've been gone and I've already seen the damage talking to Philip has caused her. "I was wondering something."

"What's that?" She asks and breathes a sigh because she knows that I'm trying to lighten the mood.

"You seem to have a real way with kids. Justin adores you and I know the other kids will too."

"What other kids? Brady, what are you trying to say?" She asks. " Just spit it out." She finally says when all I do is smile.

"See the thing is, Justin's mother has to go back to Canada, she's used up all her vacation time and they need the money. I tried to convince her that I would pay for them to stay on, but she wouldn't hear of it. She's a very proud woman, but she would agree to letting Justin stay here for a while. She knows how much progress he's made and what he still could accomplish. Surgery won't help him see, there's too much risk in his case, but there is more we can do to help him deal with being blind." I realize I've been rambling so I get to the point. "Anyway, I've found someone who's willing to take him in for a while, but we desperately need volunteers at the blind facility and I was just thinking..."

"That I might want to volunteer?"

"Something like that." I smile shyly. "Is it too much too ask though? Am I being rude? I just think you'll be great for these kids." My face is no doubt red by now, but it's the truth. "If it helps make your decision, your mothers already agreed to help out three days a week."

"She did? Well of course she would, she loves kids." Chloe laughs rolling her eyes. "Of course I'll help Brady, as much as I can."