by Marla Monroe
Everyone yelled out hello, making him wonder which direction he might be facing. It sounded like he was directly in front of Frog and Heath. Fuck he hated not being able to see.
“What’s wrong? You’re scowling at everyone,” Dobbs said under his breath.
“I can’t tell where I am in the room. Is everyone in a circle or what?”
“It’s a loose circle. There’s about six feet between you and where Frog and Heath are sitting on a couch. Cookie is to your left in a wheelchair. Rawlings is on the other side of him sitting on a chair. Everyone else is to your right about six to seven feet away.”
“Thanks. I don’t like not knowing where people are.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Rex said.
Mayberry knew he didn’t really. Unless you couldn’t see, you just didn’t understand. You were alone in a black world dependent on others not to screw with you. It was hard to trust. Even though he bitched about Dobbs, he was his best friend, and Mayberry trusted him with his life.
“Everyone, I want you to meet my friend, Libby Parks.” Elise introduced them all by name, and they all said hello.
Mayberry listened as she gave a weak hello back. Her voice sounded like a musical chime to him. Her scent reached him and reminded him of peaches and cream. He lifted his face in her direction and sniffed again.
“What are you doing?” Dobbs whispered next to his ear.
“She smells good.” Mayberry couldn’t help drawing in another deep breath.
“She’s the woman I met at the grocery store. You’re right, she does smell good,” Dobbs whispered back.
“You’re kidding. Does she recognize you?”
“Right now she looks like she’s about to bolt. I think she’s been abused or something by the way she’s acting. She has this deer-in-the-headlights look.”
“We’re going to be in the kitchen if anyone needs anything,” Elise told them.
Mayberry hated for them to go. He liked smelling the pretty woman because the description Dobbs had given him the other day had sounded like a beautiful woman to him.
* * * *
“You did it, Libby. You came inside and then met a bunch of people and didn’t run. I’m so proud of you.” Ellie poured a glass of water for her.
“I was shaking apart inside. I’m still jittery. There were a lot of them. The one called Dobbs is the man I met in the grocery store the other day. I don’t know if he recognized me or not, but he was nice. I panicked and acted like a rabbit and ran.”
“That’s okay. They’re all dealing with a lot of the same things you are. Most of them have some form of PTSD as well as other disabilities. Clark, one of my husbands, has a service dog who helps him when he has an episode. I still think you should think about getting one.”
“Maybe later. I’m fine in my house. It’s just when I get out that I clam up and have an episode.”
“Why don’t we pull our chairs just inside the other room where they are but not right in the middle of them and see how you do?”
“I don’t know. I’m having a difficult enough time just sitting here.” Libby didn’t think she could handle all of those men sitting in one room. Granted the room was huge, but still.
“Um, Ellie. Sorry to interrupt, but can I grab a soda?” Dobbs, the man from the grocery store, walked into the kitchen where they were sitting.
“Sure, Dobbs. Just look in the fridge. We stocked up for you guys.”
“Thanks.”
He walked over in an unsteady gait and got a soda. When he turned back around, he nearly lost his balance but caught himself on the counter. He smiled at Libby.
“Remember me from the grocery store? I made that roast like you told me to, and it was good. Even Mayberry was impressed.”
“Mayberry?” Libby asked.
“My friend. He’s the one sitting next to me wearing sunglasses. He’s blind.”
“I bet he feels pretty uncomfortable in a room full of people and he can’t see.” Libby felt for him. If she’d lost her eyesight on top of the bomb blast, she’d be a sure enough basket case.
“Yeah. We’re all trying to deal though.”
“I’m glad the roast turned out well for you.”
“I’d better get back. It’s nice to see you again,” he said.
When he’d disappeared back into the other room, Libby was a little sad to see him go. He was so nice looking and hadn’t freaked out when she’d snapped at the grocery store and raced her cart away from him.
“He likes you,” Elise said.
“Oh, I think he’s just being nice.”
“Want to try sitting a little closer to everyone?”
“Yeah. I’ll try. I can’t promise I won’t bail on you though.”
“All that matters is that you try. Baby steps, Libby. Baby steps.”
I’ve been taking baby steps for so long now that I’m not sure I’ll ever walk like a grownup again.
Libby followed Ellie’s lead and pulled her chair just inside the doorway of the den where all the men were talking and joking. Ellie kept up a steady conversation with her so that, after a little while, she almost forgot about all of the men in the room.
Almost.
She was very aware of Dobbs and the man sitting next to him. He wore sunglasses and had a nice smile when he smiled. Mostly he seemed to sit and scowl. She could tell that he wasn’t any more comfortable sitting there among all the guys than she was, but at least she could see.
“Let’s move over to where Mayberry is sitting. He looks pretty miserable. Would you mind if I talk with him some?”
“No, um. That’s fine. I’m sure he’s uncomfortable around so many people he can’t see.”
“Exactly.”
Ellie stood up and moved her chair over closer to the man. She nodded her head for Libby to do the same. The only place not in the center of the men was right next to him. She hesitated, but in the end, she figured she needed to try. She shoved her chair in between Mayberry’s and Ellie’s.
“Hey, Mayberry. I have Libby sitting next to you, and I’m kind of across from you. I wanted to tell you a little about your service animal. His name is Colby, and he’s a golden retriever mix. They sent me a picture of him along with his name. He looks like a golden with a little shepherd mixed in there somewhere. He’s a year old and came through his original training with flying colors.”
“Colby, huh? So he’s supposed to make sure I don’t walk out in front of cars or fall down steps.” Mayberry didn’t sound all that thrilled at having a dog.
“Libby, Dobbs told me he met you at the grocery store. Thanks for telling him how to make that roast. It’s the first decent meal he’s cooked in months,” Mayberry said.
“I heard that.” Dobbs leaned over and smiled at Libby.
“Well, it’s the truth. Usually you burn everything.”
“I can’t help it I can’t cook. You were the cook before you lost your eyesight.”
“Why can’t you still cook?” Libby asked.
“Um, I can’t freaking see.”
“You don’t have to see to tell Dobbs what to do,” she pointed out.
“Teach him? I doubt he’d listen.”
“I might if it meant decent food,” Dobbs said.
Libby noticed that Mayberry kept leaning toward her and breathing in deep. She wasn’t sure why. Did she smell bad? It bothered her at first, but then she decided he was just leaning away from Dobbs.
“Could you teach me?” Dobbs asked.
“Yeah. We could try out some simple dishes and see if you can follow directions.” Mayberry grinned in her general direction. “Thanks for suggesting that. Maybe if I can teach him how to make something simple you can come over and be the taste tester.”
Libby laughed. He was cute. “Maybe.”
Ellie stood up. “I’ll be right back. I see that some of the men need refills, and I want to refill the chip and dip bowls.”
“I could help.” Libby started to stand.
�
�No. Sit. I’ve got it.”
Libby settled back in the chair and watched as Ellie picked up empty cans then returned to the kitchen.
“She’s great for Rex and Clark,” Dobbs said.
“I’m still getting used to her being married to two men,” Libby confessed.
“It works for them and for Kermit and Heath,” Mayberry pointed out.
“Kermit and Heath? Oh, Frog and Heath. I didn’t realize they shared a wife, as well.”
“Her name is Abby. She fought hard for her men. At first Frog didn’t want to burden her with his disability, but she refused to let him kick her to the curb. I admire her and Ellie.”
“Ellie has been super to me. I, um, needed help when I first moved here. She was a lifesaver.”
“Where did you live before you moved here?” Mayberry asked.
“Boston. I loved it there, but it got to be too much for me to handle, so I moved here. I work from home and don’t get out much.”
“Neither do we,” Dobbs said. “I can’t get around much with this metal contraption, and Mayberry doesn’t like going anywhere since he’s blind.”
“There are lots of blind people who live alone and even work. You don’t have to stay holed up in your house just because you can’t see.” Libby closed her mouth, afraid she’d said too much.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him. He’ll feel differently once he’s got the dog.”
“I still don’t see how some seeing-eye dog is going to make things better for me.” Mayberry shook his head with a grunt.
“What made you leave Boston? You said it got to be too much.”
“I—I was running in the Boston Marathon when the bomb when off. My best friend lost her legs, and I ended up with a lot of shrapnel. I get flaky around a lot of people now and can’t handle loud noises.”
“PTSD,” Dobbs said with a nod. “That’s why I frightened you when I stuck out my hand at the grocery store. I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. Like you said, you didn’t know. It was the first time I’d been inside the store since I moved here. Normally I order my groceries, and they meet me at the door with them.”
“Wow, you did good. You not only went inside and shopped, you kept me from making an absolute fool of myself by falling flat on my face.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“I know you deliberately shoved your cart in front of mine to keep me from falling. I’m forever grateful for that. I would have needed help to get back up, and that would have sucked worms.”
Libby wrinkled her nose. “Ew.”
Mayberry and Dobbs both laughed.
Libby shrugged. “I’m glad I was able to. I didn’t think, just reacted. That’s when I do my best.”
“When you don’t think about something too much?” Dobbs asked.
“Right. Otherwise I talk myself into a panic attack.”
“Well, you’re doing fine right now,” Mayberry pointed out.
“I guess I am. I’m not all the way in the room with everyone, and you two are fun to talk to. Thanks.” Libby realized they were right. She wasn’t panicked sitting there talking to them.
“Sorry, that took so long.” Ellie sat back down. “Did I miss anything?”
“You mean any juicy gossip?” Dobbs asked.
“Right.” Ellie laughed. “You guys are worse than a bunch of women. You gossip just like we do.”
“My therapist is seeing a doctor from the hospital. She’s all gaga eyes over him,” Dobbs told them. “All she talks about is what they’re doing and where they’ve been. Listening to her is almost worse than the fucking exercises she makes me do.”
“You’re getting better walking around on your new leg,” Mayberry told him.
“It’s still just a metal can opener as far as I’m concerned.”
“My friend has two of those running prosthesis. She’s running again and doing great.”
“Dobbs will get a regular leg once he’s mastered the one he has now. It’s easier to learn to walk on one of these than one that looks real. He’ll eventually get one of the more natural-looking ones.” Mayberry shifted on his chair.
“Would you like something to drink, Mayberry?” Libby asked.
“Um, sure. Just a Coke. Thanks.”
Libby looked over at Ellie, and the other woman nodded. She needed to stand up and get out of the group for a few seconds. Why she wasn’t already freaking out Libby didn’t know, but a break would do her good. She set her glass by the sink and grabbed a Diet Coke and a regular Coke from the fridge before returning to the little group.
“Here you go. I didn’t open it so I wouldn’t spill it.” Libby placed the Coke in Mayberry’s outstretched hand. Their fingers touched, and Libby swore there was a spark.
Evidently Mayberry felt it, as well, since he jerked, almost dropping the can in the process.
“Sorry.” She didn’t know why she apologized.
Libby watched as he felt around on the can then turned it so he could open it. He felt of the lid and found the direction of the hole before drinking from it. He didn’t even attempt to set it down next to him on the little end table. He just held it.
There was something about the two men that drew her to them. She wasn’t afraid of them like she tended to be around most men. Even Rex and Clark often made her nervous. She wasn’t sure why when they’d been nothing but kind to her. It had to be that they were so tall compared to her mere five feet three inches.
She looked over at Mayberry. He was probably just as tall at over six feet. He had dark brown hair that was cut military short, but she couldn’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses. She could see that there were some scars around them and fine lines on his face, as well, but other than that, he had broad shoulders and a trim waist.
His friend Dobbs was just as tall if not taller, but neither man seemed to arouse her flight syndrome. She was a little nervous since she could see and hear all the other men in the room, but where she sat with the three of them kept her out of the crowd. She was glad she’d come after all. If for no other reason than to have met Dobbs and Mayberry. They were nice to her and interesting at the same time. She could tell that Mayberry was still very bitter about the loss of his eyesight, but he was dealing with it, as was Dobbs.
“I’ve really enjoyed this, but I need to leave now.” She stood.
To her surprise, both men stood up, as well. Even Dobbs, with his unsteady stance, got to his feet.
“Don’t forget you promised to be our taste tester when Dobbs finally manages to cook something decent,” Mayberry said.
“Oh, um, okay.” She wasn’t expecting that.
“Would you mind giving us your number so we can call?” Dobbs asked, pulling his phone from his back pocket.
“Sure.” She rattled off her number then smiled. This was a first for her, as well.
“We’ll call you if that’s okay,” Mayberry said.
“Sure.”
Ellie walked her to the door. “They like you. I hope you’ll give them a chance. This is amazing that they’re reaching out like this.”
“I don’t mind talking on the phone with them. I’m not sure about anything else, Ellie.”
“There’s no pressure, and you don’t have to do anything you don’t feel comfortable doing. Just talk for now. I think it will do all of you a world of good.”
Libby left the party feeling pretty good about herself. She’d conquered a major hurdle in her life by doing it, and she’d sat and talked with three people at one time. All in all, she’d kicked ass and was proud of it. Now if she could manage to handle talking with the two men on the phone she’d see herself as really getting better. Time would tell.
Chapter Four
“I think it tastes pretty damn good,” Dobbs said.
“It’s okay. I told you to boil the noodles longer. You don’t listen to me.” Mayberry snorted.
“I think we should call and invite her over to eat on Friday. You�
�ll have Colby used to the house by then. You won’t feel so uncomfortable about needing his help.”
“I don’t know.”
“Admit it. You like her.”
“Yeah, well, she isn’t going to want to have anything to do with a blind man.”
“And you think she will a cripple like me? I think she likes us both just fine.”
Mayberry stared at him. “What? This isn’t a date.”
Dobbs wanted to knock some sense into his buddy. “Why not? We’re asking her over to eat. That’s a date.”
“I don’t want it to be a date. Just someone coming over to taste your cooking and tell us what they think.”
“You’re crazy. We’re asking her on a sort of date. How is that?” Dobbs asked his asshole friend.
“Fine. She’ll probably say no.”
“She’s talked with us on the phone off and on for the last two weeks. Why do you think she’ll say no?” he asked.
“Because she’s nervous about being around people, and we’re two men.”
“I think you’re wrong. I think she’s gotten used to us enough that she’ll come over and taste what I’ve cooked. I’m betting she’ll like it, too.” Dobbs smiled, despite knowing the other man couldn’t see him.
“Fine. Call her and see.” Mayberry bumped into the island before relaxing and letting Colby guide him to a chair to sit down.
Sometimes his friend was an ass. He had resisted dealing with Colby to the point that Ellie had threatened to take him away from Mayberry. That had gotten him off his ass. He’d already gotten used to the dog, and secretly, Dobbs was sure they’d bonded. He didn’t want to lose him, so he began working at the training he had to go through with the dog.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Libby’s number. He put it on speakerphone so that all three of them could talk at one time.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Libby. It’s Dobbs and Mayberry. How are you doing today?”
“Hi, guys. I’m having a good day. Work hasn’t been too stressful. What about you guys?”
“Doing pretty good. I think I’ve learned to cook with Mayberry’s help. We wanted to invite you over Saturday for a taste test.” Dobbs waited, holding his breath so he didn’t breathe and miss her answer.