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  Strong hands snatched her hand back into his and wouldn’t release her. “I want you to come with me.”

  “Say what?”

  “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I meant I want to hire you,” he said. “When I’m discharged, I want you as my personal therapist—full-time. Name your price.”

  “I don’t know about that. I love working here.” She removed her hand from his, and clasped her hands together to compensate for the sudden lack of warmth.

  He wasn’t going to give up that easy. “I still have a week before I leave, so think on it.”

  She nodded before she remembered to answer. “Okay, I’ll give your offer serious consideration but you have to promise to change. You have to be nice to the staff, especially my friend, Sari.”

  He bunched his lips at her admonition. “I guess I haven’t been the easiest of persons to deal with,” he acknowledged.

  “No, you haven’t.” Gently, she said, “I know you have a long road ahead but God won’t give you more than you can bear.”

  “This is the second time you’ve mentioned God. Don’t tell me you’re a Bible thumper,” he snorted.

  Annie took umbrage at his condescending tone. “Yes, I’m a Christian, and don’t judge me because you don’t know anything about me. To be honest, you need some God in you right about now.”

  Saul held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “Okay, take it easy. I meant no harm, I promise. Boy, you’re a feisty one aren’t you?”

  “Yes, but only with my friends. I’m usually more professional with my clients,” she chuckled. “I don’t even know how you get to me.”

  “Will you come work for me? My house is large enough to accommodate you.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Plus, what about your girlfriend?” She asked the question uppermost in her mind. “I don’t think any woman will be all right with another young woman under her roof, even if it is business.”

  “I’m a grown man, Annie, and it’s my house. You said yourself that I would need around the clock care. I want you and my girlfriend is not the jealous type. She’ll like you and she’ll be glad to have you there.”

  She didn’t argue with his logic, but she knew women. Nevertheless, she didn’t press the issue. Though this wasn’t the first time a client had wanted to contract her for private services, this was the first time; she was tempted to say yes. “I’ll pray on it,” Annie promised. “Don’t you feel apprehensive about inviting a stranger into your home? I could rob you blind.” She paused a beat. “Er, poor choice of words.”

  “You could,” he answered, matter-of-factly. “But I trust you.”

  She pulled her hand away from his. “You just met me. How can you trust me already?”

  “How long does it take?”

  ****

  “You can’t seriously be considering his offer?” Sari said. She curled her legs under her and settled into the couch at their apartment.

  Annie bit her bottom lip. “I’m thinking about it. It’s good money. Saul Sweeterman owns several car dealerships so it’s not like he can’t pay me.”

  Sari gave her a look. “Girl, please. Who you fooling? You don’t care about money, you never have. If you did, you would have married Cornell Adams and been the wife of a Miami Dolphins linebacker. You like Saul Sweeterman. That’s why you want to go. And, have you missed the significance of his name?”

  “No, I haven’t missed the fact that his namesake in the Bible also lost his vision. But, he’s alone. I feel sorry for him. Saul needs my help, even if he doesn’t know it.”

  “Annie, he has a girlfriend. He’s not alone. You’re the best physical therapist on our floor. If I thought this was all business, I would be jumping for joy.” She swept her hands across the small living area. “But, he’s a man and you’re a single woman who is attracted to him. What you think is going to happen with you two all by your lonesome in his mansion?”

  “First of all, I don’t think he lives in a mansion. Secondly, I’m grown. I can handle attraction. I—I want to go. I feel led to.” She didn’t add that she didn’t think she could bear not seeing him. It would make her seem desperate.

  Sari waved her hand in annoyance. “He lives in Boca Grande—home of the mansions, and don’t even bring the Holy Spirit into this discussion. I think it’s a different spirit sending you under that man’s roof.” She reached over to the end table and picked up her cold glass of lemonade.

  “I’m not leaving the Holy Spirit behind,” Annie said. “Wherever I go, He goes. He won’t steer me wrong. I’ll be all right.”

  Sari shrugged. “It sounds like you’ve made your decision.”

  Annie crooked her head. She didn’t respond. She let her eyes say what words didn’t. Yes, she had.

  Chapter Seven

  “Thanks for the ride, Greg,” Saul said. He lowered his head as he exited the luxury car. He used the cane in his hand to help him navigate. He’d had a crash course before leaving the hospital. He knew he needed an orientation and mobility specialist. Saul hated the contraption, but he had to use it or risk losing one of his toes. He’d bumped his feet and hit his shins too many times to count, so the cane stayed.

  “It’s so good to be home.” It had been seven weeks since his accident and it was now the middle of July. When Saul first left the hospital, the heat was the first thing that greeted him. He welcomed the feel of the oppressive sun and now wished he hadn’t been so adamant to stay inside. He’d forgotten what he was missing.

  “Not a problem, boss,” Greg Holmes said. “Business hasn’t suffered from your absence. If anything, since the news of your—ugh, demise—we’ve been booming. We can’t keep cars on the lot, and the special orders have us working overtime.”

  Saul was impressed. His neighbor’s here at Boca Grande were some of his best customers. He supposed this was their way of ‘helping.’ Little did they know he would’ve appreciated a visit or a phone call, instead of them fattening his bank account.

  If it weren’t for Annie’s visits, he would’ve gone insane. For the umpteenth time, he wished he could see her. All he had to go by was her beautiful spirit and her voice. Her voice soothed him, as she sat with him and read the Bible or the Charlotte Sun. Saul had come to admire her wit and her overall optimism in life. A couple of times, she’d prayed for him.

  Annie was scheduled to arrive in three days and Macy was due in from Milan in a couple of hours. He was sure he could manage until then. For years, it had been just him and Cassandra, after his wife died of asthma. Then when Saul met Macy he attempted to move on, but his heart wasn’t complying.

  Thinking of his daughter made him sigh. He finally called her a week ago and left a message. As far as Saul was concerned, it was now in her hands. He wasn’t about to beg his own offspring to have a relationship with him. Not for one minute would he admit that his heart hurt from her rejection.

  By the time Saul returned from his thoughts on Cassandra, Greg had guided him inside his home. The crisp air conditioning and the smell of lemons told him that his cleaning lady had been by. He swooped the cane from side to side and walked with careful movements navigating his way into his living area with Greg’s help.

  Saul hated relying on anyone, but he was grateful that Greg had been willing to escort him home.

  “Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

  Saul heard the worry in his friend’s voice. “Yes, I’ll be fine. Macy’s coming in tonight and my therapist will here on Thursday. It’s only three hours, I’m sure I can manage until then.” Saul injected more bravado than he actually felt.

  “Will you ever see again?”

  Greg’s question hit him in the core. It was something he thought about a gazillion times per day. “I don’t know. The ophthalmologist told me that my eyes weren’t physically damaged. Everything is working, as it should. He doesn’t have a clue why I can’t see. He even intimated that I was choosing not to see.” Saul laughed with self-deprecation. “Yeah, like I wo
uld really choose to hit my shin at least three times a day.”

  “When a doctor speaks like that, only God can help you,” Greg said.

  Greg left after that, but his words lingered.

  God. Saul rubbed his chin. He’d never given much thought to the Man upstairs so if God was the only Person who could help him, then he was in serious trouble. He only went to church for weddings and funerals so why would God waste time on someone like him?

  He sighed. His own daughter wanted nothing to do with him.

  Holding one hand out in front of him, Saul used the cane in his other hand to pick his way around his living area. With cautious steps, he located the guest suite in the back of the house. His master was upstairs, but he knew he couldn’t handle the stairs. Somewhere deep inside Saul knew he’d been wrong to cut Cassandra out of his life. However, he was too stubborn admit it.

  He felt a huge sense of accomplishment when his cane tapped against what must the bed. When his hand pressed into the soft mattress, Saul exhaled and turned to sit on the bed.

  Saul had no idea what time it was or how long he sat there. But, he got tired of the croaking frogs and those noisy grasshoppers. Reality sunk in, he was blind and alone in this big house. He thought he’d been alone in the hospital, but in actuality, someone was always coming into his room.

  Saul swallowed and tapped his cane on the floor just to make some noise. It echoed through the room. He didn’t like being here by himself. He was used to being on his own, but that was before he was blind. He dug his cell phone out of his jeans to call Cassandra.

  Again, he got her voicemail. He hung up without leaving her a message.

  He tossed the phone across his bed. It landed with a thud on the floor. He groaned. Now, how was he going to find it? His leg prevented him from getting on his knees.

  Oh, how he wished he’d listened to Annie when she advised him to work with a vision teacher or orientation and mobility specialist. The cane had been his only concession. Saul refused the visiting nurse services provision as well.

  His stomach growled. In his mind, he pictured his refrigerator well stocked with containers of food and stood. It took him twenty minutes to reach the kitchen. He rubbed his nose. His house was now a war zone. Saul opened the door and reached inside. He felt empty space before his hands encountered something cold.

  It was a bottle, which he hoped contained water. Other than that, his fridge felt bare. He’d neglected to have his food prepared and delivered. He could find his way around a kitchen and had never worried about simple things like eating—not when he could afford anything under the sun. For the first time in his life, Saul was scared. His life as he knew it was over. He was helpless.

  He untwisted the cap and guzzled the water like it was fine wine. Within seconds, he held the empty plastic container in his hands. Suddenly enraged, he crushed it and threw it from him. He was hungry, angry, and now he had to pee.

  “Argh!!!” he screamed. “Help me!” His voice boomed into the empty space.

  Unfortunately, his nearest neighbor was a mile away. His reclusive home was… reclusive. What did I do to deserve this? In a fit of unquenchable rage, he swung his fists. Heedless to the clatter, clanging, and crashing, he destroyed whatever he touched.

  When there was nothing left that he could feel, Saul sunk to the floor heaving from his exertion. He did something he hadn’t done since Nora’s passing. Saul cried and cried and then he cried some more. Definitely not his most manly moment, but he needed the release.

  An interminable amount of time passed before his tears subsided. Saul looked upwards and croaked, “Macy, where are you?” On cue, he heard the house line ring. He knew it was on the counter and gripped the cabinet to hoist himself to his feet. The shrill sound of the telephone set him on edge. He fumbled for the cordless and answered, glad it hadn’t gone to voicemail.

  “Saul, I’m stuck in Fort Lauderdale. I caught a bug and my stomach’s acting up. I had to check into a hotel. I don’t want to take a chance and drive through Alligator Alley feeling this unsettled.” Macy stated. He heard the despondency in her tone but at the moment he was more concerned with himself.

  He gulped to keep from yelling that he needed her here right now. “Take care of yourself. I’ll manage. It’s just one night.”

  “Do you want me to call Linda?” she asked, referring to Linda Clemente, his housekeeper.

  “Her husband sprained his leg so she’s out of commission.” Saul tried to hold his dejection, but he couldn’t contain the sigh.

  “You know what? I’ll take a chance. I’ll try to come.”

  He really wanted to tell her to come but her voice sounded pained. “No. Stay where you are. Manny is due to trim the lawn in the morning. I’ll holler out for help when he comes.”

  Somewhat mollified, Macy rushed off saying the bathroom was calling. Reluctant, Saul pressed the end button.

  No Macy.

  No Cassandra.

  Just him.

  What was he going to do?

  Chapter Eight

  Annie’s favorite novel of all time was Jane Eyre. As a teen, she’d spent countless hours reading and re-reading the story. Any movie that was made about Jane Eyre, she watched. The latest one starring Michael Fassbender and Mia Wa—Annie always forgot her name - was her favorite.

  Well, fiction had now come to life for it seemed Annie had met her own Mr. Rochester. In Charlotte Bronte’s novel, Jane Eyre had been hired to take care of Mr. Rochester’s ward when they fell in love. She knew it was silly but it was like she heard him calling her. “Annie! Annie!”

  It was now 7:02 p.m. on the clock. Her usual routine included laundry and a stint in front of the television to catch up on Scandal, which she kept in her DVR. Instead, she was pushing her feet into her sneakers and searching for her keys.

  Saul had assured her that his girlfriend was coming to take care of him. She didn’t want to interrupt what must be a lover’s reunion, but he hadn’t answered her phone calls. Something within her wouldn’t settle until she’d checked on him. If she looked stupid, then so be it. It wouldn’t be the first or last time.

  Annie drove the forty-minute drive to Saul’s home. He’d given her simple directions, told her where he kept the spare key and even entrusted her with his alarm code. Annie’s eyes widened. She took a snapshot on her iPhone. Sari was wrong. He lived in a mausoleum, not a mansion. She parked her plain old Camry next to a Lexus and a Corvette and walked around the back of the house to retrieve the key from under the mat.

  She heard wails coming from inside and raced to the front to unlock the door. Her heart hammered as she moved towards the sound, unsure of what she might see.

  She saw the open refrigerator door—correction, the empty, open refrigerator door. With tentative steps, she approached. She closed the door and looked around in shock. The counters were bare. Broken glass was everywhere. In the midst of all that squalor sat Saul—looking lost and scared.

  Her feet crunched on the broken glass.

  His head swung upwards, “Annie, is that you? How did you know to come?”

  Saul spoke as if he didn’t expect an answer, almost as if he really didn’t believe she was there.

  “Yes, it’s me. I don’t know why I came. I know from experience how difficult the first night home can be for many patients and I decided to check on you,” she said. Yeah right. She wasn’t crazy enough to share her Jane Eyre moment.

  “You’re here? I’ve never been so happy to hear someone’s voice in all my life,” He exaggerated as he reached for her.

  Annie’s heart skipped a beat. She bent to cup his hand into hers understanding his need to make human contact. When their hands joined, it felt right. She looked into his unseeing eyes and said, “I’m here.” And, I’m not going anywhere, she added to herself.

  ***

  “What’s Saul Sweeterman doing here?” Sari whispered, pointing to the large man asleep on their couch. She slurred his name as if she were referencin
g a contagious disease.

  Annie paused from packing the reusable grocery bag and greeted her friend with a sheepish smile. Sari had just ended her shift. Annie replied, “I gave him his pain meds which knocked him out. Don’t worry, he’s not staying. I just needed to grab my clothes and some food to hold us over until tomorrow.”

  Sari put her hands on her hips and looked at Annie as if she were crazy. “Are you listening to yourself? When’s the wedding? Because at the rate you’re going, you two will be married in a month.”

  “I know this all seems crazy, but I’m not cuckoo,” she defended. “And he has a girlfriend.”

  Saul stirred on the couch, but didn’t awaken. Annie placed a finger over her lips and tilted her head towards her bedroom. Sari nodded and stomped inside.

  “I promise you that I’m in my right mind,” Annie began again, “But, I’m going with the flow and helping someone in need.”

  “He’s rich and wants for nothing in this world. What could he possibly need?”

  “A friend,” Annie supplied. “He needs one of those.”

  Sari grunted. She marched over to the nightstand to get a post-it note and a pen. “Write the address here and all of his phone numbers. I want to be sure that if my black friend goes missing, I know where to send the police.”

  Annie popped her hand over her mouth before saying, “Oh my goodness, what do you think he’s going to do to me? I assure you, I’m safe with him. ”

  “I watch Criminal Minds… I’m just saying be careful. It’s always the handsome ones.” When she pulled out her cell phone and left the room, Annie trailed behind.

  She watched with something akin to horror as Sari snapped a few pictures of him before shoving her phone in her pocket. She patted her pants, “Evidence.”