Living Alone Together - Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight.

So that was it. The silent creeper took over her Pa's sight. Glaucoma. It wasn't something that had symptoms. It's just something that consumed you. Had Pa gotten his regular check-ups, an ophthalmologist could have prevented the practical blindness that took over him. Pa could only see through, what he described as, a little hole in a fluffy white cloud.

She let a few tears escape when she got to the office the next morning.

It was Wednesday. Cora was moving her stuff in today. It was the perfect timing, too. Considering it should be a huge load off her family budget if she moved into Pa's house.

Pa was getting irritable by the day, mainly due to the frustration of having to be dependent on others whenever he stepped outside his bedroom. Because of this, he opted to stay in his room and brood over the hourly news report.

Aislinn tried to keep things as normal as possible. They would get past this. They just needed to make some sacrifices and changes to help Pa.

A few more tears escaped her eyes as she sat at her desk. Tears she couldn't shed when she was at home. Tears of empathy for Pa who was more sociable than the twins combined. Tears of frustration of not being able to cure her Grandfather.

"You alright, Aislinn?" William's breath hitting the back of her neck startled her.

All she could do to answer was shake her head.

"Want to talk about it?"

She shook her head softly, "Not right now, thanks."

"I'm here if you need to talk," he offered with a half-smile on his face. He walked around to the front of her desk and gave her an appraising look.
"Thanks William," she sniffled and booted her PC up.
"I am here, you know."
"I know," she nodded once.
"In this office..." he suggested.
"Yes.. I know."
"Even if it doesn't have anything to do with your tears."
She rolled her eyes, "Ok..."

"Maybe if you wanted to share some of your dreams with me..." he smiled at her obviously wanting her to crack a smile.
"Enough. Go away, William." She said shooing him away with the wave of her hand and a crooked smile.
"Aha! Finally. She smiles."
"Get to work, William."
"But..."
"But you need coffee?"
"Does a fish need water?"
"Ha ha," she said dryly as she got out of her chair and waved him into his office.

William wasn't in his office when she dropped off his first cup of the day.

When he got back from a run to the café next door, for food - not coffee, he found his fresh cup of coffee.
Taking a sip, his eye caught on the napkin on the saucer that read "Thank you, W" with a smiling face.
He definitely did not like to see Aislinn crying. It made something inside of him want to protect her from whatever was hurting her at that moment.
Where did this over-protectiveness come from, he wasn't sure. He just knew he had to act on it.

A small smile was a good start.
Hopefully.

Rushing to his next appointment, he didn't see Aislinn until it was almost time to leave.

"What? Tomorrow?" He heard her say to someone on the line.
"Cor... I don't like blind-"
"I know, but-"
"How do you know he's not an ax murd-"
"Cor..."
Aislinn sighed a lot.

Sounded like she was getting hooked up by her sister. And by the sound of her slamming the phone in the cradle, it didn't seem like she wanted to be matched.

"Hot date tomorrow, Ace?"
"Ace?" she asked, ignoring his impertinent question.
"I figured it rolls off the tongue faster."
"Uh... ok."
"Of course I have a special name for you, but I'm saving it for special occasions."
"What are you talking-" her mouth formed an "O" with the realization of what he meant.
"Dreamweaver?" she asked.
"Yeah."
"Did you know that my name means Dreamer?"
"Funny how that works out, huh?"
"Mmm..." She sat thoughtfully.
"So... If you don't mind my asking... What was making my Dreamweaver cry?"

She shrugged and looked away from him unable to make eye contact.
He walked on her side of the desk and touched her cheek softly with a knuckle.
Tears began to flow freely. She let them.
He hushed her sniffles, and wiped away her tears - never telling her to stop.
When she suddenly thought about how ridiculous she probably looked, she broke into teary laughter.

His eyebrows crumpled, "What are you laughing about?"
She burst out in what sounded like a cry, whine and shout mixed together.
"Nothing- Everything. I don't know. Just.. Thank you, William. Again."
"I told you, you can talk to met. What's got you so down?"
"I just think sometimes... it would be nice to have someone to share your thoughts with, you know?"
"You've got family, no?"

He didn't get it, she thought.

"Never mind."

She dabbed at her damp cheeks with the sleeve of her sweater. He still stood before her, but leaned against her desk.

"You feel like you're missing out on having someone special in your life to help you deal with the things that are troubling you?" he offered.
"Yes..." she nodded.
"Does this have anything to do with someone setting you up on a date tomorrow?"
"Not really... But- Wait... were you listening in on my phone call?"
"I couldn't help it... sorry," he apologized as his cheeks, the parts that were healed and not so purple, reddened with guilt.

She fiddled with the hem of the sweater's sleeve.

Looking up at him again, she asked, "Did I ever tell you that my Grandfather raised my sister and I?"
"No," he answered, wondering if she would continue to crack open this tiny hole into her life.
"Ever since we lost everyone in our lives, our grandparents were the ones who took care of us. Six years ago, it was just us: Pa, Cora and me. Pa is so independent. I don't want him to lose that."
"What would make him lose his independence?"
"He can barely see anymore. We can't leave him unattended. And I will NOT put him in a home. He's family and he belongs at home, not in a home." She banged her fist on the desk with emphasis on "he belongs at home".

He reached for the abused hand and smoothed it out.

"We'll make this work, Aislinn."
"I want to believe you."
"Then do it," he challenged.

Releasing her hand from his grasp, she busied herself with cleaning up her desk.
"You make it sound so easy."
"A difficult situation doesn't always have to be difficult. You want someone on the outside to help you deal with things you feel aren't in your control? I'm here."
"William, be serious."
"I'm perfectly serious, Ace."
"And what would you do?"
"We'll work on it together. Like it's another one of our presentations. Surely we can come up with the answers needed to keep Pa from falling into depression, his care giving needs."
"You make it sound so easy," she countered once more.
"It is when you organize your thoughts," he replied, "Oh, and by the way, you already said that."

Standing, she huffed and shoved her writing utensils into the holder.

"Aislinn, really... I want to help," he said, gently holding on to the crook of her elbow.
Her facial expression lightened as she truthfully confessed, "And I'm so tempted to take you up on the offer."
"Then... do it, Ace."
"You're sweet, William but who knows maybe I'll meet the man of my dreams tomorrow."
"Blind date?" He asked, remembering the phone call that irritated Aislinn earlier.
"Yea."
"Funny," he thought aloud.
"What is?" She asked.
"Oh, nothing."

Frowning, she wondered what he could possibly be thinking about. But because he didn't share, she was forced to change the subject.
Standing face to face, she lifted her index finger against the dark purple patch of skin on his face.
"Did you get this checked?" She asked as he winced.
"Yeah, I did. A few more days."
"Good thing you have Damien to take over your meetings until then. It's also a good thing your sister's stopped setting you up. You mentioned the other week that she set you up on your last one, right?"
"Every day is a 'last' one," he replied rolling his eyes skyward.

She laughed softly.

"She means well."
"I know."

Picking up her bag, Aislinn bade William a "Good night!", not really wanting to put an end to their chat, but needing to.

"Good night, Ace. Sweet dreams!" He added, chuckling softly as she walked away.

A smile crossed her lips. If he only knew, she thought.