Page 45 of Champagne Nights

“Mom, we aren’t supposed to talk about that,” Lila chimed in.

“Aren’t supposed to talk about what?” Ethan asked as he set the beer bottle down in front of me.

“The accident I had the other day with my car,” Lila spoke nervously.

“You were in an accident?” Ethan asked.

“Not really. I just backed up too far and hit the brick on the garage. I feel really stupid about it and don’t want it talked about.”

“You should. How the hell did you do that?” Ethan chuckled.

“Like I said, we aren’t supposed to talk about it, so drop it.”

I let out a light laugh.

“By the way, where’s Kenny?” Ethan asked.

“He’s on his way. Why? Do you miss him or something?”

“No. It’s just the two of you are like Siamese twins. It’s weird just seeing half of you.”

“Shut up, Ethan.” Lila laughed.

As I sat there and listened to the banter between him and his sister, I kept wondering what his mom said about me being the first girl he had brought around “since.” But what really piqued my curiosity was that Lila said they weren’t supposed to talk about it. How long had it been? Two years? Three years? Was she the reason he said he never wanted a family? The more time I spent with him, the more questions I had. He was a very closed-off man, that much I already knew, and I had a feeling that he wasn’t going to tell me anything about his past.

“Do you work, Aubrey?” Nancy asked.

“Yes. I teach English Literature over at Roosevelt High.”

“Wow. How wonderful. How long have you been teaching?”

“This is my second year.”

“That’s amazing. Good for you, honey.” She patted my hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get some things prepped for dinner.”

“May I help with something?”

“No, honey. You’re a guest in our home. You just sit there and relax. There’s not much to do.”

The one thing people didn’t understand about the visually impaired was that we were capable of doing everything that those with sight could. I often wondered that when people told me just to sit and relax, it was their way of not trusting me. That was the biggest obstacle in my life since I lost my sight. People believed that because I couldn’t see, I couldn’t do. Their non-belief fueled me to do everything I could and more to the best of my ability all these years.

“Ethan, come in the house with me. I got a new set of golf clubs the other day that I want to show you.”

“Sure, Dad. I’ll be back, Aubrey,” he spoke to me.

“Okay. I’ll be here.” I smiled.

“So, how did you and my brother meet?” Lila asked.

“We met at an art gallery where my best friend was having her first art exhibition. He asked me out, and I told him no. Then he asked my friend, the artist, for my number. She refused to give it to him but told him where I go on Saturday mornings.”

“Where do you go?”

“I go to Shakespeare Garden in Central Park to read for a couple of hours. I was sitting there the next morning, and he claimed he was taking a stroll.”

Lila let out a loud laugh. “My brother? Taking a stroll? You didn’t buy that, did you?”

“No.” I smiled. “I invited him over for dinner, and we had a nice night. Then, last night, we ran into each other again at his friend’s party.”

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