Page 20 of Storm in a Teacup
Understanding dawns on me. “Not the kind that eating a bunch of carrots would help, I guess?”
She snorts. “No. The kind where the cones in my eyes are mutating and killing the rods.”
“Non-technical speak, please.”
She narrows her eyes. “Didn’t we all learn about rods and cones in school? Rods help you see in the dark, cones help you see colors. So, no rods, or limited rods in my case, equals poor sight in the dark.”
“Got it. That sucks.”
“It does suck,” she agrees.
“So, how’s your vision in the daylight?”
“Not terrible. Yet. However, my eye doctor advised me to stop driving a few years ago. I only started to listen after I got in a minor car accident. I hit a car I should have seen.” She waves that away like it doesn’t upset her. I can tell it does. “Um, in addition to the night blindness, it starts with loss of peripheral vision and moves inward. So, as my vision gets worse, it’s like the world is shrinking around me. It’s called Retinitis Pigmentosa.”
I blow out a puff of air. “Damn. I’m sorry, Linny. That really sucks.”
She grimaces. “Nah, it’s great. I’m having a real fun time withit.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, that’s what I mean. I want Mel to have a good time, so I don’t want to need her to hold my hand when I can’t see. I don’t think I’d even care as much if my ex wasn’t going to be there. He’s just going to make it worse. He’s always so…someanabout it.” She covers her face with both hands. “And Mel told me he’s bringing his current girlfriend, so that’ll be even better.”
My ears perk up at that. “You’re allowed to bring partners?”
Face still covered, she confirms, “Yeah, since it’s combined, they’re good with a giant group terrorizing the streets of London.”
“I’ll come with.”
Her hands drop. “Excuse me?”
“If you want. I mean, you know me.”
“Sort of,” she interrupts.
I plow on. “I know the deal now. I’ll hold your hand. It’s only fair because you held mine yesterday.”
“You don’t want to come to London with me next weekend.”
“I do.”
“You literally just opened a café. Isla will not be pleased if you leave.”
“The café will be fine.” With my fingers, I tick off all the reasons this is true. “I don’t work on Saturdays. I’ll make up Isla’s missed day off on Sunday some day during the week. We have two other employees. One of them, Scott, is my backup baker. And it’ll be a weekend, so Rachel can lend a hand if need be.” Linny still looks doubtful, so I add, “I’m sure she was already planning to hang about. Rachel can bake too. I’ll need to prep the dough and anything, but she’s a good baker. She’s been bugging me to help out in the kitchen, anyway.”
She shakes her head. “Ben, we hardly know each other. And,to be clear, I am not looking to date you. Or anyone.”
“Neither am I. This would be strictly platonic.” I won’t let her deter me. “Do you need references? I can give you references. Or, one reference, but I can find more if I need to.”
“What references?”
“Can you leave the shop for a sec?”
“I don’t know…”
I crane my head around and call, “Carolyn? May I borrow our dear Melinda for a half hour?”
Carolyn calls back, “Sure, love. Just make sure to not let Fergus out when you leave. I’ve been waiting for him to come see me all day.”
This is the second time I’ve heard her reference that name. I mouth to Linny, “Whois Fergus?”
She says, “Fergus is a kilt-clad ghost. Ignore it.” I’m not sure I want to ignore that. “Fine. Where are we going?”
