Seeing the Love by Sofia Grey Page B

together. Well that fell through, as you may imagine. I was off work for months, and he didn’t cope very well. He couldn’t stand how my body looked, and so he found a new girlfriend. One that was happy to wear skimpy clothes, and who didn’t freak out at the idea of driving anywhere.” She gave a short, bitter laugh. “I’d convinced myself that, when you saw me, you’d run in the opposite direction. Or worse, we’d have a painfully humiliating drink together, while you tried to figure out how to escape.”
    She was uncomfortably close to the truth, and Lucas felt guilty. “Yeah,” he said. “I thought that’s how it would happen, except the other way around—if you know what I mean.” He reflected how good it felt to be holding her hand. Something he hadn’t done with anyone since he’d been married. “I’ve been losing my sight since my late teens. It’s a genetic condition, inherited from my mother. My real mother. I’m adopted, and so is Sarah.”
    “You look so alike.”
    He shrugged. “Pure chance. Anyway, my wife left me when it became apparent that, not only was I never going to have full sight, but I would also go completely blind. I have a little vision left, but not much.” He felt Natalie’s hand tense beneath his own. “I would love to be able to see you, but you’re just a vague blurred shape in this bright sunlight. It’s like looking through a straw. I use modified equipment at work that magnifies my screen, and I use the same at home, which is how I can e-mail.”
    “That’s why you don’t like texting?” Her voice was husky.
    “Nah. I never liked texting anyway.” Natalie’s skin was soft. He shifted his hand to lace their fingers together. It felt surprisingly right. Lucas blew out a breath. He’d told her and she hadn’t run away.
    “You must have thought me so rude. Your sister hates me.”
    “Sarah looks out for me. We’re pretty close.”
    They sat together quietly for a few minutes and sipped their drinks. Molly grunted in her sleep under the table, and Natalie giggled. “You’re right, she does snore.”
    “Oh this is nothing. Believe me.” He smiled at Natalie, wishing he could see if she was smiling back. There were suddenly so many things he wanted to say. He was curious about her. Was she really skipping the conference, or might she stay now?
    “Are you doing anything after this?” She sounded hesitant.
    He’d need to call Sarah but was otherwise free for the afternoon. “Sure. What are you thinking of?”
    “My father has a small permanent exhibition here in Wellington. I can’t remember the name of the gallery, but it’s just a little way around the waterfront.”
    “A gallery? Are you serious? What am I supposed to do? Soak up the ambience?” He couldn’t keep the hurt out of his voice and expected her to apologize instantly.
    She didn’t. “It’s a lot to ask, but will you trust me on this? It’s special. Not all works of art are meant just for the eyes.”

Chapter Fourteen
    Natalie held Lucas’s free hand, and they strolled along the waterfront in the afternoon sunshine, much like a regular couple, apart from Molly’s bright yellow harness. They chattered idly about their colleagues at work, and Natalie got the impression Lucas was as reserved in the office as she was.
    She guided him into the gallery and along echoing corridors, to pause just inside the doorway of her father’s hall. “This is it,” she murmured. “Take two steps forward, and then stop. I’m going to hold your hand.”
    He hesitated but complied. She lifted their linked hands to the first statue, and pressed his palm against it. “Can I take Molly, so you can use both hands?”
    “Sure.” He reached out and touched the piece of sculpture, and a frown spread across his face. “What is it?”
    “It’s called Dreamtime , and it’s inspired by the Aborigines. To look at, it’s a tall, twisted piece of art, but it’s designed to be touched, not gazed