They paid for the glasses and received a pretty pink case to protect them when Lilly wasn’t wearing them, and made an appointment for a check-up in six months. Outside in the sunshine, Lilly bounced around, looking up close at everything she passed. She bent down and looked at the flowers in the garden bed bordering the driveway of the hospital. Delilah’s heart swelled with pride as she watched the little girl discover a totally new way of looking at her young world.
Blake was going to be so thankful he had finally overcome his fears. She would be a new girl, learning to read and write without the hurdle of not being able to focus on what was in front of her.
“Look, Delilah, I can see the funny shapes on the butterflies wings. Aren’t they pretty?”
Emotion threatened to swamp her as she watched Lilly discovering things that were merely a blur to her before. She leaned against the side of the car and waited until she had her fill of the garden, and then helped her into the car seat for the short trip to the local café.
Delilah reversed parked the vehicle and grinned when she saw Sara in the mirror waiting at a table outside sitting next to a small dark-haired girl around Lilly’s age. “This is going to be fun, honey. I could do with a nice big cup of real coffee for a change.” She helped a suddenly shy Lilly from the car and held her hand as they made their way to the sidewalk.
“Delilah, so good to see you.” Sara hugged her and then looked down at Lilly. “Oh my, what beautiful glasses you have.” She crouched down and tilted her head as the child bit her lip, shyness overwhelming her. “Do you remember Tara, Lilly? You used to play together a lot when you were younger. Why don’t I order you young ladies a milkshake each and you can go and get to know each other again? That park is calling for you to go and discover it. We’ll sit here and watch you. Does that sound like a good idea?”
Lilly nodded her head and Tara came and took her hand, walking to the park next to the café.
“If we sit outside we can watch the girls. I know it’s hotter out here but they would be bored inside and, if they’re happily playing, we can talk.”
“Lovely, Sara. Works for me.” Del took a seat, watching the girls giggling together already as young girls did.
The waitress came out and they placed their orders before finally relaxing and sitting back in their chairs.
“So, I guess you decided it was worth taking Lilly into the optician for a check up without Blake knowing about it then?”
“Oh no, we talked about it and he finally agreed. Poor guy, nobody likes to think their children aren’t perfect and he was scared, but he has come to terms with it okay.”
“That’s good news then. All’s well that ends well.”
Del laughed. “At the time I didn’t think so, but once he explained his reasons I have to say I felt for him. Poor man was scarred by family history and he knew it was wrong of him, but it’s all worked out for the best now and that’s the main thing.” She smiled as Lilly squealed while sliding down the slide behind her friend.
“I’m so glad. It’s just a shame this didn’t happen when his wife was alive. Never mind, it’s done now. You can tell me to mind my own business but I have to ask, are you and Blake…you know…getting close, by any chance?”
Del looked up. There was no maliciousness in Sara’s eyes, just genuine concern and interest. “It’s not that easy.”
The waitress brought out their order and placed it on the table before leaving them alone again.
“Love never is. At least not that I’ve noticed anyway.” Sara smiled sadly and looked over at the girls playing. “I had to fight like hell for Jonas to marry me. We were both so in love, so it wasn’t as if it was just me, but I wasn’t the right person according to his family. From the poor side of the tracks and all that bullshit.”
“Oh no, I’m sorry. That sounds awful.”
“Yeah it was. His father has mellowed over the years seeing how happy Jonas is, but his mother is the worst. She still hasn’t accepted me even though she tells everyone she has. Every little chance she gets, there will be a barbed comment thrown in my direction.” She grimaced and Del felt a pang of pain for her. “Jonas thinks I’m making too much of it, but I know that’s not the case. It’s Tara I feel sorry for. My sister-in-law’s kids get more attention than my daughter. The price I have to pay for bucking the system, I guess.”
“That’s just awful. Surely your husband can see what she’s doing?”
“Yes he can, but he says I should ignore it like he does. It’s not worth the grief, he reckons.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Some days I can, others I’m a little bit too sensitive. But enough about me, tell me about you and Blake.” Sara sipped her coffee and waited.
“We get on really well. It’s kind of scary how well and just how soon we hit it off. I’m sure he wondered what happened when Sue rung him and told him she had a nanny for him, and then he saw me.” She laughed at the memory. “There I was, in a pale lemon pencil skirt and matching stilettos, stumbling out the door spilling hot tea over myself.” A dreamy heat washed over her face. “And there he was, complaining about my shoes while he held my hand under the tap on his truck to cool the burn.”
“Aww, what a sweetheart!”
“Yeah,
