Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 138334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 692(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 692(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
His eyes were so much better. Already there was a small slit of light beginning to show itself at the bottom of his eyes. Dr. Bouet had told him that was to be expected and to keep putting the thick salve in and wear the darkest possible glasses. Eventually that light would grow until it would be visible throughout his eye.
It was just that—he couldn’t protect Meiling properly. She was always in the position of having to protect him. He didn’t like that. He felt less than a man.
Slayer stirred a little lazily. There is no danger nearby. I would let you know.
Gedeon was moody and bad-tempered. Out of sorts. It sucked that Slayer was calm and unruffled. He couldn’t even blame his bad mood on his leopard. Meiling took his arm and led him to the stairs.
“Seven stairs, Gedeon,” she told him, placing his hand on the wrought-iron guardrail.
He felt for the first step. Meiling didn’t leave his side, stepping down with him. She gave him room, but she stayed close, mirroring his steps. He had never been more aware that she was very small and felt delicate and fragile.
“I don’t want to fall on you, Lotus. You might want to step back and wait to see if I can get to the bottom of the stairs without mishap.” He didn’t mean to sound snarly and growly, but he wasn’t taking chances with her either.
Meiling didn’t give him one of her smart-mouth replies. She stepped back, but she didn’t go up the stairs or down them. She just gave him more room. He made it down the stairs without a problem. That gave him a feeling of triumph. Meiling tucked her hand in the crook of his arm as if he was walking her rather than the other way around. Together they began to make the trek to Decatur Street and the original Café Du Monde.
They weren’t in a hurry. There was no one around at that time of morning and the two of them could appreciate the quiet as they made their way through the streets together. The slight wind was capricious, rushing first one way and then the next, carrying drops from the river toward them to touch their faces with refreshing dew.
Gedeon found he really enjoyed being outside after being cooped up for so long. Stars glittered in the sky. The moon glowed, casting a silvery light that managed to find the slit that lit up the tiny, minuscule area below his eye that he could make out even with his nearly blackout glasses. That gave him a sense of joy.
“There’s a full moon, isn’t there?”
“There is.”
Her voice contained happiness. He knew it was for him. He realized there were so many things he got from her that he’d never had from another human being. Genuine caring. Genuine giving. She rejoiced in his progress—found real happiness in it. She never seemed to take exception when he was out of sorts and yelled at her. More than anything, she became amused at those times. She found a way to make him laugh.
“I can see this little tiny white line at the bottom of each eye,” he admitted. “It isn’t much, but it wasn’t there before.” He poured satisfaction into his voice. “Don’t say you’re proud of me, Lotus, for enduring. I know how you are. You’re going to be sweet and act like I’ve been a great patient.”
She laughed those musical notes that told him she belonged in New Orleans. “You can get testy, but it doesn’t last long. Seriously, Gedeon, you’ve been great about your eyes.”
“Not so much when I began to see progress,” he admitted, because he knew rather than being ashamed of him, she would find his reaction hilarious. He wanted her laughter. “I tried staring at every conceivable object in an effort to widen the space so I could see more. All that did was make my eyes burn to the point I had to put cool cloths on them. I called Bouet and told him it was an emergency, that he needed to come right away. I hung up so he couldn’t ask me questions.”
“That poor man. Leopard Boy in full-blown arrogant get-whatever-you-want mode.”
He nodded, not bothering to deny it. “It gets so much worse, babe.”
She groaned and rubbed her head against his arm. “Why do these people put up with you?”
“Notice I had the Ming vase put away for safety. You’re beginning to rub off on Rene. But I still can intimidate Dr. Bouet. I threatened him.”
“Don’t sound like you’re happy about it.” She punched him hard. “The last thing you need to do is scare off your doctors. You’re going to get a reputation.”
“I have a reputation and you’ve systematically been ruining it.”
“Only with Rene. I cast my eyes down and look appropriately frightened when you roar in front of anyone else.”