I'm Blind Not Fragile

Chapter 13

We followed the doorman inside. Howard puts his hand on the small of my back and leads me after the doorman. Its not long before we are led into a populated room. I hear the voices of two men and a woman.

Ah, Mr. Lewis! Thank you for coming, welcome to my home. One of the men said while sounding gruff and welcoming at the same time. 

Mr. Chamberlin, thank you for inviting me to your beautiful home. May I introduce my daughter Gertrude. I smile a very convincing, but still fake, smile, making sure I am looking in the direction I heard his voice come from. 

Oh where are my manners? This is my son Hans and my daughter Elizabeth. Howard leads me forward and shakes Mr. Chamberlins hand. Mr. Chamberlin then proceeds to shake my hand. It is then taken by a much larger and calloused hand, belonging to whom I assume is Hans. Next is Elizabeth with slender fingers will small calluses and she smelled faintly of paint. I find myself wondering what shes wearing, I imagine a t-shirt and paint splattered jeans. I send her a real smile as I shake her hand. 

What are you looking at? Elizabeth asks, because i must be a bit off on where I thought she was.

Absolutely nothing. I respond, which Howard hears and threateningly tightens his hand on my waste. 

What my daughter means is she doesn't see anything at all, shes blind. Howard covers while his hand tightens on me once again

Im sorry about my impoliteness. I assumed you knew, and that was my attempt at some dry humor. I cover, if only to get Howard to loosen his grip.

Oh its alright, I do recall your father mentioning your blindness now. Mr. Chamberlin chuckled, Can you find your way around all right? I notice you don't have a cane with you.

She thought it would clash with her outfit, so she didn't bring it Howard lies.

Yes father, we both know how obsessed with my appearance. I say with enough double meanings that Im sure Howards eyes hardened.

Well Howard we really should get about business? We will see you children at dinner? he asks

I am no child Hans growls. There was a pause. I could sense the tension that was thick enough to cut with a butter knife until Howard and Mr. Chamberlin walked away.

Hi, You can call me Liz if you want. Elizabeth just sounds way to formal. Liz declares

You can call me Raine

Raine? She asks obviously confused as that is nowhere near my birth name

Its my middle name I explain

So Raine, how old are you?

Im 17, but my birthday is Monday. I repeat the lie I was instructed to tell.

OMG! Im 18 too.

And how old are you Hans? I inquire. But after doing so I hear Liz take a deep breath.

What? He asks, sounding thoroughly pissed off. But I push anyway

How old are yo-? I start to repeat

Excuse me? He demands. His tone is implies danger and punishment. Who did Howard say these people were? Oh right, he didnt.

Here let me guess, 21? 22? I push and push, sometimes I think it would be safer to just put my foot in my mouth.

Im 19 He grunts

Huh, you sound older. I observe. Hans walks away, without bothering to say goodbye. Rude.

Wow, I thought for sure he was going to kill you for talking to him. Liz states with a little too much seriousness for my liking.

So you're an artist I ask to change the subject

Actually yeah, howd you know?

I can smell paint, and when we shook hands earlier you had calluses in the common spots of where a paintbrush would lie. I explain

Wow she says with an unreadable tone

What? I ask to clarify

Do I really smell like paint? She whines and I hear her sniff herself. I chuckle

Not to the untrained nose. I treasure

Thank God. Dinners about to begin in 5 minutes. She observes

Well before it officially starts, could you escort me to the bathroom, Liz? I ask shyly.

Of course, she says and without hesitation she links her arm in my mine and starts leading me toward the bathroom. Once there I step inside and close the door. I didn't actually need to use the bathroom, I just needed some time to myself.

I stood in the bathroom that smelled like cleaning supplies and feared the consequences that were lined up for me when I got home. God I'm such an idiot talking against Howard like that. Stupid stupid stupid. Once I collected myself I open the door and wait for Liz to guide me back.

I pause when I don't smell her familiar paint smell. Instead my nose is greeted with a mix of metal, old spice, and surprisingly a dash of salt. 

Hans, I call out, Hans is that you? 

Yes. Come, dinner is about to start.