Chapter 39
Chapter Thirty-Nine
TWO MONTHS LATER
Aubrey
Life was a huge adjustment after the operation, and to this day, I still found myself closing my eyes every once in a while so that I could go back to the world that made me who I had become. With each sun that rose, my eyesight and the clarity of the world became better. One of my best times was shopping with Penelope for new clothes and shoes. I would admit that my taste in style had changed now that I had sight. Ethan took me to Shakespeare Garden a couple of days after I returned home; it was exactly how I visualized it. It still gave me a sense of peace, and before the weather had turned too cold, Ethan and I would go every Saturday morning with our coffees in hand, where we sit on a blanket in the grass, and I would read while he laid his head on my lap and listened. When I returned to school a week after my operation, my students overwhelmed me with their kindness by throwing me a welcome-back party. To see their bright, smiling faces was pure joy.
It was now December, and I awoke earlier than usual for a Saturday morning. I needed to use the bathroom, so I carefully rolled out from under Ethan’s arm and quietly walked across the room. When I was finished, I walked over to the bedroom window and peeked through the curtains. My eyes widened, and I let out a loud sound.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan quickly sat up.
“Oh my God!” I cupped my mouth with my hand.
“What? Aubrey, are you okay?” he asked in a panicked voice.
“It’s snowing!” I exclaimed as I looked over at him.
He fell back down and pulled the sheet over him. Going into his closet, where I kept some of my clothes, I quickly pulled on a pair of leggings and an oversized cream-colored cable knit sweater.
“What are you doing?” he asked as he opened one eye.
“I’m going outside.” I pulled on my socks.
“Sweetheart, we’ll go later. I promise. Come back to bed.”
“Fuck later, Ethan. It’s snowing, and for the first time, I can see it. I’m going now!”
Walking over to the bed, I kissed his forehead. “Go back to sleep.”
I raced down the stairs to the front door and put on my tall boots and winter coat. Stepping outside on the porch, I looked out into the city covered in a white blanket. Soft, large flakes hit my face as I made my way down the steps. It brought back a memory I had when I was six years old. I sat on the steps and watched as the flakes hit the ground and stuck to it. A few moments later, Ethan took a seat next to me.
“I told you to go back to sleep.” I smiled.
“How could I, knowing how excited you were about the snow.” He kissed my cheek and took my hand.
“I remember when I was a kid, my father traveled to Colorado for a business trip and was stuck there for a couple of days due to a snowstorm that hit. When he returned, I asked him to tell me all about the snow. He reached into his bag and pulled out a snow globe, turned it upside down, and told me that’s what it looked like. I’ll never forget how I just sat and stared at it. When it was done, I shook it again, over and over. He told me that he’d take me up to the mountains one day to see it. We never did get around to making that trip.”
“Well, now you see it. Is it as beautiful as you thought it would be?”
“It is.” I grinned.
Ethan brought my hand up to his lips. “I have an idea. Let’s walk down to Starbucks and get some coffee.”
“Seriously?” My face lit up.
“Yeah. Just let me change first. I’ll be right back.” He jumped up and went inside.
When he returned, I laced my fingers in his, and we walked in the snow to get some coffee. This day was as perfect as could be.
Later that night, Ethan told me we were going out but wouldn’t tell me where. He said it was a surprise and not to ruin it by asking so many questions. We originally had plans with Charles and Lexi, but Ethan canceled them, which I thought was rude, but he didn’t seem to care. As I put the final touches on my makeup, Ethan stood next to me, shaving, looking as sexy as he always did. I glared at him.
“What?” He looked at me through the mirror with a narrowing eye.
“I still can’t believe you canceled our dinner plans with Charles and Lexi.”
“Are you still bothered by that?”
“Yes.”
“Well, don’t be. Charles said it was perfectly fine, and we’ll get together next weekend.”
“I still think it was rude.”
“I know you do because you keep telling me that.” He smirked.
“So whatever you have planned better be worth canceling on our friends at the last minute.”
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Won’t we?” He winked.
His smug attitude was getting on my nerves.
“Since you won’t tell me where we’re going, I don’t know what to wear.”
“I’ve already laid out your clothes on the bed. Dammit!” He nicked his face.
“Are you okay?”
He sighed. “Yeah.” He reached for a tissue.
“I would say that was karma getting you back for canceling on our friends.” I smiled as I patted his ass and walked out of the bathroom.
Walking into the bedroom, I saw a pair of jeans and a pink sweater lying on the bed. I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that he picked out my clothes for me.
“Are you ready?” he asked as he stood by the door with his hand on the knob.
“Yes.” I smiled. “Let’s go.”
Harry pulled up to the curb in front of a donut shop, and Ethan climbed out and opened the door for me.
“So, you canceled dinner with our friends so we could get some donuts?” I smirked.
“Very funny, Aubrey.” He held out his arm for me.
Hooking mine around his, we walked down the snow-covered street and over a block until we reached one of the entrances to Central Park. I was so busy looking at how pretty the city was covered in snow that I didn’t even notice the horse and carriage that was in front of me.
“Your carriage awaits you, my princess.” Ethan smiled.
“Wait. We’re going on a horse and carriage ride?”
“We are.” He nodded. “Through Central Park.”
“Why?” I asked as I climbed into the carriage.
“Because it’s been snowing all day, and the park is really beautiful covered in snow. Since you are so weirdly excited about seeing it, what better way than sitting in a carriage?” He smiled.
“So this is why you canceled our plans with Charles and Lexi.” I placed my hand on his cheek.
“Do you forgive me?”
“I do forgive you, Mr. Klein.” My lips brushed against his.
Central Park was a blanket of white and truly a sight that I would never take for granted, from the covered pathways to the snow-topped trees and the lightly snow-covered street lamps that glistened from afar. I held on to Ethan tight as he wrapped his arm around me, taking in the beautiful scenery that could easily be a picture on a Christmas card. I was so happy and so in love with him, and tonight was the perfect date night. He took something he knew excited me and turned it into something I would never forget.
The carriage stopped when we approached Shakespeare Garden, and Ethan climbed out. Holding his hand out to me, I placed mine in his, and we began to take a stroll.
“I thought maybe you’d like to see Shakespeare Garden covered in snow.” He smiled.
“It’s so pretty, Ethan. Thank you for doing this for me.” I laid my head on his shoulder.
“You’re welcome. I’d do anything for you.” His lips pressed against my head.
We approached the area where we used to sit every Saturday morning before it got too cold to come anymore, and Ethan took his glove-covered hand and wiped away the snow from a bench.
“Have a seat,” he spoke.
As soon as I sat down, he took hold of both my hands and got down on his knees.
“Aubrey, I just wanted to tell you that I love you so much and couldn’t imagine my life without you. You have taken me to a whole new level of living. My world was so dark before I met you, and you drove that darkness away with one smile. You are the most beautiful woman in the world, both inside and out. I’m a changed man because of you, and I’m who I’m supposed to be. I’m the man who is going to love you for the rest of your life. Will you marry me, Aubrey?” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small blue velvet box, opened the lid, and held up the most beautiful diamond ring I’d ever imagined.
My hand flew to my mouth in shock as my heart pounded out of my chest.
“Yes! Yes, Ethan. I will marry you.” My eyes filled with tears.
With a smile, he placed the ring on my finger and brought it up to his lips, then picked me up from the bench, kissed my mouth, and swung me around.
“Do you know how happy you’ve made me?” he asked with excitement.
“I hope as happy as you’ve made me.”
“I love you so much, Aubrey, and I promise to love you forever.”
“And I promise to love you forever, Ethan.”
Our lips locked tightly together as we stood under the light snow that trickled down from the sky and gently landed on us, and our first passionate kiss as an engaged couple would never be forgotten.
Ethan
Aubrey and I were married seven months later in Central Park. She was a stunning bride, and I had never seen a more beautiful woman in my entire life. She lit up my world so brightly and gave me the most precious gift of all: her love.
Shortly after we were married, we opened up a school in Manhattan called Klein School for the Blind. It was divided into two sections. One section was for children and their education, and the other was for people who had lost their sight at a later age and needed help learning how to live their daily lives as a visually impaired person. With the help of my astounding tech team, we continued to develop new technology to make the lives of those who couldn’t see easier and the world a better place to live.
Aubrey, my company, and the school were everything I needed in life. Or so I thought until the day she told me that I was going to be a father and later when I held my daughter in my arms for the first time. She was the spitting image of her mother, right down to her cute little button nose. They were my existence, and I thanked God every day for putting me in Aubrey’s path. If it weren’t for her, I would still be a lost soul in a dark world, living a life with no meaning.
Thank you for reading A Beautiful Sight. I hope you enjoyed it!