Kathy started the shower for him and showed him where the towels and other bath items were before she left him to start breakfast. She tried to keep her mind off of the kiss they had shared but she kept drifting back to it. "He never said a thing." she said to herself. "He was probably just caught up in the moment or something. Forget it." Kathy finished preparing their breakfast and placed the filled plates on the table to wait for Nick. After a few moments, she heard his cane slowly tapping down the hallway. "You are doing very well Nick." Kathy murmured as he neared the table. "Thanks." He pulled his chair out and sat down heavily. "This smells really great Kathy! You are going to spoil me!" Kathy laughed. "Go on, eat!" He felt for his knife and fork carefully and picked them up, then set them down again quickly. "Kathy, I need to tell you something." Kathy sat quietly, staring at her plate. "I'm so sorry for last night. I don't know what came over me." "It's alright Nick." Kathy started. "No, it's not." Nick continued. "I should never have done that to you. I was just feeling lonely and sorry for myself, I guess. There is no excuse for it at all." Kathy smiled slightly. "Really, Nick, it's alright. I never said I didn't like it. You just confused me with it happening all of a sudden like that." Nick started to apologize again. "No Kathy, really, I never should have..." Then a grin started to spread across his face. "You liked it?" Kathy smiled back. "Yes Nick, I liked it very much." His face started to turn red and he picked up his fork again, playing with his food. "So you think maybe we could, um, I don't know, um..." She placed her hand on his arm. "Yes, I think maybe we could, we still need to get to know each other a little better, but yes, it's a definite possibility!" Nick grinned. "I think that is one of the best things I have heard in a long time!"

After the breakfast dishes were cleaned up, they took the dogs out for a walk. Nick tapped his cane along with his right hand and comfortably held Kathy's hand with his left. Kathy steered him towards all sorts of obstacles and let him try and figure out what they had encountered and how to get around it. "What about street lights and stuff like that?" Nick asked, when they reached an intersection. "This is where your hearing will come in. You need to listen to the traffic and determine what direction is stopped." Kathy had him stand for a bit and tell her if he thought it was safe to cross. He got it right every time but one. "Nick, you are amazing at this!" Kathy marveled. "Well, I've really been thinking, you know, ever since you told me you were blind. I have to deal with this, so I am going to try my hardest to do my best and not get frustrated." They crossed the road at the next green light. "Just remember Nick, you will get frustrated. You just have to remember to not let it get you down." "I know." Nick agreed. "There is probably lots more you need to show me, right?" Kathy sighed. "There is so much that can't be learned except by experience. Picking out your clothes, running your own shower, stuff like that," "What about reading and writing?" Nick pointed out. "I got you some basic braille books to start off with, and the typewriter that we picked up has braille keys, so that you can type and others can read it." They walked along in silence for a few moments. "That will be hard to learn, won't it?" he asked. "It's challenging." Kathy admitted. "But I know you can do it, Nick." He smiled and squeezed her hand. "No one has ever told me that before. I don't think anyone has ever had too much confidence in me, at anything." She stopped and looked at him. "Why?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I'm the youngest, I'm blonde, I never went to school much, take your pick." "Nick, you are very smart, talented and creative. I can't imagine someone believing you couldn't do anything you set your mind to." He shrugged again. "Well, I believe you can do it!" Kathy put her hand in his again. "Thank you." he said. "That means a lot to me, more than you'd ever know."

They arrived back at Nick's house, smiling and sharing stories about their lives. Kathy stopped short when she saw Jane wandering around the front garden. She dropped Nick's hand suddenly and pulled the dogs leashes tight, making them yip. "What's going on?" Nick asked, confused. "Hi Jane!" Kathy yelled in a too loud, strained voice. Jane looked over and glared at the couple. "Where have you two been?" she asked, her voice not hiding her disapproval. "We took the pugs for a walk mom, and Kathy showed me how to get around with this a little better." Nick tapped his cane on the ground for emphasis and smiled. "I'm doing really well too, aren't I Kathy?" Kathy nodded her head stiffly. "You're doing fine Nick, just fine." "Well." Jane threaded her arm through Nick's. "How about we head out to the patio for some drinks and you can tell me what you have been up to?" She ushered Nick off before Kathy could reply.

Kathy watched them walk to the back of the house and decided to take the dogs in before meeting them in the back. "C'mere babies, get your leashes off and we'll have some lunch, okay?" The pugs circled her in delight, yapping and jumping up on her. Kathy dished their food into the bowls and filled their water dishes. "You are leaving my son alone, aren't you?" Kathy shouted in surprise at Jane's voice and dropped the water dish in the sink. "You ordered me to, didn't you?" Kathy shot back. "Just checking." Jane smiled and took two glasses from the shelf. "I got a call from a rather distraught ex-girlfriend last night." Kathy put her hands on her hips and challenged Nick's mother. "I had nothing to do with that. I wasn't even here when Nick broke up with her!" "You left my son alone?" Jane's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I had to get the dogs from the kennel and Christina was here. Nick asked me to leave them alone." "You are being paid to care for my son." Jane took a small sip from her freshly poured juice. "His name is Nick and he is an adult, capable of making his own decisions. I can't hold his hand for everything." "I don't want you holding his hand at all." Jane forcefully set her glass on the counter. "I saw you two coming up the walk, don't think I didn't." Kathys mouth hung open and she closed it quickly. "I need to help him at times. He's only been using the cane for a day." "Hmph." Jane sneered and picked up the two glasses of orange juice. "Just leave him alone. If you know what is good for you, you will." She pushed open the sliding glass door and left Kathy staring after her in amazement.