Gramercy Park
Mike was on the couch with a Yankee game playing in the background when he heard the door open quietly.
‘Kevin?’
No response.
‘Damnit, Kevin, I told you to let me know when you come into a room.’
‘It’s not Kevin,’ Allison said softly, turning off the television.
Mike was speechless for a moment, then said, ‘Allison?’
Allison did not respond. It would have been impossible to speak, with tears of happiness streaming down her cheeks, choking her. Instead she sat down next to him, took his hands and led them to trace the contours of her face.
‘Yep. It’s me. Your old flame.’ The joke died on her lips and she touched his sightless eyes with infinite tenderness.
‘How did you …? Never mind,’ Mike said, finding it hard to speak himself. ‘Cop’s kid. Lock picking in kindergarten.’
‘That’s me,’ she said. ‘There’s no use trying to lock me out. I’ll just keep coming back. Over and over and over again. I’m never going to leave you. Never.’
‘I’m not the same,’ he said when the words would come.
‘I’m not the same either,’ she answered.
‘But this is different. Being blind is like being a baby. I’m just now beginning to figure out how to live on my own without setting the house on fire.’
‘I think you’d better have a roommate.’
‘You have no idea what you’d be getting yourself into, Allison. I will learn, but right now I need help with almost everything. I can’t drive, I can’t fly a plane, I can’t …’
‘Michael Dennison,’ she cut in, ‘if you dare start that nobility blather, I don’t know what I’ll do. Haven’t we suffered enough? Haven’t we wasted enough time? Answer me … do you love me?’
It took a moment before Mike could speak. ‘You know I do. Since the moment I first saw you.’
‘I’m a lucky girl then. I’ll always be young and beautiful to you. You should know that I’m still stubborn and opinionated and used to getting my own way, so don’t mess with me. I’m staying.’
She kissed him. Her heart felt full. And then she said, ‘Mike, I hope one day you will forgive me for being so difficult when you joined up again. I’m so sorry.’
Instead of answering, he took her in his arms and kissed her eyes, her mouth, her neck. His hands slid over her body, relearning every curve. That she was suddenly here, in his arms, that she had come back to him, surprised and thrilled him. His one love had come home.
In one movement, he picked her up and headed for the bedroom, kissing the tears of joy from her cheeks.
Holding onto him tightly, her arms around his shoulders, she asked, ‘Do you know the way?’
A small chuckle escaped. ‘If I can’t find the bedroom, I’ll ask directions.’
‘In two yards, make a left. The bed is straight ahead.’
He found the bed with ease, and there was no problem after that. They both remembered everything there was to know about making love to each other, fulfilling their desire with a mixture of passion and tenderness.
There would be time later for explanations. Time to learn how to live together. Time to begin taking Peter Collins down, and getting Lydia’s Closet back. Time to sort through all that had happened over these long months and years.
For now all they wanted was to be close, holding onto each other, knowing that they would now start making a life together. A life that would last forever.