The Christmas Quilt

Hope Springs wasn’t that different from a hundred other Ohio towns. Oddly, after ten years in the city, Gideon felt right at home on these streets. Time to explore a little. Left or right?

Before he made up his mind he heard the door of the inn open behind him. To his surprise, Rebecca came out. She was bundled up against the cold in a heavy, dark blue woolen coat. A black bonnet covered her head. In one hand she clutched her purse. In the other hand she held her white cane. With little hesitation, she turned left and began walking down the sidewalk swinging her cane lightly in front of her.

He should have spoken, but he wasn’t sure how his voice would sound this morning. What if she recognized him when he spoke?

Gideon followed her and watched as she tested the height and depth of a snowdrift in her path at the corner. She wasn’t really going to try and find her way around town in these conditions, was she? Where was her aunt? Why wasn’t someone with her?

To his astonishment, she made her way over the snowdrift easily and continued across the icy street. It was then he saw an obstacle she couldn’t detect with her cane. There was no way for her to know the snow-laden branches of the trees that lined the avenue were hanging at shoulder level. She was about to walk into a cold surprise. He tried calling out a warning but his voice failed him.

Galvanized into action, Gideon hurried after her. He raced across the slick street as fast as he dared. Rebecca would get a face full of snow in another few steps. He tried again to call out. This time he managed to croak, “Rebecca, stop.”

She paused and turned her head as if searching for the source of the pitiful sound he’d made. He reached the curb but hit a patch of ice on the sidewalk. His feet flew out from under him and he landed with a painful thud at Rebecca’s feet.

He moaned and rubbed the back of his smarting head. When he opened his eyes, she was standing over him, her face silhouetted against the cloudy winter sky. He knew from memory that her eyes were the blue of a bright summer’s day but she held them closed now behind her dark glasses.

He wanted her to open her eyes so he could see them. He wanted to see all the memories they held of their time together.

He wanted her to see him.

Two words, his name, would be all it would take to let her know who he was. If he said those two words would she turn away? Would she shun him? He couldn’t take that risk.

“Are you all right?” She located him with her cane and bent down to assist him.

He gave a groan as he managed to leverage himself to sitting position. “I think so,” he whispered.

“Booker?”

“Yes.”

She slipped her hand beneath his elbow. “You poor man. Let me help you.”

“Thanks.” He accepted her assistance as he rose to his feet and dusted the snow from his clothes.

“Are you sure you aren’t hurt?”

“I’ve got a pretty hard head.”

“You shouldn’t rush on these slippery walks. What were you thinking? Where were you going in such a hurry?”

It wasn’t the first time he’d been chided for his lack of common sense by this woman. He’d missed her occasional scolding as much as he’d missed her tenderhearted sweetness.

“I was hurrying to save you from walking into some snow-laden branches hanging over the walkway.”

Her frown changed to the smile he adored. “Bless you for your concern, Booker. I would not enjoy getting a face full of snow.”

“I didn’t think you would.”

“Now that I have been warned, I will be fine. Thank you for your concern.”

“Where are you off to on such a cold day?”

“To the fabric shop.”

“I was going that way. Do you mind if I walk along with you?”

She arched one eyebrow. “You are going to the fabric shop?”

“I didn’t say I was going to the fabric shop. I said I was going that way. Two different things. If you would rather walk alone I understand.”

She shook her head and started walking. “I don’t mind the company, but you must promise not to continually try to help me.”

“Why shouldn’t I offer my help?”

She swung the cane from side to side, tapped it briefly on the sidewalk in front of her. “Because unless I ask for it, I don’t really need it.”

“All right, but three steps ahead of you are those low branches.”

She moved closer to the building. “Am I clear if I walk over here?”

“Yeah. Are there any other rules I should know?” For a few words his voice came out strong and normal before breaking again. He froze, wondering if she would recognize him now.

“You should not grab a blind person. It’s rude. You should not shout at someone who is blind because most of us can hear quite well.”

“Can I ask questions or is that rude, too?” He kept his voice to a whisper. It might be best to stay silent but he didn’t want to give up this opportunity to spend time with her.

“Questions are okay.”

“Is it true that your hearing becomes more acute?”

“No. A blind person’s hearing does not change. We simply pay more attention to what we hear.”

He glanced down the walkway ahead of them. “I guess that makes sense. How will you know when you have reached the fabric shop?”

“Because I have been here many times.” She stopped in front of a store called Needles and Pins.

“You counted your steps.”

“I often do, but that’s hard when I’m carrying on a conversation.”

“I don’t understand how you did it, then.”

“The answer is right under your feet.” She tapped the sidewalk through the layer of snow that hadn’t yet been removed.

“I still don’t get it.”

“Listen.” She took a step back and tapped again.

He listened intently, wanting to learn all that she was willing to teach. She stepped forward and tapped twice more. This time he heard the difference in the sound. Crouching down, he swept the snow aside. “It’s brick, not concrete.”

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