Chapter 2 - Lorenzo Called It a Reflex
Mia did not understand why every adult in the room suddenly stopped moving.
She only knew what she had seen.
Lorenzo’s eyes had shifted behind the dark lenses.
Not randomly.
Toward her.
She pointed.
“They moved when I came over.”
Bianca recovered first.
“Sweetheart, eyes can move even when someone can’t see.”
Her voice was sweet again, but Lorenzo heard the speed beneath it.
Vincent did too.
Mia frowned.
“But he looked at me.”
“Mia,” Natalie said gently, “come back over here.”
The child hesitated.
Lorenzo finally spoke.
“She’s right about one thing.”
Bianca’s body stiffened behind him.
“My eyes still move.”
He gave the smallest shrug.
“Reflex.”
Mia looked unconvinced.
Lorenzo could not see her expression clearly.
But he could see something now.
That was the secret.
Not faces.
Not words.
Not enough to walk safely through the apartment.
But over the previous four days, darkness had begun breaking into pieces.
Light first.
Then movement.
Then vague shapes.
Today, for the first time, he had seen the pale blur of Mia’s dress move toward him and his eyes had followed it before he remembered not to.
Bianca laughed lightly.
“See? Mystery solved.”
Vincent did not laugh.
“What did the ophthalmologist say?”
Bianca answered before Lorenzo could.
“Nothing new.”
Lorenzo turned his head slightly.
Vincent heard the pause.
“When was his last appointment?”
“Tuesday.”
Bianca’s hand landed gently on Lorenzo’s shoulder again.
“The prognosis hasn’t changed.”
Lorenzo said nothing.
Tuesday’s appointment had never happened.
Bianca told him the specialist had canceled.
At least, that was what she said.
Mia returned to Natalie, but she kept staring at Lorenzo.
The child’s curiosity had become caution now.
Lorenzo recognized the difference even without seeing it clearly.
Dinner was served in the adjoining dining space.
Bianca remained attentive in front of the family.
She described where every plate sat.
Cut Lorenzo’s steak.
Touched his wrist before placing the wineglass into his hand.
Anyone watching would have seen devotion.
Lorenzo heard performance.
Halfway through dinner, Vincent said casually:
“I’ll take you to the next eye appointment.”
Bianca’s fork stopped against her plate.
“I already handle those.”
“I know.”
“Then why would you need to?”
Vincent’s tone remained mild.
“Because I’m his brother.”
Bianca laughed.
“So?”
Lorenzo turned toward the sound.
Bianca caught herself.
“I just mean he already has enough people around him.”
Vincent did not push.
Good.
Lorenzo did not want him to.
Not yet.
After dinner, Mia wandered back toward Lorenzo while Bianca and Natalie spoke near the windows.
Vincent had stepped away to take a call.
Mia came close enough that only Lorenzo could hear her.
“You did it again.”
His heart gave one hard beat.
“What?”
“Your eyes.”
Lorenzo lowered his voice.
“Mia.”
“You looked at Aunt Bianca.”
He almost corrected the title.
Bianca was not her aunt by blood, but Mia had adopted the family shorthand after the wedding.
Lorenzo whispered:
“Can you keep a secret until I talk to your dad?”
Mia’s expression, a pale oval blur to him, went still.
“Is it a bad secret?”
Smart child.
“No.”
“Is somebody going to get hurt?”
Lorenzo thought of the wheelchair kick.
Of Bianca leaning close and saying exactly why she married him.
“No.”
Then he corrected himself.
“Not if I can help it.”
Mia considered.
“Okay.”
Bianca called from across the room:
“Mia, don’t bother him.”
Lorenzo heard Mia turn away.
Then Bianca’s heels crossed toward them.
The sweet voice returned.
“You look tired, darling.”
Lorenzo faced forward.
“I am.”
“I’ll take you to the bedroom.”
“No.”
That one word stopped her.
Vincent returned just then.
Lorenzo turned toward his brother’s footsteps.
“Vince.”
“Yeah?”
“Stay after they leave.”
Bianca said nothing.
But Lorenzo felt her hand tighten against the wheelchair handle.
Mia had noticed his eyes.
May you like
Vincent had noticed Bianca’s fear.
And Lorenzo knew the time for pretending nothing had changed was beginning to run out.
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