Vivian was fixing Wesley’s tie, making sure it was neat and straight. She carefully patted his chest down. “They’ll be here any minute,” she said quietly to him, looking up to take in his features. His beard was full and she scratched him there. He had that salt and pepper look coming in, flecks of gray popping up more and more frequently every time he shaved to have it grow right back in. It only made Vivian fall in love more and more every day as if she wasn’t already completely enthralled by him after all this time.
Wesley cocked his head to allow for the collar and necktie to settle. He patted down his own shirt as he heard the doorbell ring. “That’ll be them.” He felt Vivian tug at his side so they could move to the front door, Wesley had his walking stick out, though he knew Vivian would be helping him along for the most part, regardless. He heard Vivian open the door to and allowed for her to greet the couple waiting on the other side.
He heard Vivian throw her body at their son, knowing the exact way she hugged him and was holding onto him, not unlike the way she would throw her arms around Wesley himself, he knew. However, Daniel was also taller than Wesley, so he had no doubt that it took a bit more effort for her to get her arms around his neck to hold him.
“Oh, ragazzo mio, lascia che ti guardi. Sento che sei diventato più alto dall'ultima volta che ti abbiamo visto,” Wesley could hear Vivian cooing at Daniel. “And look at you with that full beard, just like your father. You look so handsome.”
“Mom…” said Daniel clearly trying to gently pry his mother off of him. “I’ve got company.”
“Oh, yes, yes,” said Vivian as she then pulled back. Wesley could feel she was back by his side and she had wrapped her arm around his arm. She gently moved Wesley to one side to allow the couple to enter. Wesley could feel them move past them, Vivian leaned close. “She’s very pretty,” he heard her whisper. “She’s tall, wavy brown hair, and—“ she paused for a moment. Wesley had a feeling she was confirming something with Daniel, “she’s blind,” she finished.
Daniel cleared his throat. “Mom, dad, this is my girlfriend, Veronica,” he announced. “Veronica, this is my mom, she’s on the right and my dad is to the left, Vivian and Wesley.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” smiled Vivian.
Wesley nodded his head but then suddenly realized that would do no good. It was also in that moment that he realized he had never, really interacted with someone else who was blind. After all, being blind wasn’t like being deaf where there were was an entire culture and community built around it. No, and even if there was Wesley knew he wouldn’t have been involved. He had grown used to his bubble of a world, Vivian and Daniel. “Nice to meet you,” he spoke up. It was the first girlfriend of his they had ever met. Wesley had no doubt Daniel dated around, but he could tell this one was much more serious than anyone else.
“How’d you two meet?” he heard Vivian ask.
“Ah, well, you know I volunteer in the disability resource center at school, right?” said Daniel. “She came in one day and needed help with something and we just started talking.”
“Yeah, he makes it sound like we just started talking like we just sat down and suddenly connected,” said Veronica. Wesley had a feeling she had rolled her eyes in that moment, there was something in her tone of voice. “I was actually there to yell at someone and Danny was the one I chose to yell at since no one else was there, but of course as it turns out, he was exactly the person I needed.” There was a pause before she quickly continued, “just in the sense that I needed someone who could actually understand where I was coming from.” Wesley recognized that quick turn around, not wanting to be too clingy. Not unlike himself, really.
“I’m trying to make my parents like you, not think we got off on the wrong foot,” Daniel spoke up. “See, now my mom looks absolutely aghast at the idea that she wouldn’t like you to begin with.”
“He uses words like ‘aghast’ like he’s writing a story instead of having a conversation,” she spoke up again. “I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone quite as descriptive when they’re speaking instead of writing. It helps, though.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” said Wesley with a small smile.
“Doesn’t hurt that he has a writer and English professor as a father,” added Vivian proudly, nudging Wesley gently.
“Yes, well, if you’re ever interested, you could take one of my classes. I teach a 19th century literature course and a creative writing class with a particular focus on descriptive writing, if you’re up to it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Veronica said.
“Okay, okay, okay,” Vivian said clapping her hands, “enough of the small talk in the hallway, why don’t we start heading over to the restaurant and keep talking there. Come on, Danny, pucci,” she said as she then tugged on Wesley’s arm to lead him out of the door. Wesley heard Danny and Veronica leave before following them out.
“So, what do you think?” whispered Wesley to Vivian, knowing the kids were a few paces in front of them.
