"I'm good," Bo replied, his tone not as hostile as all the other times he had spoken to her.
"The more you're up, your strength will come back, as will your cardio." She sat next to him on the bed. "With jeans it's pretty easy to know you are putting them on right. If you wear a belt, just make sure you count your belt loops before putting it on, and then as you're putting it on count them off. It's pretty foolproof unless you miscount."
Clay brought over a belt. "Here." He handed Bo the belt, but his eyes stayed on Julie.
Bo stood and counted his belt loops, then he proceeded to correctly put on his belt without missing a loop.
"Awesome!" Julie smiled, truly impressed. "That is harder than people think, but you did it with no problem at all."
"Wow, I deserve an Academy Award or some shit." Bo's sarcasm came back with force. "I just put on a belt, no big fucking deal."
"Tell that to the others I've helped," Julie replied without any emotion. Even though comments like that got under her skin, she would never let Bo Marshall know it. "It is a big deal and I think you know it."
"Actually, I agree," Clay added with a half grin. "I miss at least one loop all the time and I can see."
He lifted up his T-shirt and pointed to a missed loop. Julie laughed loudly. "Well, Bo, seems your brother can learn a lesson or two about belt loop counting also."
"That's because he's an idiot," Bo replied, but he was trying to hold back a smile. "Now how about giving me my lesson on the shirt so I can put it on. I'm cold."
Julie had watched the small grin Bo was trying to hide and her heart swelled. It was a start, a tiny start, but a start all the same and she was very happy with it. Seeing the smile and hope on Clay's face, she knew he felt the same. "The best way to make sure you have your shirt on the right way is to always have shirts with tags. All you have to do is feel for the tag; that way you can make sure it's not inside out and you have the front in the front."
As Julie talked, she made sure the shirt was inside out before handing it back to him. She watched in silence as he did what she had instructed, then put the shirt on, going as far as checking the tag once he had the shirt on without her telling him to do so. She wanted so badly to jump up and down with excitement, but bit her lip with a huge grin.
"What about socks?" Bo asked, feeling around for the pair on the bed.
"Honestly, socks are whatever." Julie shrugged, watching him finally find them without help from anyone. "Sometimes you can feel the toe seam and tell, but most of the time you can't. My sister always said if people worry about her socks being inside out, they can take a leap. No one usually sees your socks anyway."
"Your sister?" Bo rose from putting on one sock to look her way, his sightless eyes searching.
"Yes, my sister." Julie stood. "Jessica was born blind. She and your brother are the main reasons I'm here right now."
"Younger or older?" Bo asked, his tone of voice totally changing, as did his features. It was like understanding the reason for her being shoved into his life made a difference to his attitude.
"I'm older by a year and a half," Julie replied. "Now, enough of that. You'll be meeting my younger sister soon enough. And you think I'm bad…."
"So you devote your time to the blind because you feel guilty she was born blind and you weren't," Bo said, his look thoughtful.
"Wow, did we just have a Dr. Phil moment?" Julie rolled her eyes, but deep inside a part of her had always wondered if that was why she fought so hard to help each and every blind person put in her path. She had watched her sister's struggle and hated every minute of her suffering. Her eyes met Clay's before quickly looking away, making sure her feelings were hidden because his probing stare saw more than she was willing to share. "I'll tell you what. You chill out, learn what you can without being a pain in the ass, and maybe we will have a come-to-Jesus moment about my life."
"That's tempting." Bo did grin this time.
Julie ignored him as she walked over to his dresser. "I'm going to organize all your clothes by color and style, so when you dress you'll be coordinated." She glanced at Clay. His probing stare was driving her insane. "I'm sure you have horse stuff to take care of. I think Bo is past the point of wanting to kill me."
"For the moment," Bo added, before lying back on the bed.
"See." Julie smiled with encouragement.
As if on cue, Clay's phone rang. He stared at her for a few moments longer as his phone continued to ring, before turning and walking out the door. A sigh slipped past her lips, indicating she had been holding her breath. The quicker she got his brother on the right track, the better for her and her heart.
Chapter Five