"You're welcome," Clay replied, his voice calm and deep while her insides quivered with awareness of him. "Anything else?"
Yes, kiss me, her inner voice shouted. Her face began to heat, so she turned and headed quickly up the steps before she embarrassed herself further. "No, that's it," she called, then remembered Bo's boots and stopped. Turning, she hurried back down the steps to grab them without looking his way, and ran back up the steps.
The job needed to end, and soon, before she did something she'd regret. Not that being with Clay Marshall would be much of a regret. The regret would be throwing herself at him and him rejecting her. Yeah, it was time to get Bo up and moving.
Heading back into his room, she set his boots down by the bed where he sat. "Why don't you put your boots on and I'll show you how I've set up your clothes. It will take a while to remember, but you'll get it."
Julie watched as Bo took his boots and without her even having to tell him, felt each toe of the boots, finding the correct one for each foot. She felt a surge of pride for him as his face changed from one of uncertainty to pride in his feat.
★★★
Bo and Julie stood at the top of the steps. She knew Bo was apprehensive, but trying to appear brave. Stairs were always hard for the blind to conquer and it took a lot of confidence and courage to take that first step. He had learned the order of his clothes quickly, which surprised her. She even tested him on it twice and each time he nailed it.
They stood at his bedroom door, facing the true test. He was leaving a room he had hidden away in for almost two months. "Use your walking cane just in case your count gets messed up," Julie instructed as she stayed by his side, ready to assist. When he didn't move, but just stood staring ahead, she gave him a minute to get his focus. "You can do this, Bo."
After a second, he nodded and took his first step. She could tell how nervous he was by the shaking of his hand on the walking stick, but she kept her mouth shut and let him count as he concentrated.
"These are the steps?" His voice wavered slightly, but still held strong.
"You did awesome." Julie touched his arm lightly. "The railing is to your right. Use that with your right hand and tap each step with your stick as you count down. There are fifteen steps. If you ever lose focus on the count, you have the stick as your backup. Take your time."
When Bo didn't move, just stood still as stone, Julie looked up. His eyes glistened as he swallowed noticeably. "Thank you." His voice cracked as he swallowed hard again.
Now Julie had to swallow the damn lump in her throat, her eyes welling up with tears. She knew he had found his moment and dammit, every time someone she helped found their moment—and they always did—it tore her up in a good way. "Hey, you always had the tools to do this. Only now you have to do it in the dark." Julie smiled when he chuckled. "It's only been two days, Bo. Just imagine what you can do in four."
"All because of you," Bo replied, with a crooked grin. "Sorry I was so hard on you, and you're not a bitch."
This time Julie laughed outright. "Oh, I don't know about that. I can be a bitch when I need to be. And I'm sure before my time here is up you'll be taking that apology back." Hearing a noise at the bottom of the steps, she saw Clay leaning against the wall watching them. "Now, let's conquer these stairs and eat. I'm starving."
"I'm scared," Bo said after a moment of hesitation. "Not very manly, huh?"
"It takes a real man to confess his fears." Julie's eyes left Clay to stare up at Bo. "And being scared is good. It will make you more cautious. But don't worry, you'll do fine. Plus, it's not too bad if you fall from the fifth stair down. I already checked that out for you."
"Well, I appreciate that," Bo teased, his hand visibly tightening on the rail as he took his first step down.
"Never say I don't put everything into my job." She laughed, staying close enough to Bo to assist if needed, but far enough away to give him space to do it on his own. She also noticed Clay was poised at the bottom of the steps, ready if needed.
After that, all was silent as Bo made his way to the last step without mishap. Once they were at the bottom, Clay quietly left, heading toward the kitchen.
"That wasn't so bad." Bo sighed with relief. "Now where?"
"To the kitchen." Julie waited to see if he would take the initiative without her help. When he turned the correct way, using his walking stick to check his path, a large smile bloomed across her face as she looked at her pad of paper. "It's eighteen steps to the kitchen."