She Kicked Away His Cane—But He Could See Everything

Chapter Two: Nothing Without Her

Clara glanced at the fallen cane.

Then she laughed.

It was a small sound. Almost elegant. Somehow that made it worse.

“He's blind,” she said. “He's nothing without me.”

Daniel's fingers tightened around the maid's sleeve.

There had been a time when Clara had held his hand in hospital rooms. She had told the doctors that she would do anything for him. She had kissed his forehead and promised he would never have to be afraid in his own home.

He remembered believing her.

The woman who had made those promises was now standing a few feet away, looking at the water as though it were an inconvenience that he had failed to fall into it.

The maid shifted closer to him.

Daniel knew her name was Anna. Until today, he had known little else. She was the one who announced herself before entering a room. The one who told him when a chair had been moved instead of waiting for him to stumble over it.

He had never asked her for anything beyond those small courtesies.

Now she was standing between him and his wife.

“Then I'll take care of him.”

Clara's smile thinned.

Anna swallowed. Daniel felt the movement of her hand on his arm. She was frightened. She knew the woman in front of her could cost her the job she depended on.

She stayed anyway.

Something in Daniel's chest eased, and something else broke cleanly apart.

Slowly, he released her sleeve.

He touched the back of her hand, lightly, just once.

Anna looked up at him. Her anger gave way to concern.

“Are you hurt?” she asked under her breath.

For a moment, Daniel could not answer that question honestly.