He Gave Her My Eyes A Story of Final Sight novel Chapter 9

Patti glanced over at Theresia, quietly enjoying how she stood there all by herself. There was just something about the scene that made Patti smile.

She let out a light laugh. "Mom, Felton, you two are fussing over me, but Theresia is still standing there. Aren’t you going to say hello?"

Theresia?

Lawrence, already settled in his seat, finally remembered her. His gaze shifted over, and his brow furrowed. He hadn’t paid attention at the door, but now he saw what she was wearing, and it instantly put him in a bad mood.

Blue jeans, a plain white T-shirt.

None of the dresses with that classic, traditional style he’d bought for her.

Still irritated from their earlier spat, a fresh wave of annoyance bubbled up. "Theresia, come here."

Theresia didn’t move. "Did you need something?"

Was she actually talking back?

Lawrence could remember plenty of times where Theresia wasn’t exactly desperate to please, but she always knew how to play it safe in front of everyone. What was with her today?

She showed no sign of coming over, so Felton spoke up with a cold sneer. "Lawrence, just ignore her. She’s spoiled and actually thinks she’s a real daughter of the Baker family. She’s just the maid’s brat. If it weren’t for us, she’d probably be begging somewhere on the street."

Maid’s brat.

Theresia’s hands tightened around the fabric of her shirt. That word hit her with a sharp ache she couldn’t hide.

Before Patti showed up, Felton had been the older brother she trusted most. He was the one she leaned on.

She remembered the winter Felton fell in the lake when he was ten. She was only eight, but she had dragged him out of the freezing water. He got to live. She ended up so sick, she nearly died.

Theresia still remembered little Felton’s promise: "Theresia, I swear I’ll always take care of you. If anyone picks on you, I’ll make them pay."

Did he even remember those words?

Patti, on the other hand, felt a secret satisfaction but kept up her sweet and innocent act. "Felton, don’t say that. Theresia’s a victim too, in her own way. You can’t blame her for her mother’s mistakes."

She walked up to one of the bedrooms and knocked gently. "Grandma, it’s me."

From the other side, Janetta’s gentle voice replied, "Theresia, come in, darling."

In this house, only Janetta ever greeted her with real kindness.

For once, Theresia let herself relax. She felt her way to the bed and sat down. "Grandma, are you feeling better? Did the medicine I brought help at all?"

Janetta reached over and took her hand, her eyes warm and loving. "I’m feeling much better. I haven’t had any problems lately. The medicine you brought works better than anything the doctors gave me. But there’s no name on the bottle. Theresia, where did you get it?"

Theresia smiled quietly. The medicine had been specially made for Janetta by Helena, her friend who was a genius with medicine. Of course, it didn’t have a label or a manufacturer.

Helena had always said her toughest challenge was Theresia’s eyes. She’d tried everything, coming up with all kinds of treatments, but after three years, nothing had worked.

Now, Theresia finally understood why.