Love In Slow Motion (Love Beyond Measure #2) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,52

Fredric’s arm. “Sorry, I almost missed the turn.” His voice sounded oddly hoarse, and Fredric wanted to ask if everything was okay, but he didn’t want to make him feel worse.

“It’s okay,” he assured him. “No harm done.”

Ilan hummed in disagreement, but he said nothing as they took a long, winding road that eventually led into what felt like a roundabout. Before he could ask again, Ilan’s car rolled to a stop, and then he let out a quiet sigh. “We’re here.”

Fredric’s brows dipped. “Do I finally get to know where here is?”

“Yes.” But when he didn’t elaborate, Fredric started to fidget. He was about to ask Ilan what he was doing, but something touched the side of his hand—weighted but thin, like paper. He turned his palm up, and with a single brush of fingers, he realized it was braille. “What…”

Helene Baskin Sensory Garden

Step behind ivy-covered, white stone walls and follow the two-mile path past our singing fountains, heavily scented flower gardens, butterfly displays, and thousands of plants that can be enjoyed with sight, smell, and touch. Everything in this garden is accessible for those with disabilities, and guided tours are available every Wednesday through Saturday by appointment.

Please enjoy your time and consider donating at the welcome desk.

Fredric swallowed thickly, then turned his face toward Ilan. “Is this,” he started, but his voice was rough, so he cleared his throat. “Is this really first date material?”

“It should be,” Ilan said gruffly. “You don’t spend enough time demanding things that are catered to you, Fredric. More than just a walk on the beach or drinks at some restaurant. It took me less than five minutes to find this place online when I googled date ideas for the blind.”

And Fredric knew what Ilan was saying, but it took someone like Ilan to make that effort, and he didn’t quite know how to make him understand that. So, he swallowed back all those words of protest and smiled instead. “Thank you. You’re going to make someone very happy one day.”

He let himself out of the car, and Ilan took his time, but soon enough, Fredric had his arm and they were moving from the rough asphalt to the sidewalk.

“There’s doors,” Ilan said. “And then a little welcome desk. And I think there’s a pile of maps on a table next to it. We can do the guided tour if you want, but…”

“Not quite first date material?” Fredric offered, and Ilan chuckled.

“Might be kind of a cock-block. Especially if their voice sucks.” Fredric felt the door swoosh open, and he felt for the lip with his cane before stepping in. The room clearly had vaulted ceilings by the way his feet sounded on the stone floors, and he could hear the trickle of water from a fountain nearby. The air was cool, and there was the gentle whirr of a fan above them, and his hand reached out to touch the marbled counter of the desk.

“Thank you for your donation,” a feminine voice said. “We have maps here. The print ones you can take with you, but we do ask if you take a braille map, you return it at the end of your tour.”

“The print one is fine,” Fredric said, and when Ilan made a noise to argue, he squeezed his arm. “I’d rather concentrate on the walk.”

Ilan didn’t put up a fight, and Fredric heard him take the paper, fold it, and then put it into his pocket. He grabbed Ilan’s arm again, and they took a sharp right, and then went through another set of swinging doors.

The path was shaded, though the air was warm and humid, and the ground beneath them was a shaped path just wide enough for a single arc of his cane. “How is it?” he couldn’t help but ask as they started forward.

“It’s gorgeous.” Ilan was quiet a moment, and Fredric assumed he was looking around. “The path winds around tall trees, and it looks like it veers off into different areas. There’s a massive grassy field to the left, and a couple of people are having a picnic.”

“Now that sounds like third date material,” Fredric said. “At least, according to movies.”

Ilan groaned as he led them down the path, and Fredric felt the staccato changes from shade to sun as they walked under sporadic low hanging branches. “Please don’t get your romance advice from the fucking movies.”

Fredric laughed and shook his head as they took a sharp turn. His cane met a sloping path,