RECAP

I slowly opened my eyes and saw the most beautiful sight I had seen in what seemed like ages.

I saw the smiling faces of the people that loved me. I felt wetness running down my cheeks.

My eyes were healed- I wasn’t blind anymore. I saw things as clearly as I had before; it was as if it never happened.

They were staring at me anxiously. “Well?” Luisana asked me.

I studied her face, unable to form words. She had beautiful blonde hair and had a flawless face.

I saw Hattie, as perfect as I had imagined her and recognized Michael immediately.

“You’re all so beautiful.” I sobbed, turning to Dr. Martin.

“Thank you so much, I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

He smiled warmly at me, his eyes glassy. “Seeing you now is the only thank you I need. This is why I love my job.”

I closed my eyes and wiped the tears from my face. I could see.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

GRACE POV

     It had been hours since I had opened my eyes and been discharged from the hospital. I had asked Luisana and Michael to take me to explore Los Angeles. They had gladly obliged, it had been exactly what I needed- an escape from the bindings that had been holding me since the accident.

We paraded down Hollywood Boulevard and I excitedly looked at all the stars on the sidewalk.

“Oh, it’s Betty White!” I called to Luisana. She laughed and came to stand beside me.

“She’s a wonderful lady. I went to her ninetieth birthday party and let me tell you, she still parties hard. She has quite a soft spot for Michael.” She laughed and her eyes crinkled with happiness.

“She’s my favorite person in Hollywood, I think.” I said seriously.

I heard a laugh behind me and turned to see Michael juggling three ice cream cones.

“She’s Hollywood’s mother. She’s everyone’s favorite.”

I nodded in agreement. “Thanks for the ice-cream.” I smiled.

I wandered over to a small magazine stand that was set up on the side of the road. I leafed through some pages until I came to a picture that shocked me.

“I- is that me?” I gasped out, my eyes bulging as I read the title.

My eyes skimmed the page over and over. There was a large picture of me walking out of the hospital doors arm in arm with Michael and Luisana. In big bold letters it said, “Bublé the new Brad and Angelina?”

Michael came to stand beside me. “You shouldn’t read those, Grace. They can be pretty nasty. I’m sorry that by us adopting you it brings you into the spotlight.”

I turned to face him and took in his face. It was crazy to think that before the accident I had known exactly who Michael Bublé was, even a fan of his music and now here I was as his adoptive daughter.

“You will never know how thankful I am to be a part of your family.” I said with a smile.

He hugged me and laughed, “Well squirt, do you want to get something to eat? Luisana just went to the washroom.”

I nodded, feeling relaxed despite the shock I had made it into the very magazine that Parker adored.

I wonder what she’s thinking right now. I wondered.

Shrugging off her lack of friendship, we met back up with Luisana and headed towards the restaurant that had a special VIP room for celebrities to relax and eat in peace. It was getting darker outside and my stomach was rumbling.

NIALL POV

     I sighed, taking a deep breath.  Jade had called last night before we were supposed to meet up for our dinner date and asked if we could postpone it until tonight.

The band had to make a trip to Los Angeles for some interviews and awards we were doing and Little Mix was opening for a local band here in California.

I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket and looked at the caller ID.

“Hey Jade,” I answered simply.

I looked out the window at the darkening sky and listened to her talk excitedly about tonight.

“Okay, so I’ll meet you at the restaurant at quarter to eight. Alright, see you then.” I replied, ending the call.

Checking the clock, I realized it was already seven thirty.

“Good thing it’s fashionable in this industry to be late.” I muttered.

GRACE POV

     We pulled up at the restaurant at around eight thirty. Traffic had been bad and Luisana insisted on taking me out shopping for some new clothes before we went out. I felt like a new person.

I felt a pang when I found myself wishing Preston could be here to see all of this with me. Deep down, I knew that he was always watching over me.

We got out of the car and I was immediately blinded by flashing lights. I panicked, covering my eyes. I was worried that somehow the lights might blind me again permanently.

I felt a strong arm wrap around my shoulder protectively as Michael shuffled us past the paparazzi that had somehow found us.

I heard my name being called over and over and was in awe that I, a normal girl from Vancouver was now someone that the paparazzi wanted to know all about.

When we finally made it past the shouting and cameras we were escorted through a door at the end of the hallway and into a beautiful large dining room. There were private booths and large tables elegantly decorated with crystal cups and candles. Large chandeliers decorated the ceiling and we were seated near the far end of the room.

“May I bring you anything to drink?” The waiter asked me politely.

“I’ll have a sprite please,” I replied.

“Two cokes for us, please.” Luisana chirped happily. The waiter nodded and went to fetch our beverages.

“I’m so thankful for what has happened lately,” Luisana said, “it was truly a miracle that you got your vision back. You really are a fighter, Grace.” She gazed at me proudly.

“Thank you,” I mumbled, embarrassed yet touched by her kind words.

The waiter returned with our drinks and I smiled at him in thanks.

“So, do you have anything you want to do, now that you have your vision back? Any places you want to see, people you want to meet?” Michael asked as he sipped at his coke.

I nodded. “I’ve always wanted to backpack around Europe-” I paused, thinking, “Especially Ireland, meet Betty White, and be a YouTuber.” I blushed fiercely.

Michael nodded with a smile. “That sounds like fun. Maybe when I’m finished recording my new album we can take a trip to Europe.”

“I can introduce you to Betty, I’m sure she would love to meet you. She knew we were trying to adopt.”

I was bouncing from excitement. “Meet Betty White?! Really?” I squeaked in surprise.

This really was too good to be true.

NIALL POV

     I sat in the private booth across from Jade as I watched her file her already manicured fingernails. I rested my chin on my hand and sighed.

I called the waiter over and asked for another dish. Jade had hardly touched the meal she had ordered and I was starving despite the fact I had already had a meal and an appetizer. She pulled out her compact mirror and began applying more mascara.

I coughed, letting her know that I was still here. So far we had hardly talked. This really was the most awkward dinner I’d had in a long time. I would much rather be at home watching the football game and eating my heart out.

Or talking to Grace. A small voice in my head said.

I shook my head fiercely. “Damn it,” I muttered. I was supposed to forget about her- I’d never be able to see her again and it wouldn’t do me any good being hung up on a girl that I could never be with.

Jade continued the makeup assault on her face.

“I’m going to go to the washroom.” I said, knowing she wouldn’t really acknowledge me anyways. I needed to take up some time before my food got there.

I pulled the curtain back from our booth and stepped out into the more open area of the VIP restaurant dining room. I noticed three people sitting at a table that I needed to pass to go to the bathroom.

I looked down for a moment before I snapped my head back up. It was Michael Bublé!

I tried to calm myself down before I walked over to him. He was one of my favorite musicians, and I looked up to him. People often said that when I sang, I sounded a lot like him.

 “Sorry to bother you, sir.” I said nervously as I reached his table.

Michael looked up in surprise before smiling back at me. “Let me guess, Niall Horan?” He joked.

From the corner of my eye I saw the girl jerk up from her food quickly and start coughing as she tried to dislodge the noodle she had swallowed whole.

She was blonde, and had the most beautiful hazel eyes I’d ever seen. Her eyelashes were long and even though she wore no makeup, her face was striking. She was the true meaning of natural beauty. She was- Grace?

I blinked once, twice, three times. I opened my mouth and closed it again.

Michael Bublé was now forgotten, buried in the back of my brain as I stared at my princess.

“N-Niall?” Grace said in utter shock.

Her face mimicked mine; because I’m sure she never thought she would see me again.

“Grace,” I whispered, completely shell shocked. “You can see!”

She nodded with a bright smile. “Michael and Luisana adopted me. Hattie is Luisana’s sister and they got me the operation on my eyes as soon as it was possible.” She paused, blushing. “I can’t believe you’re really here.” She said quietly.

Michael and Luisana exchanged confused looks before speaking.

“You two know each other?” Luisana asked.

I nodded, beaming. “We met when my uncle and Grace were in the hospital. They shared a room for a while, until my uncle woke up from his coma. I didn’t know Grace was being discharged from the hospital; and we had no way of contacting each other. I tried to get the hospital to release her information but they refused.” I said sadly.

Grace studied me, her eyes never leaving my face. As if she was afraid if she did, I would disappear forever.

“Wow, this is definitely fate then.” Michael chuckled, sending a warm look to his wife.

GRACE POV

      I stared down at my food, wishing that I could hug my brother right now. Somehow, when I was blind I could picture him sitting beside me, comforting me. Now that I could see again, I knew he really wasn’t there. I wished more than anything that I could hug my parents again. They’d know what to say to cheer me up.

“Sorry to bother you, sir.” An Irish voice said nervously.

I froze. That voice was so familiar. I knew it like the back of my hand and for what seemed like forever I had been praying, wishing, and hoping that I’d hear it again.

And now I really was. I just had to be brave enough to look up and see if it was real.

“Let me guess, Niall Horan?” Michael asked with a laugh.

At his name, my head snapped up, unable to resist looking at his face.

His hair was tousled and blonde, his blue eyes were sparkling and he was looking at Michael with utter admiration.

Is he a fan? I wonder how Michael knows him…

At my sudden movement he turned his sharp, beautiful gaze onto my own and he froze.

His mouth dropped open and he blinked several times.

Is this really my Niall? The boy I had been dreaming of since those nights at the hospital?

I knew it was, the way he looked at me with such sincerity and hope filled me with the kind of happiness I hadn’t felt in a long time.

“N-Niall?” I stuttered, still unable to speak properly. I had honestly prepared myself to never see him again and yet here we were, in the most unlikely place.

Part of the reason I had wanted to go explore Los Angeles as soon as I got my sight back was that I could possibly run into Niall again. We hadn’t even been home yet today. I continued to marvel at his soft skin, the way he looked at me with such admiration and tenderness.

Niall spoke again, “Grace,” he paused in wonder, “you can see!”

I broke out into a huge grin, “Michael and Luisana adopted me. Hattie is Luisana’s sister and they got me the operation on my eyes as soon as it was possible.” I paused, blushing. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

I don’t know how long I sat there just basking in the fact that he was really here. I watched him enthusiastically talk to my adoptive parents. I was snapped out of my reverie when a girl came barreling over and latched onto Niall’s side.

We all turned to look at her with surprise. “And who might you be?” Luisana asked friendlily.

“I’m Jade, Niall’s girlfriend,” She purred, eyeing me down spitefully.

This can’t be happening.