Page 15 of Signed With Love

Chadwick points to his eyes, then toward her. She laughs at the universal sign of “I’m watching you.”

I’ll see you later, she signs in return.

“She said she’ll see you later,” I tell Chadwick, interpreting for Claire.

“I gathered that, brother.”

He does a copy of the sign back to her and kisses her on the cheek on his way out. Rylee apologizes about the guys, then gives Claire another hug. Finn heads out last, again hugging her and waving goodbye.

I shut the door behind them and turn to find Claire gathering her things. She walked here, and no way am I letting her walk back alone. Mom’s old place isn’t but a few yards away, and there aren’t any houses between. Still, not happening. I ask Claire to stay for a minute. It’s just us, and I need the quiet. A moment for just the two of us.

She points over her shoulder, then signs about heading home and walking. I shake my head.

I’ll walk you. I have something to give Billy. Then we will leave, I sign to her, but I need a moment to gather my stuff.

After giving Billy all of my mom’s old treasure stuff and those personal journals, he’s been more than occupied. I find it fun letting her memory live on in an old friend. I believe she’d want him to have the Cipher research, and it keeps me from digging too much into her past myself. I know she has some buried secrets. Ones I’d rather not dig up myself. She had hidden money, and the fight it brought up with my stepfather bothered me enough. He hadn’t known where she could have amassed the money, and she made sure her husband didn’t see a dime of it.

When I return to the living room, I have the last bound journal in my hand and point to the door. I found this one separate from the others. Still, I couldn’t open it to see what’s contained inside.

Claire raises her hand for me to stop and takes the journal from my hand.

Your mom’s? She lifts the journal, and I nod. She immediately opens it and flips through some of the old pages. Have you read it?

No. I struggle for the sign I need. She said to not feel bad typing, so I grab my phone from my pocket.

It’s too invasive, I type and turn my phone to her.

She nods in understanding. She hands the journal back.

Sorry. I didn’t mean to take it.

I tilt my head toward the door, and Claire follows. I’m not entirely ready to let her go, but it’s getting late. I also have to work early in the morning so I could take the rest of the night off for her.

Once we step out into the night, the air is stronger, tinged with the pine trees that surround my property. We make the walk, and it’s calm. There’s a gentleness that comes from having her near me. The porch lamp floods us in a pale yellow light. Claire turns, her arms crossed, a soft smile on her lips. She hugs her woven cardigan close to her chest.

She hesitates, spending longer with me rather than going inside. I had fun tonight, she signs as fluid as ever, but slower for me.

Me too. I’ll see you tomorrow night? There’s a pinch to my chest, and I hope she doesn’t change her mind.

She nods, then holds up a finger for me to wait and grabs my mother’s journal. Claire disappears inside, and I take a deep breath of the night air. I wanted to kiss her. To tell her to sleep well. And that isn’t anywhere close to the level of okay right now. I want to take things slow with her. Usually, I jump all in, and the fire burns out quickly. Not with her. She’s a fire I want to keep alive.

A moment later she returns with a letter. I smile.

Have a good night, she signs.

You too.

I make the short walk back home. The moment I’m inside, I open her letter.

???

Dear Jamison,

I feel like picking on you has just come back to bite me in the ass. That’s okay, I’d love to learn your secrets.

You’re afraid of spiders? We don’t even really have spiders here. None that are poisonous, anyway.

Let’s see…I’m secretly in love with romantic comedies. The more mushy they are, the better.

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