Page 25 of Anything But Convenient

There was that word again.

Husband.

Spouse.

Partner.

We’d be together for the foreseeable future. There’d be no escaping spending time with one another, especially since I was going to teach him sign language.

The impromptu moment during our ceremony showed me he could go with the flow quite well. It also gave me a chance to see his eyes light up when he realized I was pledging myself to him in more than one way.

If I’d known how joyful it would make him, I’d have said ‘I do’ in every language I knew. I wanted him that happy always.

Once we got in the car, he put his address in my phone, and we let the app lead my movements. I could have let him drive, but he didn’t seem all that inclined to want to.

Soon we’d have to discuss his limits. We also needed to go over his injury. I didn’t need the gruesome details, if there were any. I was more concerned that I’d say or do something to offend him when all I wanted to do was help.

Not that he really needed me outside of the ASL teachings.

By the time we pulled up in front of a two-story brick home, I was a mess of nerves. How in the world were we going to live together when I don’t even know how to act around the man?

Get yourself together, Archie.

Takeshi climbed out of the car. I took it as my cue to exit as well. I went to grab my bags from the back, only to find them gone. I turned to see my suitcase already in my husband’s grip,

“I can get that,” I argued.

He backed away, shaking his head as he made his way to the back door. I’d been directed to park in a small, gated area behind the home. Despite noticing the nice neighborhood, I was glad to have my car tucked away. It had been with me for a while. I didn’t want anything to happen to it.

Takeshi unlocked the door, then keyed in a code for a security system that looked like something out of a spy movie. It shouldn’t have been surprising given his line of work.

Still, I gaped at the amount of numbers he had to press to get the damn thing to stop flashing.

Once that was done, he walked me further inside. I was so busy staring around the space I didn’t notice him pull out his phone until I felt mine vibrate in my pocket.

Takeshi

This is the house. You have free run of it. If you like, I can get you a different code to get in and out, so you don’t have to remember mine.

I smiled down at my phone, too afraid to let him see how giddy it made me that he noticed my reluctant feelings about his ridiculously long code.

Archie

That would be great. Your home is beautiful.

While I wouldn’t always text him back a reply, I felt like the moment called for it. He needed me to show I was dedicated to communicating in whatever form made him most comfortable.

Takeshi

Our home is beautiful. And thank you. I’d be willing to change some things around if you don’t like something.

Archie

Oh, no! It’s all so beautiful.

I wasn’t lying at all. The area we moved into opened directly into the kitchen. From where I stood, I could see into the living room and dining room areas. Everything was in neutral colors, making the space all warm and inviting.

Takeshi

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