Page 124 of Quiet Beautiful Things

“Close your eyes and hold my hand,” I sign. “You’ll know when it’s time to open them.”

Maisy loves this game, and overdramatically squeezes her eyelids shut and holds out her hand.

Ellie glares at me.

“You too. Please? I promise it’ll be worth it.”

She plays along. I unlock the door, take Ellie’s hand, guide them through, and shut the door with my foot. I lead them to the center of the room, drop Ellie’s hand, and pull the remote from my pocket. I hit a few buttons and brace myself for it.

Sound assaults my ears as it bounces off the walls. Lights of varying colors flash along to the beat of the music. Both of my girls open their eyes when they feel the vibrations under their feet.

Maisy falls to the floor and puts her hands on the ground, absorbing the vibrations in both her hands and feet. The smile on her face is a mile wide as she watches the lights flash.

Ellie’s jaw is on the floor as she turns in a circle and takes it all in.

It took a lot of ingenuity, but with the help of some others in the Deaf community, along with the best sound engineers money can buy, I created a sound room.

I rebuilt the walls with extra layers of drywall and four additional inches of insulation. The door hermetically seals to make it soundproof, so even if you stand right outside, you can’t hear anything. At the front of the room is a built-in state-of-the-art sound system hooked up to a complex arrangement of lights hanging from the ceiling that have been programmed to flash along with the music. Different colors signify different tones, warm colors for bass, cool colors for treble. I have to admit, it’s pretty amazing. You can almostseethe music. And you can definitelyfeelit. Each of the walls has multiple floor-to-ceiling speakers, and I even special ordered some to be installed in the floor, which is why Maisy is sitting on it right now.

“This is the most incredible thing anyone has ever done for me,” Ellie signs. Then her cheeks redden. “Not that it’s for me.”

I pull her close. “Of course it’s for you. It’s for the two most important people in my life.”

She smiles and puts her head on my shoulder, swaying to the music in my arms.

I revel in the unexpected benefit of the room. Dancing with Ellie. Although I’m going to have to invest in some high-tech earplugs if I spend much time in here.

Maisy squeezes between us and joins in our dance.

This—this right here—might be my favorite moment in time. Then I laugh at myself, because I think that very same thing at least once a day when Maisy learns a new sign. Or when she runs into my arms after school. Or… basically anytime Ellie looks at me.

I tap Maisy on the shoulder and tell her, “Now.”

She claps her hands and runs from the room.

Ellie narrows her eyes at me, but she barely has time to ask about it when Maisy trots back in the room, beaming, carrying two small boxes.

She hands the pink box to Ellie.

“For me?” Ellie asks.

Maisy bounces. “Open it.”

Ellie carefully opens the long slender box, her hand covering her heart as she looks down at the platinum necklace that spellsM-O-M in ASL letters. Maisy tugs on Ellie’s hand then signs, “Will you be my mom?”

Tears flood Ellie’s eyes. Before she can say anything, however, I open the second box and show her what’s inside. Because there’s more than one question she needs to answer.

When Ellie sees the ring, tears fall.

I take the ring out, drop to a knee, and sign amidst blaring music, “Will you be my wife?”

She doesn’t need to reply. She doesn’t need to sign or speak or even nod. Because I can see the answer in her eyes. Like Maisy, she’s going to be a Montana. She’s going to be one for the rest of her life and mine. She’s going to raise Maisy with me and have more children to fill all the rooms in this house. She’s going to love me as fiercely as I love her. She’s going to be my forever.

Maisy however, is eager for an answer as she tugs at the hem of Ellie’s dress, looking up at her expectantly.

Ellie sinks to her level and signs to my spunky, curly-haired, perfect daughter, “There is nothing I want more.”

Maisy looks from Ellie to me, possibly confused by her answer.

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