Page 24 of Quiet Beautiful Things

“Oh my God,” Beth says and signs. “You just blushed big time.”

I roll my eyes.

She stares me down. Her eyes go wide as she lowers her hands so Mom and Dad can’t see them and signs, “Are you fucking your boss?”

I’m pretty sure I guffaw audibly. I grab her hands so she can’t sign, and I shake my head aggressively.

Mom waves her hand and scolds us for having another private conversation. “If the two of you want to speak privately, go to the ladies’ room. It’s rude to do it right in front of us.”

She’s right. It is rude. It happens all the time when you’re deaf, people speaking right in front of you and not including you in the conversation.

“Beth asked if I was seeing my boss.” I turn to my sister. “My boss is the president of the school. And she’s a woman.”

Beth snickers.

Drinks are placed before us, as well as a mouth-watering loaf of bread.

Dad slices the bread and passes us each a piece.

“Have you seen the hot mystery guy again?” Beth signs after shoving an entire piece in her mouth as if she hasn’t eaten in days.

“What’s this about a mystery guy?” Mom asks.

Dad puts down his bread, becoming interested in the conversation.

“Ellie met some hot mysterious guy right after she moved in.”

“I didn’t meet him. Not back then anyway.”

“Wait, what?” Beth’s eyes go wide. “What do you mean not back then? Oh my God. Did you see him again? Are you dating? Ellie, what aren’t you telling me?”

“He—” I drop my hands before continuing. “Well, his daughter… is a client.”

Beth’s face morphs from surprise into utter fascination. “Hot mystery guy is a dad? Oh, please tell me he’s a single father.” She claps. “This story just got a whole lot better. Why didn’t you say anything?” Her face turns into a pout. “You always tell me everything.”

“Stop it,” I sign. “I just found out today. I was walking home from meeting the two of them when you picked me up.”

Beth shakes her head from side to side, her smile a mile wide. “Oh how I’d love to have been a fly on the wall when you two came face to face after having your encounter at the grocery store.”

“Mind filling us in?” Dad asks, his protective instincts kicking into high gear.

I’ve always been super close to my family. They’ve been with me through the ups and downs of being away at college. The successes and failures. They are my biggest supporters, cheerleaders, and advocates. Yes, they tend to be overprotective at times, but still, I couldn’t love them more.

I tell them what I told Beth about seeing Blake at the supermarket and having what I can only describe as an out-of-body experience when we looked at each other. And then how we were both surprised when I showed up at his door today. And how I accused him of being a terrible father.

Guilt sweeps through me once again when I think of how quickly I jumped to conclusions. Of all people, I should know better than to judge a book by its cover.

I leave out the part where he asked me out. I’m still not sure how I feel about it, so I don’t need them slinging opinions on the matter.

“His little girl,” I sign morosely. “She’s sad and sheltered and… completely amazing.” I have a hard time controlling my emotions as I think of her situation. “She’s exactly why I wanted to do this job. She’s the reason. She’s the one deaf child that every deaf educator dreams of making a difference for. I just never thought I’d find her so quickly.”

“It sounds like she’s lucky to have found you as well,” Dad signs. His proud smile overtakes his face. “Look at you already changing lives.”

“I don’t know about that. We’ve just met. There are mountains to climb with this one.”

“Just be careful.” Dad raises a brow in warning. “The job is new. You don’t need entanglements and complications.”

Mom swats his arm. “Says the doctor who fell in love with his patient.” She winks at me.

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