Page 59 of Quiet Beautiful Things

Sierra: I can’t put you out.

Me: You wouldn’t be. I work a lot, so you could take the train to town and see your friends. We could spend all weekend together. We’ll invite Beth and have a girls’ night. It’ll be fun.

Her face lights up. “Could you teach me sign language?”

I smile and nod.

Sierra: My hotel is just around the corner. I can be packed and back here in thirty minutes.

Me: What are you waiting for? Go?

She jumps out of her chair so quickly it almost falls over. As soon as she’s out the door, Blake joins me.

“Where did she run off to?” he asks.

“To get her stuff,” I sign. “She’s going to stay with me this week.”

His eyebrows go skyward. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

I pin him with a scolding stare. “She’s my sister.”

He holds his hands out in surrender. “Right. I know. I just want you safe.”

“You protecting me?” I sign with a crooked grin.

“I guess I am.”

Me: It’s just for the week. She’ll be flying off to New Zealand soon.

I spend the next half hour telling Blake everything I’ve learned about Sierra. Including what she told me about Grant and her mom, Tara.

“You have to be careful,” he says. “What if he finds out?”

Me: What if he does? The man wants nothing to do with me. This isn’t about him. It’s about Sierra and me.

Sierra appears with a suitcase and a smile. She’s as excited about staying with me as I am about hosting her. We load into Blake’s car and drive back to Calloway Creek.

Sierra and I text the entire way.

Chapter Twenty-one

Blake

“Very good,” Ellie signs.

Maisy’s face lights up. She loves pleasing Ellie.

Maisy is learning faster than any of us expected. This week, she’s come to understand that people have names. Thatshehas a name. That she’s not just ‘girl.’ And I’m not just ‘dad.’

Dad. That’s another thing she seems to finally know and understand. That I’m her dad. And it brings me more joy than I’d ever imagined. Then again, Icanimagine more. The elation I’ll feel when she hugs me. When she wants to snuggle with me instead of just lying next to me, barely touching shoulders, when I read to her. When she wants to run up to me and jump into my arms after she’s had a great day. Or when she seeks out my comfort when she’s sad instead of running to the closet with her stuffed cat.

Ellie checks the time, something she rarely does when she’s here. She’s normally super focused and excited to work with us. But today she’s… distracted.

Me: You don’t have to be here. I know you’d rather be with Sierra. She leaves next Wednesday, right?

Ellie: I DO want to be here, Blake. This is my job. Sierra and I will have all weekend together. And she’s not at my place anyway. She’s in the city having dinner with a friend.

As Maisy normally does halfway into our two-hour session with Ellie, she takes a break, having a small snack and thenplaying on the swing. I take the opportunity to tell Ellie about the family we met earlier.

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