Page 79 of Quiet Beautiful Things

Allie and I share a satisfied smile. Because it was just a few short weeks ago when my daughter wouldn’t understand such a simple request. Howallour worlds have changed lately.

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Me: I’m here. Buzz me up?

I wonder if, like last time, she’ll come down and meet me. But I’ve been up to her place since then. And honestly, if she thinks she’s fooling anyone, she’s not. People have seen us together all over town. Even if there wasn't anything going on between us, the rumor mill would have everyone thinking otherwise.

The door latch clicks in release, making me smile, and I climb the stairs to her apartment. Her front door is cracked open, so I enter.

Ellie: Give me a minute to finish getting dressed.

I take the opportunity to study the pictures on her wall. Family portraits mostly. I see only a slight resemblance between Ellie and her mom. What a shame it is that she must look more like the asshole. A new photo of her and Sierra is off to one side. It still amuses me how much they look like twins.

Ellie comes out from her bedroom looking… fucking amazing. She’s wearing a short flowy blue dress that has pleats near the hem. I can almost see her twirling around as it catches lift from beneath. And those shoes. How women can dance in five-inch heels, I’ll never understand, but damn, her legs look even more shapely than usual.

“You look…” Then I sign, “Wow.”

She smiles. “You learned a new sign.”

I flash her an arrogant grin. “I’ve learned a lot of them.” She’s standing right next to the photo of her and Sierra on the wall and I motion to it. “If you ever wanted to fool anyone, the two of you could switch places. She could pretend to be you and then eavesdrop on all the conversations going on around her.”

Ellie: That’s sinister. Besides, I don’t really want to know what people say about mebehind my back. If they can’t say something to my face, it’s not worth knowing.

Me: Geez, El, that’s so… healthy. You are definitely a bigger person than I am.

She comes over and playfully squeezes my bicep. “No I’m not,” she signs.

Her touch sends zingers right to my cock. She seems to understand this, and tortures me even more by adjusting her dress and rewarding me with a tiny flash of cleavage.

Me: I’m not sure I’m okay with you going dancing in that dress. If I spin you around, others might see what’s beneath it. And believe me, I’m the ONLY one who’s going to see what’s under that dress tonight.

Her freckles make an appearance. Then she lifts the bottom of her dress to show me it has shorts underneath. She does a sign I don’t know then fingerspells, “Romper.”

I don’t do it back. That is one word I don’t need to know how to sign.

“Good,” I sign. “How’s Sierra?”

She pages through the photos on her phone and hands it over. There’s a picture of Sierra decked out in ski gear on top of a mountain, her goggles pushed up on top of her head, holding skis and poles at her side. Her smile is easy and comfortable. She must really be in her element.

“She looks happy.”

When I look back down at her phone, a text notification pops up. I can’t help but read the first line.

Brooke: I’m doing wonderfully, Ellie. Please don’t feel like you have to check on me every—

The notification disappears.

“Who is Brooke?”

Ellie looks caught off guard. Scared even.

I hold out her phone. “Someone named Brooke texted you.”

She takes her phone and reads the text. Then she does another sign I don’t understand. She fingerspells, “Client.” But, oddly, she does it while looking at the wall behind me.

It makes sense. But something isn’t right. She was caught off guard by my question. And shealwayslooks at me when she’s signing. If I’ve learned anything about the deaf, it’s that they are very visual. They never look away from conversation. Not unless they’re mad. It’s something I’ve learned Maisy does if I tell her anything she doesn’t like. I think a deaf person turning away is akin to a hearing person sticking their fingers in their ears.

And Ellie never averts her eyes. She’s lying.

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