Page 99 of Quiet Beautiful Things

I roll my eyes. “Fine, so maybe technically I’ll be his date. But he’s in the wedding party. And so is his sister, and his parents have duties. It makes sense that I sit with Maisy.”

“Excuses, excuses.” She shoves the heels in my face. “Wear them. He’ll go nuts.”

I purse my lips.

“What?” she says and signs, motioning at the pile of dresses on the bed. “You didn’t go through all of this to impress a four-year—”

One of the big advantages of being deaf is I can simply turn away and end any conversation. It goes both ways, however. When we were young, if Beth and I were fighting and she didn’t like what I was signing, she’d turn off the lights. It was super annoying. As I’m sure the adolescent behavior I just displayed is.

Beth follows me to the kitchen, waiting while I get a Diet Coke from the fridge and lean against the counter. She doesn’t talk, she just stares. Then something catches her eye, and before I can get to it, she’s holding the tiny slip of paper in her hand. It’s the fortune Blake left that night. For some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away.

“Your heart knows the right answer,” she says, reading it. She looks up. “Mom and Dad rubbing off on you?”

I snatch the slip of paper and throw it in the trash, annoyed that I know I’ll be fishing through garbage to find it as soon as Beth is out the door.

“You’re unbelievable,” she pouts. “You are totally in love with him and you’re so stubborn you won’t admit it. He’s not like the guys in high school, Ellie.”

For the second time, I turn away, not wanting to have this conversation.

A gentle hand lands on my shoulder. She walks around me so I can see her, the depth of her warm gaze tells me the third degree is over and she’s back to being my supportive little sister. “Come on, I’ll do your makeup.”

~ ~ ~

I gape at the limousine Blake sent for me. I told him not to pick me up since he has best man duties to contend with, but he insisted on sending a car. I thought he meant an Uber. It’s not that I haven’t been in limos before—I’ve been in plenty when going to the premieres of Uncle Chad’s movies—but still, it’s surreal that he sent it just for me.

Looking out the window as we approach the vineyard, I’m amazed at the wedding decorations. They begin all the way at the sign out on the main road. Tulle and bows adorn every fence post lining the long winding driveway leading to the events venue.It makes me wonder if they went all out for Lucas’s first two weddings.

Lissa must be beside herself wondering if she’s going to be just another name on his long list of failed relationships. But from what I’ve picked up, most of the town believes this is the one that will stick. Lissa seems nice and is someone I’d like to get to know. For her sake, I hope they’re right.

Maisy, Allie, and Sarah are standing out front. Maisy loves wearing dresses, but this one takes the cake. She looks like a complete angel, straight from the gates of heaven. I’m not even sure she understands what today is, but she seems excited nonetheless.

I get out of the limo and she skips over, wrapping me in one of her usual all-encompassing hugs. I smile down at her and sign, “Beautiful Maisy.”

She points out the big pink bow on her hip and twirls around. Then she touches the sequins lining the hem of my dress. “Beautiful Ellie.”

“Thank you,” I sign.

“Ellie, you’re simply gorgeous,” Sarah gushes.

“Wow,” Allie says. “My brother is going to flip.”

I feel the heat creep across my face as the two women share a look.

A very attractive and somewhat familiar-looking man comes out of the building. Blake trails behind him, stopping dead when he sees me. It’s almost comical the way his eyes bug out, like a cartoon even, and it does nothing to tamp down my blush.

“Ellie,” he says, winking as he uses my name sign. “This is Dallas.”

No wonder the man looks familiar. “Nice to meet you,” I sign.

I’m taken aback when he signs it back to me. When he sees my expression, he signs, “Deaf niece. I practice.”

“Very good.” I smile, pleased to see Dallas eager to learn. I know Blake was worried about how he might react to his niece. But he seems to be handling it very well. On the surface anyway.

Blake steps forward, takes my hand as if it’s the most natural thing, then drops it almost immediately, looking down at Maisy. It’s like he forgot we’re surrounded by people. But his little girl is very observant. She noticed. Her eyes are staring at our hands, almost willing them to join again.

She scampers inside. When she comes back out again, she hands me a drawing. It’s one we did together when I was trying to explain marriage. I did a decent job of drawing her uncle and Lissa, but I’m no artist. She shoves the picture at me and points to Blake then me then the picture.

It takes a moment for the crowd around us to catch up with what I understood immediately. She thinks Blake and I are getting married. My throat lurches with a hard swallow. I move my head from side to side, wishing Lucas and Lissa were somewhere near so I could correct her.

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