Page 6 of Cold as (N)ice

Yes,she signed, her lips curving into a genuine smile.

That used, bright green Gameboy was his pride and joy. She’d found it at a resale shop, and though its black-and-white screen and ancient games weren’t flashy, Stephen loved it like it was the newest gadget on the market.

All right,she murmured before gesturing to him – and reaching out to ruffle his hair again.Let’s fix dinner, and then we’ll read the book tonight.

It’s okay?

She nodded, her hands moving deliberately.They had learned together as he grew, but the impression that she wasn’t as fast as her son always lingered in her mind. It was like speaking two different languages, but at the same time sometimes.It’s okay. I might not be as fast as you, but I still want to talk to my big boy and tell him all the stories that I can.

Stephen’s grin melted her heart.

Their conversations weren’t always perfect—she sometimes forgot a sign or had to spell out a word she didn’t know. But they made it work. They always found a way.

“I love you,” she whispered again, needing the sound of those words to ground her. She glanced back at her phone, her resolve strengthening as she thought of the opportunity in front of her. “Please, God, let this work. Let me figure out how to handle everything. For Stephen’s sake.”

As Irene rose to prepare dinner, she carried a fragile sense of hope in her heart—a hope that this time, maybe, they’d finally find their footing. That tiny voice deep in her soul was also there, saying, ‘Just you wait…’ And she sighed heavily, refusing to let those thoughts come to fruition in her mind.

There would be enough time to worry later.

The next evening, Irene texted the man as she pulled into the driveway, unsure what to expect. Theo said that the guy was really nice and easygoing, offering to pay her weekly. A part of her wanted to clarify if it was ‘Weakly’or ‘Weekly,’but she didn’t want to speak her mind until she at least had the job.

Mr. Coure should I come to the front door or the side door?

It’s Coeur – and the side door is fine.

Wincing, she quickly turned to Stephen.

I spelled his name wrong – it’s Coeur,she messaged and then stuck out her tongue, making a funny face, rolling her eyes. Go figure, right?

Yeah. Silly Mommy.

I know!

And Irene caught her breath as the door beside the massive garage door opened. A tall, slim-built man was standing there in baggy gray sweatpants and a snug fitting dark green T-shirt that said ‘Coyotes’ on the front. His blond hair was pulled back into a top knot on his head as he looked at her with a flat, grim expression.

“Crap,” she whispered aloud, hesitating, but Stephen was already opening his door to go say hello to the new person in their small world. He was especially excited that there was a chance he could actually ‘talk’ to this person who supposedly knew sign language too.

Stepping out of the vehicle, she saw Stephen excitedly holding up his Gameboy before shoving it under his armpit and signing to her new boss and to her shock, the man knelt and gestured ‘Hello’back.

Be still my beating heart,Irene thought in disbelief, swallowing back tears as she realized that he might look grim, but he was going to be kind to Stephen. He stood up again and gestured as well as spoke, his voice guarded, cold, and blunt.

“Should I sign to you too?” Mr. Coeur began, giving her a terse look that softened once again when he looked at her son. “I’m not the greatest at ASL, but…”

Mommy says the same thing,Stephen begins,but you are doing fine.

Thanks, buddy. I appreciate that. It’s been a while. What is your name?

Stephen. Mommy said you are Mr. Cur.

Call me Barrett, her new boss signed and looked at her again. Was that a ‘come get your offspring, woman’ sort of look?

Irene could have died right there.

Her son called her boss a ‘cur’ to his face. Sure, it was innocent, but a part of her wondered if the label fit. Every time he looked at her, there was a sour grimace that would race across his features almost like she was physically causing him to flinch or become ill.

She waved and moved quickly beside her son, signing and speaking.

“Stephen, we don’t want to be a bother. Mommy is here to talk to Mr. Coeur about the position and…”

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