Page 70 of Interpreter

Tim sighs and looks at the sky for a moment before addressing me and Dr. Parker. “Milah, meet Dr. Parker, the pain in my ass and the main source of my ‘broody’ days.”

The main source?

Dr. Parker barks out a laugh. “Aww… your words sting, Timaeus.”

He’s lying, especially when Tim claps him on the shoulder and says, “Thanks for dropping by. Next time, call first.”

“Lambros! Stop being a girl and come down here! Hayes is talking shit and needs to be reminded why those who can’t play baseball scout.”

I nudge Tim and get his attention. “Theo is yelling for you to come down and play ball with them,” I say, signing only a few of the words.

“You won’t leave?” he says just as Theo yells for Anniston to push him down the stairs.

I shake my head. “No. I’m going to hang out with the ladies and watch Felipe embarrass himself.” Seriously, Pe sucks at sports, but there he is, all excited, heading for the ball field.

With a soft kiss to my head, I freeze. “Watch me hit a homer off a Cy Young winner,” he says, pulling back to get a look at my face.

I swallow.Don’t fall in love with this man, Milah. You can’t.“Go get ’em,” I say with a little less enthusiasm, sending him off with a smirk. Watching a man be competitive is so crazy attractive. So why did I act like I was being punished? Because I am. Watching Tim is temporary. Loving Tim is temporary. And the last thing I want to do is ruin all the progress he’s made by coming to the school. I need to tell him I’m leaving at the end of the year. But then again, he could get tired of me and want to break up. I mean, I’m thinking he’s madly in love with me and it will devastate him when I leave. I don’tknowthat loves me, but whatever we have, sure feels comfortable.

“Sit, Milah.” Anniston pats the chair beside her, and Dr. Parker takes the other.

“I gotta go kick Theo’s ass,” says Cade as he kisses his wife. “He’s been talking so much shit since he beat me in Madden the other night.”

Breck scoffs, “That’s not hard.Ibeat you in Madden.”

He looks at her like he’s remembering something funny. “You cheat in Madden.Bothof you cheat in Madden.”

“Go on with your lies,” she teases, and then proceeds to admire his ass all the way down the deck stairs.

Settling in, we all watch as most of the men take their respective places on the ball field.

“Anniston,” Dr. Parker starts after a few minutes. “I tried to talk to Tim, but he wouldn’t hear me out. Dr. Callahan has an opening in his surgery schedule. I think it would be a good time to revisit surgery considering the past couple of months.”

Surgery? What kind of surgery? For his hearing? Why would he not hear Dr. Parker out? I would think he would be relieved.

I look to Anniston for answers as she bounces Aspen on her knee. Then, at the crack of the bat, we all watch as Tim lines a ball clear into center field. Felipe is on the run, but he doesn’t get to the ball before Tim makes it to second base. I can hear the guys all laughing, but I can’t make out the words. I’m sure it’s a bunch of smack-talking anyway. But what holds me captive is how happy Tim looks.

Anniston sighs. “Okay, we’ll try talking to him. But don’t get your hopes up. He’s never changed his mind about this.”

Somehow Mr. Lambros just became more complicated.

Why wouldn’t he want surgery?

Radio host: Wow. You say it with such conviction, like this wasn’t just two years ago.

Penelope: Well, I knew it was coming. I hoped it wouldn’t, but deep down, I knew the countdown had begun.

Radio host: Have you learned American Sign Language to help in communicating with others?

Penelope: I have!

Radio host: You sound so excited about it.

Penelope: Well, I haven’t always been excited about learning it. But when I got an official diagnosis, Timaeus researched everything. He went to every doctor’s appointment with me.

The only thing I can think is: Has he slept with her?

It’s the single most irrational thing that’s been playing on repeat since the time Cal walked into our classroom. Our classroom. That’s another thing that seems crazy this morning. Since when has this class—this room—become mine? I wasn’t supposed to enjoy a job. This was only supposed to help my family move on and prove to Dr. Parker that I am adapting.

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