Page 75 of Brew
Erica has certainly raised Olive to be a very thoughtful and caring child.
It’s kind of heartwarming, even though it fills me with dread having to sign. I know that’s selfish. If I can help her out, why wouldn’t I?
I’m being a dick.
“Very good. What did you learn today?”
She signsgood morning.
“Here,” I say. “I’ll show you some words.”
I show her how to say hello, goodbye, and, are you ok?
It’s a good thing for me Olive is a very fast learner, and her eyes light up each time she gets something right.
“Mom said I’m not to ask about how you know ASL.” She bites down on her lip, and I pique an eyebrow.
“But you’re gonna ask, anyway?”
“Is it true? That you had a girlfriend who was deaf?”
There is no easy way of getting out of this conversation. “If I tell you, will you be done with the questions?”
She nods. “I don’t like to pry.”
“Oh, I can see that.” I scratch my chin. “It was a long time ago. Before you ask any more questions, no, she isn’t alive anymore.”
I don’t want to say the word ‘murdered’. Olive is old enough to handle the truth, but I do have an infectious need to protect children with their innocence for as long as possible.
At fourteen, she knows right from wrong. She’s also probably well aware of how the world works because of her past. She may have only been seven when she, Erica and Amber ran for their lives, but she would remember.
“How did she die?”
I clear my throat. “She was kidnapped and then… then some bad stuff happened.” I watch her carefully. “By some bad people.”
“Oh.” She looks down at the floor. “I’m sorry.”
“Sometimes the world isn’t the kind of place you think it is,” I say. “But no matter what happens, the important thing to know is that you will meet good and bad people in life, you just have to learn to tell the difference.”
“How do I do that?” she asks.
“It’s difficult. You get to learn how to read people.”
“Like when they’re lying?”
“Exactly. I used to work in special forces many years ago. You learn a lot about human behavior.“
“Did you kill people?“
“Yes.“
“Bad people?“
The corner of my lip lifts. “Onlybad people.“
“Mom says you’re a good person. Even though you’re grumpy.“
I stare at her. On one hand, I’m glad she feels like I’m trustworthy enough to share that with, on the other, I’m a little insulted.
