The Silence Between Us: Chapters 16–26

Beau was adamant we include every important detail to make our case and seemed even more into it than Nina had been.

I caught Beau’s arm as he was turning on the projector, our presentation flickering to life, and signed, NOT WANT USE MY VOICE.
For solidarity, I wanted to say.

Beau took the lead—not that I minded—and jumped into the opening spiel we practiced during our study session at his place last night.

There were a few people leaning forward in their seats with interest, like Beau had done yesterday, but nobody was whispering behind their hands or trying to hide any laughter. Even if some people weren’t paying attention, at least they weren’t being snide about it.

MOST PEOPLE NOT DEAF, Kathleen signed, and I kept my attention fixed on her and not Jackson. WHY THAT M-A-T-T-E-R FOR US?
I couldn’t come up with a coherent response, so I signed to Beau, PLAY VIDEO.

I'd never been one to give many Deaf pride speeches like this one, but in this case, I felt it was warranted.

Mom hadn’t hesitated telling Kathleen we’d be there, and now I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to be ecstatic or terrified at the thought of meeting Deaf people my age for the first time since we moved here from New Jersey.

How she’d been splitting her time working from home to be with Connor and going into her office was still unfathomable to me.

“What’s...name?” the woman said to me next, shaking my free hand vigorously.
M-A-Y-A, I finger spelled, adding my sign name next.

I just sat on the couch, drinking my now tepid tea, drafting a text to Melissa.

Finally, our time at the coffee shop came to an end. It felt as if the meeting lasted a lot longer than a measly forty-five minutes, and I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

I'd been so busy with homework and midterms and fretting about college applications that I hadn’t spent as much time with Connor as I should’ve.

That I didn’t get us into an accident on the way to the hospital was an epic feat.

When I turned around with Connor in my arms, there were people in hospital scrubs rushing toward me. Somebody was coming out the doors with a gurney, and someone else was trying to take Connor from me.

I gave up trying to deduce his reasoning and signed, OK.

DON'T LIE, PLEASE, Beau signed to me, an unusually somber look on his face.

Beau very much looked like he wasn’t buying it, but he relented in the end, giving a one shouldered shrug.

I had no rational explanation for why I did it, but I took a step closer and wrapped Beau up in a hug.

I gave him the once-over as inconspicuously as I could, and it was a relief he didn't seem to be in as much pain as a few minutes ago.

I did a double take when I saw carolers in Victorian garb, songbooks in hand, a small crowd gathered around them.

The only source of illumination in the car was coming from the lights we were passing outside, far too dim for me to get a good look at Beau’s face to lipread what he was saying to me.

Beau pointed to the ceiling of the train car with a finger, and I looked up to see a little sprig of mistletoe dangling above us. How cliché.

I opened my mouth to say hello, but the word fell short when I took in his face and saw that he looked completely freaked out, his expression taut and his posture rigid.

Immediately I wanted to berate myself for not doing more to help out.

This scene of Beau’s guests conversing by the fireplace, those who weren't in high school chatting over glasses of wine, the delectable appetizers spread out on the coffee table, probably would’ve made the perfect stock photo for fancy living.

MY UNCLE, Beau signed as I shook the man's hand. E-D-D-l-E.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, hoping he wouldn’t notice how clammy my palm was.

I decided to stuff my face while the socializing continued. I didn’t really notice what I was eating, but I was relishing the distraction.

Dana’s perpetual smile seemed to droop as she looked over at Beau.

I threw all my focus into it, and it was only because Dr. Watson seemed to be a grand public speaker that I was able to make out the gist of what he was saying.

Beau going into medicine? No way.
I mean, Beau was so personable he’d probably make a great pediatric surgeon like his dad, but that didn’t seem like the right path for him.