“Cameron peeled them, because he’s an odd kid who has always loved skinning potatoes, to which I say, ‘have at it.’ But yeah, other than that, it was all me.”
She giggles. “He can come to my house and peel potatoeswheneverhe wants,” she jokes. “Seriously, open invite.”
“If you mean that, he saw how infatuated Brody was with Pepper. He mentioned something about wanting to meet up with him again. I know he’s sixteen and Brody’s what? Ten?”
She purses her lips. “Eleven.”
“Yeah, so there’s an age difference between them, but Cameron’s, I don’t know, eager, I guess, about meeting others who are deaf or hard of hearing, like him.”
“Was he born deaf?” she asks.
“No. He caught meningitis when he was two. Aaron almost lost him, actually. He made it, obviously, but he’s had profound hearing loss ever since. Without his hearing aids, he can barely hear, and even then it's only certain tones and pitches.”
“Where’s his mother?”
I shrug. “Who knows? She and Aaron split when he decided he was done living a lie and came out as gay. She signed everything over to him, even their child—her own flesh and blood—and left.”
“That’s terrible!” Lauren cries out.
“I know,” I agree. “That’s why I beat myself up so much, to think my actions took away his last remaining parent.”
“Um, I don’t know much about your home life with him, but it sure doesn’t sound like Aaron was Cameron’sonlyother parent. For all intents and purposes, you are his father too. I know better than anyone about that. I’d throat punch anyone who claims Marcus isn’tBrody’s dad. And besides, it’s not like Aaron isgonegone. He’s just present in a different capacity.”
“Not like I’m allowed to see him,” I quarrel.
“You indicated that it was because of poor legal representation?”
“It was. The language barrier presented huge hurdles. Ones that I didn’t have the fight in me to jump over because I was hurting so damn bad.”
“Well, I happen to know someone who would be adequately invested in making sure your voice was heard, if you ever wanted to try again…”
“You?”
She nods. “Me.”
I run my tongue over my teeth. “You’d do that for me?”
“Absolutely! Caleb, I think if you were allowed to participate in making decisions for Aaron’s care now, you’d feel less guilty about the accident. No, it’s not a perfect solution—I’m sure you’d give anything to have him back like he was before—but it would be better than sitting in the unknown, right?”
I nod. “I’m sure it would help Cameron too.”
“I’ll advocate for you however I can.”
“I know you will. You already do at many of my doctor’s appointments. If money weren't an issue now, I'd be all in. Maybe, now that I have steady employment, my savings will start to climb again.”
"Well, you just let me know when you need my help. I don't know a thing about law, but I sure do know how to be a voice." She places her leftovers back inside the basket, and to my utter surprise, she shimmies herself so she’s reclining back on my chest, situated between my legs.
“Is this okay?” she asks, peering up at me.
I bring my arms around her torso so she can see me signing in front of her. “Fine by me, as long as you’re comfortable.”
“I don’t stink, now that I’m this close?” she teases.
I lean forward and give her a sniff, thankful that I’m wearing thick jeans tonight to cover up the stiffening happening between my legs. “You smell very nice. Is that cucumber melon?”
“It is. You have very astute nostrils.” She giggles.
“They say when you lose one sense your others are heightened.”
