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She’s not the type to hold back her complaints. I’ve received several long texts detailing all the infractions the Williams family have on her roster. My niece’s complaint letters would make any home association queen weep with pride.
“She’s a lot more curious about the deaf community now.”
“You’re kidding.”
Yaya shows me a notes app exchange between her and Talia. It makes me smile seeing those notes. Reminds me of when Yaya and I just met and all I could do to communicate was type on my cell.
* * *
If you’re deaf, does that mean you can’t speak?
You use your voice to speak, not your ears. I can speak.
Then why don’t you speak?
Signing is the way I speak.
What are those things in your ears?
Hearing aids.
So you can hear with them on?
Not really.
But you’re wearing something to help you hear.
It helps me hear a few sounds more clearly, but I can’t hear words or higher frequencies.
Do your hands ever get tired?
Do your lips ever get tired?
No.
My hands don’t get tired either.
I chuckle and start to drag my eyes away from her phone when I see a message pop up.
Henry:Yaya, I know you’re seeing my messages. Please. I need to talk. There’s something I need to tell you.
My fingers stiffen on the cellphone. I’ve been so busy, I forgot about Henry. How long has he been texting Yaya? And what does he want to tell her? Is it about the fact that he’s been paying me off with the Ru-Carpsel money? Should I tell Yaya about it first?
And then what? She’ll want to see Henry. They might patch things up. He’ll start hanging around again, being the guy who’s there for her when I’m not. Him and his questionable motives will be the other angel on her shoulder, whispering that she should run from me at the slightest sign of conflict.
Would I be pushing him back into her life if I admit he’s a good guy who did a bad thing for the right reasons?
I swipe my thumb across the message, fighting the urge to delete the text.
It would be irrational. Selfish.
Immature.
But it would be worth it.
Sweat starts beading on my forehead as I have an internal debate.
Delete it. Don’t delete it.
