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Zoe’s mother and sister making her feel like an invalid only strengthened her resolve to go.
“It seems so sudden…”
“Moving away is too dangerous…”
“There’s no way you should live alone…”
“You won’t know anyone…”
Zoe explained her plan, answered their questions through written notes, and ultimately ended the conversation by going to her room.
She hadn’t spoken aloud since she stopped being able to hear her own voice. In the eight years since her accident, they never learned to sign despite the recommendations of Zoe’s therapists and teachers.
Ultimately, their inability to communicate aided her escape.
She found an unlikely friend in a person like Tiffany, a woman who was her opposite in every way. Mostly ignoring the women in her house, Zoe spent time with a person as ready to start over as she was.
Tiffany picked her up two days in a row and they worked together to pack her stuff. The blonde’s family was shocked and worried when they found out she was leaving. Her cousin Shay followed her around wringing her hands.
“You can’t justgo! What if some sex pervert leaves you dead in a ditch? What if you witness some awful crime committed by the mafia in Vegas? What if you getlonely?”
Finally, Tiffany held the redhead’s shoulders and said, “You have an overactive imagination and worry too much. I’ll be fine. Change is a good thing.”
“Change is overrated…”
“That’s comin’ from a girl who needs some serious changes she’d welcome with open arms.” Winking, she added, “And openlegs, if I’m not mistaken.”
Blushing, her cousin got back to work. Shaking her head, she mumbled, “That just ain’t right, Tiffany.”
“It’s true though.”
“Besides, I’m still reeling from the divorce.”
“You knew when you did it that it wasn’t gonna last. That rodeo boy was ridiculous and shouldn’t impact your future with you-know-who.” To Zoe, the blonde mouthed, “She loves a man somethingfierce.”
Shay brought her best friend to help them load the van and Amelia insisted they needed her older brother’s help.
Victor Murphy was a nice man Zoe’s dad spoke highly of when he was alive. He was alotbigger than the last time she saw him and it was obvious in less than a minute that he was the man Shay loved.
Zoe could understand. He seemed to be a gentle giant with a heart of gold. He was patient, helpful, and genuinely kind.
Neither seemed to notice the other’s interest. Based on Victor’s stumbling and stuttering around Shay, he was as taken with her as she was with him.
Their situation was fascinating to watch.
In no time, they had Tiffany’s stuff loaded. They formed a caravan to Zoe’s and loaded her belongings next.
When Megan tried to flirt with Victor, Zoe bodily pulled her out of the room and wrote her a note that he was off limits.
Her older sister got more man crazy by the year. There was an edge of desperation to it recently.
Tiffany slept at her house after she made the rounds to tell her family goodbye. They got on the road before dawn the next day and took their time.
Over the five days they spent driving, Zoe honed her lip-reading skills while Tiffany kept her hands on the wheel.
It would help in her new community.
Most people weren’t going to be able to sign so she needed a backup plan. It wasn’t foolproof, but it was better than nothing.
