“Okay, Momma.” He rolled his eyes and turned to the fridge to get out the condiments. “I already talked to Bryan about this, and he was fine.” He signaled to Jacob and signed that their food was ready. “Love you, Momma. See you on Saturday.” He ended the call and tried to remember how to signmediumfor Jacob, who got up and pulled a pan of potatoes out of the oven.
They moved around their apartment in silence, though Jacob could speak; he simply rarely did. Ty was still learning sign language, but he could communicate well enough to say dinner was ready.
They sat back down at the bar, and Jacob doused his potatoes in ketchup and his steak in A-1 sauce, and then Ty did the same.
Jacob put his first bite in his mouth and moaned, his eyes rolling back in his head.So good, he signed, and then he pulled his phone closer and tapped a message for Ty.
What are you taking to the Signs for Success party tomorrow night?
Ty blinked at the phone, having completely forgotten about theSigns for Successparty tomorrow night. He’d be back at work at Lone Star, and he looked up at Jacob. He seemed to be able to read his expression, no signs or words needed. He started to laugh and then said,You forgot.
Ty grinned at him and nodded. “I forgot,” he confirmed, saying the words as he signed them. “I don’t even remember what I signed up for,” he said next, and that took him to his own phone, where he went to his calendar, sure he’d made himself a note.
He had, and he saw that he’d signed up to bring rolls for theSigns for Successcompany potluck dinner tomorrow night. The new semester didn’t start until Wednesday, and a lot of students had gone home for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday.
A few stayed, and of course, Mitch and Lacy lived on site, and they’d wanted to do a faculty and staff party before life returned to normal again. Ty only worked with Mitch training the hearing dogs, and the rest of his experience withSigns for Successwas actually as a student.
Do you know what they’re having for the main dish?Ty typed into Jacob’s phone, as Mitch and Lacy had said they would provide the meat.
Smoked turkey,Jacob wrote.And steak bites. I’m supposed to take cheesy potatoes to go with.
“Sounds like we’ll eat well tomorrow, at least,” Ty said as hetyped the words into the phone. He grinned at Jacob, and he did enjoy his steak—every scrumptious bite.
He cleaned up the kitchen, wiping down the stove of all the steak splatters and wiping out the cast iron skillet with a paper towel before he took his phone and headed outside. Darkness had started to fall, and Ty walked the sidewalk between two pads of grass—the playground on the right that he could see out the window over their kitchen sink—to a bench on the left side in the corner, about one hundred yards from his front door.
Winnie hadn’t strayed far from his mind, as she had been the one to tell him to make this walk every day, focusing on his steps and his stride, where his shoulder was, and how he could pull it into position and find the natural gait that he’d once had.
He’d done it too. Even on his busiest days, he made the one-hundred-yard walk to the bench, thinking of her the whole time before making his way back.
Tonight, he sighed mightily as he sank onto the bench and looked at his phone. Winnie hadn’t texted again, but she hadn’t seemed to mind his questions, and surprisingly, he hadn’t minded hers either.
He’d learned that her favorite food was avocados and her least favorite foods were mushrooms or eggs. She had two cats, and that was her favorite animal. And he’d told her that he loved horses and the full moon and the scent of dust and dirt in the air, and the way the earth felt so clean after rain. She loved a good rainstorm too, and Ty thought it might be the first and only thing they’d agreed on yet. She loved the color purple, and he already knew she was a people person. He wasn’t, but he figured lots of people found happiness with someone who wasn’t exactly like them.
Why couldn’t he?
I’m going to need a rain check,he typed out.My brother called this afternoon, which is why I kind of disappeared. Then Jacob came home with steak and well, now you know where you rank against fresh steak from Shiloh Ridge.
She seemed to like the emojis, and he sent a couple of laughing ones.
Then my momma called and, wouldn’t you know it? My brother’s getting engaged on Saturday, and apparently he needs my help to do it, so I can’t take you to lunch.
He sent that message and sighed as he looked up.
Maybe we can find another time before next weekend to make sure that we don’t embarrass ourselves in front of the whole town. Since, you know, my momma already knew I had a date to the wedding.
His phone buzzed only a few seconds later, and he looked down at it.
Your momma knew you had a date?Winnie asked.
Out of all the things he’d said, that was what she’d latched onto?
I guess someone picked up on something at the brunch today,he said.Maybe you and Taylor were talking about it.
Yeah, we were,Winnie said.Maybe someone at the table next to us overheard.
Welcome to Three Rivers,Ty said.This place is notorious for its rumor mill, especially with someone like me.
Someone like you?Winnie asked.What does that mean?
