But just as quickly, it disappeared.
No, no, no. That couldn’t be it. All that work, all the pain and frustration. Those stupid headaches and missing work. Time away from my son. It couldn’t be for just a single screech!
Dr. Liang quickly signed to me. “That was probably intense. I should have warned you. How are you feeling?”
All I could do was shake my head. I wanted it back. That screech was annoying, but I wanted to hear it again. I wanted all the noise, all the sounds.
Looking at Max, I swallowed my sob. “Please.”
I didn’t even know what I was asking for. Anything. Everything. Just a minute. But also, every minute for the rest of our lives. I was starved for sound.
Suddenly, the room became charged with an energy that I knew well. Everyone went still. No one moved. Lips stayed sealed, hands remained at their sides or froze while typing. All gazes shifted to Max, who was tense, his chest lifting in harsh breaths. He was coiled tight, ready to strike.
Why, I wasn’t sure, but I needed him to stop because these doctors had to fix my ears, dang it.
“Almost there,” he signed, giving me a tight smile. “Hold on one more minute, little treasure.”
Nibbling my bottom lip, I nodded, blinking back my tears.
My three doctors began to move again, reanimated, although they moved more carefully. Max lifted his hand, fingers splayed, and started lowering one finger at a time. A countdown. Heart racing, I waited, frustrated but hopeful in a new way for the first time in a long, long time.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One…
Max covered my eyes. I was instantly thankful for his forethought to block out the glaring overhead light. It eased some of the overstimulation going on in my head that was making my headache worse. Covering his hand with my own, Iheld on to him like I had when he’d taken me on my first roller coaster.
That was what this felt like. As if we were seated at the top of the highest point, about to drop down, but there was always that pause to allow the others to catch up. Excited butterflies fluttered in my tummy, my entire body primed, ready for the next sound.
“Hello, little treasure.”
I gasped, then whimpered, the world going still as if someone had hit the stop button on real life. Both sounds were slow to register because I was so entranced by my husband’s voice. It was gruff, slightly choked, as if he were fighting to keep his throat clear. Rich and strong, that was how it sounded to me, and it fit my husband so freaking perfectly. A shiver raced down my spine even as tears spilled from my eyes.
Finally. Oh God, I’d finally gotten my greatest wish. I’d heard Max’s voice, and it was worth every moment of fear, all the anxiety, all the doubts and second-guessing. Myself, the doctors, the world in general. But never him. I’d never once questioned Max.
“A-again,” I meant to whisper, but it came out as a shout, causing me to wince at the abrupt loudness. “More.”
“You’re doing so well, treasure.” He shifted, uncovering my eyes and lifting me from my seat. Carefully, so, so carefully, he placed me on his lap, kissing my temple and taking in a steadying breath. “Is it too loud?”
I shook my head, then nodded, because yes, it was kind of loud and I wasn’t sure if he meant to be. I was overwhelmed and, now more than ever, overstimulated. It took my brain a moment to acknowledge all the sounds around me. There was a whirring noise that was maybe the heat coming through the vent. One of the doctors was breathing too loudly, and, without looking, I guessed it was Dr. Altman. He’d used his inhaler morethan once in my presence. His asthma must have been acting up. I couldn’t bring myself to look away from my favorite person in the universe to check on the doctor.
Max’s eyes were overbright as he smiled at me, his entire body practically shaking beneath me. I couldn’t read his lips if he spoke because I was openly crying. Thankfully, he was giving me a moment so I could simply bask. Happiness spilled out of my heart. I’d been granted something incredibly precious, all because this man had fought for it. He’d gone to war with every obstacle, including me, to make this gift possible.
“How is that, baby?” Max asked, his voice a little more choked this time. He paused to clear away the emotion. Damn, even his cough was sexy. I was so mad that I’d missed years of this. His voice. His heavy breathing. A hundred sounds that people took for granted. And now, I got to experience them too. “Is the level better?”
“Max…” I whispered, and yes, it was a whisper. My voice was weird to my ears, but I kind of liked it. It wasn’t all distorted from disuse. I’d had to speak a lot over the years and rely on reading lips. Not everyone in Creswell Springs knew ASL like my husband and his family. Some of the residents had learned enough to communicate with me, but most of them had been patient and had become fluent in it so I wasn’t left out.
Grasping my chin, Max tilted my head toward him. “I need you to be ready for this, treasure. Tell me if it’s too much.”
“Ready for what?” I asked, confused. Had I missed something? Was there something else the doctors had to do that I’d forgotten about?
Eyes locked with mine, he gave a curt order. “Out. Now.”
Something in his tone caused a zing between my legs. Oh God. This man’s voice was the most intoxicating sound. It was hypnotic, even when he was being grumpy to the poor doctors who’d worked hard to give me my hearing back.
Scrambling feet and the door clicking shut didn’t register with me, because I was so consumed by the sounds of Max’s breathing. I couldn’t wait to fall asleep to the rhythm of his heartbeat later.
“Delaney.”
Oh, my sweet, perfect Max.
