The baby turned his head to look at the toys he’d just been playing with. She used the sign for blocks and had Annie repeat it, then lift Parker’s hands to sign it. The baby version, anyway.
“Do you think he can hear what I’m saying? He seems more responsive since getting the hearing aids, but I’m not sure.”
“Most babies at this age don’t understand all language and certainly can’t speak it, so it’s hard to evaluate what he can hear and what he can’t.”
“Then, how do we know if we should get the implants?”
Tilting her head, she said, “You don’t have to make the decision right away. It’s not like if you don’t get them now, he’ll lose his chance. I got them when I was older.”
“Harrison keeps insisting we get them as soon as possible. If it were up to him, Parker would have had the surgery already. He’s frustrated that we have to wait the six months using hearing aids.”
“CIs won’t make Parker learn to speak any earlier than typical children.”
The expression on Annie’s face showed her concern. “But Harrison has read articles that say children who don’t have the implants by eighteen months will be delayed in their speech.”
“Their speech, possibly, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be any less intelligent or won’t be able to catch up. What children need is a language rich environment. Language is not only spoken. Teaching him to communicate in sign language, using his body and facial expressions, showing him pictures, and using your love and warmth to let him know how you feel. Those are all equally important.”
“This is such a hard decision. I don’t know what to do.”
“I can’t make that choice for you. What I can do is give you all the information, so you can make a more informed decision. I got mine when I was sixteen.”
“Yeah, and your speech is excellent. Obviously, your speech wasn’t delayed.”
“My speech wasn’t always like this. My parents made sure we got intensive speech therapy in school, and I worked hard, especially once I got the implants. I still have to concentrate at times when I say certain words.”
“It doesn’t show. I never would have guessed you’re deaf…I mean, were deaf.”
“I’m still deaf. Cochlear implants don’t make it magically go away. But now I have better access to the auditory world. When I take them off, I have no hearing at all.”
Parker began to fuss, and Annie picked him up and moved to the kitchen. “I think he’s hungry. I was trying to wait until Harrison got home, but apparently his after-work errand ran a bit late.”
Following her into the kitchen, Carli took the baby and held him while Annie got his food ready.
“Blake didn’t realize I was deaf when we first met either. We’d been chatting for an hour, and I think I left him speechless when I showed him my CIs.”
Annie chuckled. “He told me he was an ass, and you put him in his place.”
Rolling her eyes, she said, “He didn’t think I could understand about CIs, so I kind of had to show him I knew plenty.”
“Yeah, those Wentworth boys can be a little snobby. I can’t really blame them. It’s the way they were brought up. I’m surprised I was even allowed to date Harrison with the way his parents vet everyone.”
“You didn’t come from a wealthy family?” Why had Carli assumed she had? Did that mean Blake wouldn’t mind socializing with lesser mortals a bit? With her?
“My parents died in an accident when I was thirteen, and my aunt and uncle raised me.”
“I’m so sorry.” Her family might tease her about being a traitor, but they were alive and loved her. Even with all the stuff she had to put up with.
“Thank you. My mother’s sister is married to a very wealthy man, and it was the only reason I was accepted into the social circle. When I came to live with them, I was trained to be a debutante and was encouraged to go to Vassar and major in something frivolous. It was expected I’d marry someone in the circle and do charity work. All that has come about. Except no one expected our first child to be imperfect.”
“Imperfect? You see Parker that way?” How could any mother not love their child unconditionally?
“Of course not.” Annie took the baby from her and hugged him tight before placing him in his highchair. “But that’s how Harrison’s parents see him. Oh, they’ve never used that word. Handicapped, impaired, disabled, unable to live up to certain expectations, maybe. I think it’s why Harrison’s pushing so hard to get the implants done. He loves Parker—I know he does—but he also wants his parents to be happy.”
“And they’d be unhappy with a child who isn’t perfect in their eyes?”
Annie ducked her head and started spooning pureed fruit into the child’s mouth. She didn’t need to answer. Her silence spoke volumes.
After a few minutes, Annie put the bowl aside and cleaned the bits of food from Parker’s face. “Blake seems impressed with you. Says you know what you’re talking about.”
