My skin warmed and I not so discreetly glanced his way. As soon as our eyes met, his hands were moving.
“You good?”
“Yes.”
Ryland’s consideration was another thing I loved. No matter where we were or who we were with, he was always checking in. It never felt intrusive, like he was being overbearing. More like his protective nature and need to ensure I was always in a good space.
“See,”she signed when I had my eyes on her again.
I huffed.“He wants me here. Rylee would be thrilled if I stayed, but my life is in C-H-I-C-A-G-O and moving for a man feels complicated.”
She smiled widely and leaned forward, more invested in the conversation. Her face was eager and her hands moved thoughtfully.“Then move for yourself. Not him.”
“If I come here, it will be for him.”
She shook her head.“Not necessarily. If he makes you happy, you’re starting something new for yourself. Doing what makes you happy. He’s simply a part of the journey. And what are you worried about leaving behind? Family, friends, your job?”
“Yes, and that’s a tough decision to make. That’s my life.”
“That’s your comfort.”She shrugged. “If your family and friends love you, they will understand and support your decision. I can’t imagine they won’t want you to be happy. I’m on the board at C-H-A-N-D-L-E-R, I can talk to them about available teaching positions, even if the discussion is a demandfor them to open one for you. I feel like you’ll be an asset but I’m biased because y’all are cute and I want to do my part to ensure you stay. I’m a lover girlie which means I’m rooting for you and Ryland to fall madly in love. You’ll love it here.”
I laughed.“I’m thinking about it.”
“Think long, think wrong, girl.”She smiled smugly.
I chewed the corner of my lip and shared one of the major reasons I was so hesitant. Marlee was right, my mother was in my head more than I liked.
“My dad is hearing. When I was born and he found out I was deaf like my mother, he left. She doesn’t want me to have the same experience, so she’s adamant about not wanting me to date a hearing man.”
Understanding settled into Toya’s expression.“My parents were the same way. They’re both deaf. When I told them about D-A-R-E-N, my mother didn’t talk to me for a week. When I told them I was moving here, I thought my mother was going to disown me. Never mind the fact that I was starting my own ad agency and choosing to be here because the B-W-B helped me secure multiple seven-figure accounts. All she could process was that I was leaving my life, my world, and them for a man who would never fully understand me.”
“Does he?”I asked with a slight frown.
She smiled and glanced at Daren.“More than anyone else in my life ever has. He’s my husband first before anything else. He just happens to be hearing. That man is my biggest supporter and ally. If you’re worried about that with R-Y-L-A-N-D, don’t. Hell, you’re already ahead of the game. At least R-Y-L-A-N-D speaks our language. D-A-R-E-N didn’t know a damn thing but he learned.”
“I mean, he didn’t want anyone speaking on his behalf. He said I got this.”
She laughed.“And did.”
“And for the record, I’m also biased about you staying because my baby loves Rylee and that means we have to be cool too.”
Areena, followed by six other little kids, ran our way. She bounced on her toes as she signed animatedly to her mother.
“Mommy, can we open presents now? You said after we played for a while I could.”
“You finished playing?”Toya asked with an arched brow. Areena grinned widely, exposing missing teeth on the bottom, mirroring the same two Rylee was missing.
“For now. Can I please open presents?”Her little hands moved excitedly.
“Yes, go tell your dad you’re ready.”
“You can open presents too,”Areena signed to Rylee and I cut in.
“No baby, they’re just your presents. It’s your birthday.”
Her little nose wrinkled before Areena signed,“But she’s my best friend. She can open them with me.”
“Girl, it’s fine. Let them do what they do,”Toya signed and Rylee pushed between my legs.
