Page 32 of Goodnight, Sinners

She nodded. “Alright, talk to him. If he refuses, then I won’t be doing the surgery.”

I’m not trying to punish you, or stop you from doing your job, but I won’t compromise with your safety.

She smiled and signed,I know. You would never deliberately hurt me; mentally or physically.

She used the same words he’d used the night before, and she could see the pleasure lighting his eyes.

I will make sure he doesn’t say no,Jozef signed, his face twisting with purpose.You can look forward to your surgery and let me take care of security.

Shaun’s heart ached with love for the man sitting across from her. She loved that he was using facial cues along with hand signals. When they first met, his face was carved of stone, even while he was signing. An unusual thing for someone who was nonverbal. Body language, hand signs and facial expressions went hand-in-hand with transmitting intent as well as language. But Jozef had lived a brutal life and hadn’t incorporated facial expressions into his language. During their time together, he’d naturally fallen into it, and used facial cues often when they were together.

Thank you, this means a lot to me,she signed back.

He nodded, then said,I have another condition.

She tilted her head, waiting.

We set a wedding date.

Shaun’s heart sank and she moved back in her chair, physically distancing from him.

You don’t want to marry me?He frowned.

“It’s not that.” She sighed heavily. “I’m disappointed that you’ve made this part of a negotiation about my career. The two things are separate and shouldn’t be part of the same discussion. You don’t have to coerce me into marriage.”

Then marry me tomorrow.

“No,” she said automatically, shaking her head.

Then our wedding becomes part of this negotiation.He shoved a frustrated hand through his hair, before continuing.I don’t understand your reticence.

Shaun turned her gaze to the fireplace because she hated seeing the disappointment on his face. “When we met, it was under extreme circumstances and I was forced into an engagement. Then, six months ago, you came to Canada and kidnapped me again, forcing me to move to a part of the world that I would never have considered home. With your actions, you sent not only my life into a spiral but also my mother’s. Though we’ve found common ground, and I can’t argue that there is love between us, I’m also not ready to tie my life to yours irrevocably. Not without sorting through our issues.”

Yet, you wear my mother’s ring.His gaze dropped to the lovely ring she almost never took off.Willingly and with the knowledge that one day we will be married.

She stared back at him, then signed,I wear this ring with the understanding that there is enough love between us that we can sort through our differences before leaping into what could turn into a disaster of a marriage.At his fierce frown, she held up a hand.Not that I think our marriage will be a disaster, but we still have some major differences that need to be worked through before I’m willing to take the next step with you.

He looked thoughtful as he considered her words, and she thought for a moment she’d convinced him. Then he signed,no, I don’t agree. We plan this wedding now. I’m done waiting. I have compromised on your surgery, now you will compromise on this.

Frustration rose in Shaun. “You’re forcing me to choose between a career I love and a wedding I’m not sure I want? You’re holding this surgery hostage, Jozef, and that’s not fair. This isn’t a compromise.”

He shook his head,no, you’re wrong about the surgery.

“But you won’t let me do the surgery unless I set a wedding date!” she exclaimed.

Is that what I said?

She opened her mouth, then closed it, thinking over what he’d actually told her. “You said the wedding date was part of our negotiations.”

And so it is,he signed, pushing out of his chair, and standing.As in, this wedding is non-negotiable. I also told you to look forward to your surgery, regardless of what else is happening in our lives. You will be in that room with your doctor friend, and you will get to conduct your surgery.

Shaun was confused. “Then I don’t have to plan a wedding?”

Jozef leaned over and took her arms in a gentle grip, lifting her from her chair. He kissed her lips, then set her away.Yes, you most definitely have to plan the wedding. I’ve set the date.

“What?” she exclaimed.

You have two weeks.

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