Page 206 of Champagne Nights

The corners of my mouth curved upward. “No. I’m not bothered. Why haven’t you asked me the most important question yet?” I picked up my fork and took a bite of my food.

“Which question is that?”

Setting down my fork, I signed, “If I was born deaf.”

“I haven’t gotten around to that question yet.” He winked.

“I wasn’t. I started to lose my hearing in one ear when I was three. By the time I was five, I was completely deaf in both ears.”

“What caused it?”

“Genetics. My father’s great-grandmother went deaf around the same age, but we didn’t know that until after it happened to me. The doctors really had no medical explanation. I have a question for you that I’ve been dying to ask.”

“Let me guess.” He smiled. “How do I know how to sign so well?”

I nodded my head.

He picked up his mojito and took a sip before telling me his story.

“My twin sister, Abigail, was born deaf. She passed away when she was nine from congenital heart disease. Another thing she was born with.”

“I’m sorry,” I signed.

“Thank you. My parents found out she was completely deaf when we turned one year old. When the doctors told them Abigail was deaf, they suggested we learn sign language with her so there wouldn’t be any communication problems. So, my parents hired a private ASL instructor, moved her into our home, and she worked with us for years.”

“Do you have any other siblings?”

“I have a sister, Addison, who is twenty-one. After Abigail died, my mother desperately wanted another child. She thought it would help with the loss and ease the pain of losing Abigail. But instead, they see Addison as a reminder of why she was born. Don’t get me wrong. They love her, but they treat her differently. I do what I can to protect her.”

“You’re a wonderful big brother.” I smiled.

“I try to be,” he signed as the corners of his mouth curved upward. “She’s coming home from college in a few days for thesummer. I haven’t seen her in a while, so having her back home will be nice. How about you? Do you have any siblings?”

I shook my head.

“After my mom gave birth to me, there were complications, and the doctor needed to do a hysterectomy, or else she would have died.”

“I’m sorry,” he signed.

“Thank you. But she was always okay with it. She tells me every day that one miracle in her life was enough.” I smiled.

After eating, the waiter walked over and asked if we wanted dessert.

“Do you like Mexican fried ice cream?” Henry asked me.

“I love it.” I signed with a grin.

“Chocolate, caramel or honey?”

“Definitely chocolate.”

“My favorite as well.”

“One Mexican fried ice cream with chocolate topping coming right up,” the waiter spoke.

When the waiter walked over and set the large dish of ice cream in the middle of the table, Henry picked up a spoon and handed it to me.

“Dig in.” He grinned.

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