Page 47 of The Voice We Find

“I don’t believe,” Jasper says with a wry tone, “that she has much spare time for my tutelage, Dad.”

“And why’s that?” my father asks after another large helping of spicy tuna. “I was under the impression she was only working part-time.”

“Here, yes,” Jasper supplies. “But if her daily sign-out of the Escalade is any indication, I’d guess she’s secured other employment.”

“Jasper,” Natalie chides softly. “It’s none of our business how she spends her free time. She’s a grown adult.”

Jasper’s expression lifts in amusement as he silently circles a finger around the rim of his glass and cuts his gaze to his wife. “I’d say it’s my business when she’s using one of the vehicles in our fleet to drive herself there.”

“You told me I could check out a car whenever I needed to as long as one was available.”

“I suppose I did,” Jasper says easily enough. “Although, at the time, I hadn’t realized just how often that would be.”

My mother’s gaze skirts to me, but she remains quiet.

“Did you take on a second job?” My father’s accusing tone dries out my throat.

I try to draw from the confidence I once summoned on stage, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot pull on a character quickly enough to protect myself. I can only be me. “Yes, I’ve signed a contract at a recording studio in Petaluma.”

“Oh, are you singing, dear?” my mother asks with something akin to nostalgia in her voice. “Are you recording music?”

“No,” I say feebly, “I’m voice acting—narrating audiobooks for a reputable publishing house.”

For the longest time, nobody speaks. Not one person.

Until my father breaks the silence. “You’re reading books.” He stares a hole through me. “What kind of adult job is that?”

“Ronald,” my mother says cautiously, “if it’s something she enjoys, then maybe—”

“Then maybe what, Anita?” He balls up his napkin and tosses it on his plate. “She’s embarrassed us from a distance, so why not allow her to do the same while she’s living off of our blood, sweat, and tears? Unbelievable.”

He’s still bemoaning my shortcomings as he leaves the table, but I can’t hear him. Not over the vivid memory that confiscates my mind and holds me captive:

Dad, with his back turned, talking to the sheriff on the phone three months after the incident in the cellar.“I understand, Sheriff, and we value the time and resources your men have put into this.”Pause.“No, no, moving to a private investigation won’t be necessary. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I’ve had some doubts regarding the accuracy of Sophie’s story for some time now.”Pause.“Right, right. Exactly. She’s always been a bit of an attention-seeker, overly dramatic. You know the type.”Pause. Laugh.“Good to know I’m not the only one. Thanks again.”

12

August

Itried.

Even with my lingering unease after the church service yesterday, I tried to be the open-minded, accommodating big brother Gabby wanted me to be. When she asked if she could help Tyler’s family with their renovations at the Twilight Theater, I agreed. By the sound of it, there were plenty of projects to last through the end of the year, and according to Gabby, the Pimentels had even offered to pay her an hourly wage for her time. And considering I wasn’t keen on her working a real job during the school year, it seemed a fair compromise.

But that was all before my discovery this morning.

For the most part, I do my best to avoid going into Gabby’s bathroom. For one, it’s usually a disaster of lotions and potions I want no part of, and for two, I have my own facilities on the opposite side of the house. But after squeezing the last drop of toothpaste from its tube last night, it was time for me to hit up the stockpile Gabby hoards in her vanity this morning.

That’s where I found her hearing aids.

At first I couldn’t make sense of why they’d be snapped into their protective case and shoved to the bottom of a drawer filled with extra toiletries. Until I did. Until the revelation ripped the tenuous seam I’d haphazardly mended after yesterday’s service wide open. It wasn’t the expensive price tag or even the threat to the delicate technology that had my blood pumping hot as I gripped them in my fist.

It was the fear it triggered inside me.

Between Aunt Judy’s push for a deaf college and Gabby’s infatuation with her new deaf boyfriend and her ever-increasing involvement within the deaf community ... I could almost feel her slipping away from me, losing hope in the whispered vow I made to her after the accident.I will find a way to fix this, Gabby. I swear it.

Once again, I was failing her.

Worse, I was failing our parents.

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