Page 38 of The Library on Plum Island
“I read lips, too,” Alex told her, but he wasn’t sure why he had to blurt that out.
“I’ll remember to be careful what I mutter in your presence.” Daniella laughed. “Like I do when my daughter is around.”
The sound echoed through his heart and resonated in his soul.Yup. I’m madly and utterly in love with Daniella!Emily had weaved a place into his heart right up there with his niece, Shay, the moment he’d found her on the rocks. Contrary to what Harriet had said about Alex only thinking he was in love with Daniella because she seemed unobtainable, Alex hadn’t felt this way about anyone since his first love broke his heart.
“Yes, it’s a superpower the hearing impaired have,” Alex teased.
“Does it work?” Daniella’s question threw him for a bit until he realized she was talking about the implant.
“It helps me make sense of sounds in that ear,” Alex told her. “I don’t use it as often as I should, as it’s experimental because I’m only partially deaf in my left ear. It tends to cause weird feedback for me. I’m thinking of having it removed when I go for my next checkup.”
“Are you sure it’s worth the risk of the removal?” Daniella asked him. “The surgery to remove it could further damage the cochlear in the ear.”
“I know.” Alex nodded. “I’m also considering leaving the internal electrode in and maybe trying the next advanced external device.”
“As your doctor,” Daniella advised, “I think that’s the better option.”
“That’s what my parents say as well.” Alex laughed.
“Well, that’s three against one,” Daniella said with a smile. “Take it from a surgeon. It’s best to avoid too many surgeries.”
Here was Alex’s opportunity to tell Daniella his secret, but he choked on the words. His mind went back to early that morning and the conversation with Emily after discovering her standing at the door and having read Harriet’s words.
Did I read that correctly?Emily had signed to Alex earlier.Do you have feelings for my mother?she’d asked him. Her eyes filled with suspicion.
Yes.Alex had signed back.
Were you only nice to me because you were trying to get close to her?Emily had asked.
Alex doesn’t do that!Dawn had jumped in, having learned how to sign with Alex, as she had been with him when he’d lost his hearing.I can honestly say that Alex has a big soft spot for you. Especially as you share something that none of us can quite comprehend.
Emily had scrutinized Alex for the better part of two minutes before replying.I believe you.Then she’d looked at Harriet and said surprisingly clearly with her lovely young voice.“I want to help you help Alex win my mother’s heart.”
Alex swallowed as he remembered Emily’s words and a lump formed in his throat. That’s when he blurted out his secret about Daniella to the three of them. Silence fell over the balcony, and three pairs of stunned eyes stared at him before they burst out laughing. Alex had watched them with disbelief and felt a little hurt that they found his predicament and what he’d done so darn amusing.
That’s when he told them that as soon as Daniella came to check on him later that day, he was going to admit the truth to her. But Emily was the one who told him not to—not yet anyway. Her reasoning was that her mother mistrusted most people, and she hadn’t had a relationship since Emily’s father had passed away. She advised that Alex first show her that he’s not the person Daniella thinks he is. He needs to prove himself, and only then come clean. Harriet and Dawn had agreed with Emily’s reasoning. Dawn was the one who pointed out that no one ever just blurted out all their secrets. The first part of a relationship was getting to know each other.
Harriet agreed that only when you knew where the relationship was going would you divulge secrets. Alex wasn’t so convinced, and he still wasn’t. The secret he was keeping wasn’t about him—it was about Daniella. Emily responded that her mother knew a lot about him, too, as she’d read everything in magazines, and that was similar to what Alex knew. Alex really wished people wouldn’t believe things they read in an article about him.
“Alex?” Daniella’s voice snapped him from his thoughts. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine,” Alex assured her and decided to test the waters to see if he should or shouldn’t tell her. “Daniella, can I ask you something?” Her brow creased. “It’s kinda personal.”
“Okay.” Daniella’s eyes narrowed. “But I can’t say whether or not I’ll answer it.”
“Fair enough,” Alex agreed. “It’s about the message I got warning me to stay away from you. From the parts of the conversation I overheard when I arrived here, it seems you were talking about whoever Harley and Sam suspect sent me that message.”
“Correct,” Daniella answered. “To all of the above.” She bit her lip contemplatively for a few seconds. “I was going to talk to the three of you later when I came to check on you. But maybe you can pass it on for me to Harriet and Dawn for me.”
“Sure,” Alex promised.
Daniella surprised Alex yet again by opening up and telling him about Doctor Jackson and why Daniella and Emily changed, took Daniella’s grandmother’s family name, and moved to Plum Island. Again, Alex had a window of opportunity to tell her, but Emily’s words rang in his head. Then, he got distracted when Daniella ended the story by telling him what triggered the meeting and why she knew it was time to warn her friends and loved ones. While Alex hoped he could move into her loved ones bracket for the moment, he was happy to be classed as a friend.
“I knew that man would go after my friends. I’m sorry he targeted you first,” Daniella said, frowning. “If he did, that means he thinks we have more than just a doctor-patient relationship.” Her eyes widened and flashed with shock and fear. His heart thudded when he realized the fear was for him. “Oh, no, Alex. Please be extra careful. He tried to harm a friend of mine a few times because she saw right through him. There’s no telling what he’ll do if he thinks we’re in a relationship.”
“Or maybe that’s the perfect way to flush him out!” Harley’s voice made them both jump, and Alex came very close to squealing like a child he’d gotten such a fright.
Someone needs to put a freakin’ bell on Harley,Alex hissed to himself, and as his heart rate settled, he became intrigued by Harley’s idea. “What are you suggesting?”
