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Oh, no "Can’t youso awful
"Do you understand anything about ? Of course you don’t Get out Just get out We can’t afford any "
Claire wanted to say so to make it better, but as the point? All four of them stared at her as if she was the lowest form of life they’d ever seen They wouldn’t care that she’d only been trying to help That she hadn’t uy That it had only been an accident
Not knohat else to do, she turned and left
It was after five when she arrived back at the house Claire checked on Nicole, as still sleeping, then went down to the kitchen and made coffee The first pot smelled funny and tasted worse She threw it out and started over
The second batch was drinkable She poured herself a cup and sank into a chair at the table
How could her day have started so horribly? How could she have ? It wasn’t fair She wasn’t a bad person Okay, yes, she lived a strange, twisted life that e who she was on the inside
But it see to be harder than she’d first realized
"I’ure this out"
She didn’t have oing to need to have a life without ht of itto her It was her reason for breathing
"I’ll find another reason," she told herself "I have unexplored depths" At least she hoped she did
A little after six, she went looking for the toaster There was plenty of bread in the freezer She etting the adjust around for a tray when the back door opened
She straightened and saw Wyatt walking into the kitchen Wyatt, who hated her nearly as ely the previous day
But before she could wonder what that all irl who trailed behind hi smells bad"
"I burned sohter?" she asked Wyatt had a daughter? Which meant he had a wife
The realization caused her to take a step back, although she couldn’t say why Still, she wanted to irl Claire had always liked children and drea his hands as he spoke "Aers in an odd way "Amy’s deaf"
"Oh" She looked at the child and noticed hearing aids in both ears
She’d never known a deaf person before No sound What would that be like? Never to hear a Mozart concerto or a symphony? No ht
"How horrible"
Wyatt glared at her "We don’t think so, but thanks for sharing your enlightened and sensitive opinion When you see a one-legged guy walking down the street, do you kick it out frohter "No I’ about ht as guilt swa bad"
"People like you never do"
He wouldn’t understand, mostly because he didn’t want to He assu but prove his point
He began taking groceries out of the bags She thought about offering to help, but kneould refuse Instead, she retreated to the living room and wondered if she should simply hire a nurse for Nicole and escape back to New York At least there she fit in
She sank onto one of the sofas and did her best not to cry Why was everything going so wrong? How could shewould be, she didn’t want to be a quitter She’d never quit Not once--no ot
But this situation was impossible
Aize for what she’d said, only to realize the child probably hadn’t heard her Which , assuet her point across She sat there, feeling both stupid and aard, not sure which orse
Amy didn’t seem to pick up on any of that Instead she walked over to a bookshelf in the corner and picked up a large picture book She carried it back to the sofa and handed it to Claire
"You wantat the book "Aren’t you too old for this book?"
Aet Claire’s attention, then touched her chin She motioned to her lips, then her eyes
"See you speak"
The words were spoken sloith exaggerated pronunciation
Claire’s eyes widened "You can talk?"
Aled it sideways, then held her thuer an inch or so apart
"A little," Claire said, feeling triumphant "You can speak a little"
A you to talk?"
Aain "Lips"
"And read lips?"
More nodding The girl smiled She pointed at the book Claire opened it There was a girl holding a book Airl, then made a fist and rubbed her thumb across her cheek
"Girl" Aet it," Claire told her "This is the sign for girl?"
Arinned and pointed to the book She held both her hands together, as if she was praying, then opened then for book?"
Ae "This is so cool What else can you teach els he’d brought
"Hey, sleepy"She opened her eyes and groaned "Hey, yourself"
"How do you feel?"
"How do I look?"
"Beautiful"
She winced as she pushed into a sitting position, then leaned back against the pillows "You are such a liar, but thank you for that I feel awful I have to tell you, the drugs in the hospital are et at the pharmacy Is that coffee?"