Chapter 4 - THE FIRST TIME RAFFERTY MET JOSIE
Rafferty arrived the next afternoon carrying a box of pastries.
No entourage.
No expensive gifts.
Just pastries from a neighborhood bakery and a nervous expression Fay had never imagined seeing on his face.
She opened the door.
He looked around.
The apartment was small.
Clean.
Warm.
Colored paper covered the kitchen table.
A child's drawings decorated the refrigerator.
Rafferty smiled faintly.
“It feels like home.”
Fay looked surprised.
He continued.
“Mine never did.”
Josie appeared from the hallway.
She stopped when she saw him.
Her eyes widened.
Fay knelt beside her.
She signed:
This is Rafferty. An old friend.
Josie studied him.
Then signed something back.
Fay laughed softly.
Rafferty looked curious.
“What did she say?”
Fay smiled.
“She asked why you're so tall.”
He laughed.
“Fair question.”
Rafferty crouched.
“Hello, Josie.”
The little girl watched his mouth.
Then touched Fay's cheek.
Fay repeated his greeting in sign language.
Josie smiled.
Then held out a blue paper boat.
Rafferty stared.
His chest tightened.
He accepted it carefully.
“Thank you.”
They spent the afternoon folding boats.
Rafferty was terrible at it.
His first attempt looked like a crushed envelope.
Josie giggled.
Fay laughed so hard she had to sit down.
Rafferty looked offended.
“I run shipping companies.”
Fay grinned.
“Apparently, you can't build a paper boat.”
He smiled.
“Clearly not.”
Later, Josie showed him how she listened.
She placed her hand against Fay's cheek while her mother spoke.
Rafferty watched quietly.
Then Josie reached toward him.
He hesitated.
Fay nodded.
“It's okay.”
Josie rested her palm against his cheek.
Rafferty spoke softly.
“Hello, Little Sparrow.”
The words vibrated beneath her hand.
Josie smiled.
Fay's eyes filled.
That evening, Rafferty asked about Josie's medical care.
Fay explained the hearing evaluations.
The possible implant.
The therapy.
The costs.
She spoke carefully.
Not because she was ashamed.
Because she didn't want her daughter treated as a tragedy.
“Josie is happy,” she said.
“She communicates beautifully. We use sign language. She has friends. She loves stories.”
Rafferty nodded.
“I can see that.”
Fay swallowed.
“I just want her to have every option available.”
He looked at Josie.
Then back at Fay.
“Then she should.”
Fay stiffened.
“Rafferty—”
He raised a hand.
“I'm not offering to buy your gratitude.”
She looked down.
He continued.
“I know you don't want charity.”
“Then don't offer it.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
A pause.
Then he said:
“What if I helped you find a patient advocate who could explain insurance coverage, grants, and treatment options?”
Fay looked up.
“That would help.”
He smiled.
“Then that's where we start.”
When Rafferty left, Josie ran to the window.
She waved her paper boat.
He waved back.
Fay watched him walk toward his car.
May you like
For the first time in years, she felt something dangerous.
Hope.
