Chapter 4 - THE DINNER WHERE DANIEL FINALLY SAW
I told Daniel that evening.
Not everything.
Just enough.
We were sitting in my apartment.
He had brought takeout.
The television was off.
Rain tapped against the windows.
“Daniel.”
He looked up.
“Yeah?”
“Your mother has been insulting me in sign language.”
He froze.
“What?”
I swallowed.
“Since the first dinner.”
He stared.
“Mara, that's impossible.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“Because Mom wouldn't—”
“Wouldn't what?”
Silence.
I continued.
“She calls me cheap. Desperate. A gold digger.”
Daniel's face changed.
I looked down.
“She jokes about my clothes. My salary. My apartment.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
My eyes filled.
“Daniel.”
He looked at me.
“I understand ASL.”
He stared.
I continued.
“My parents were deaf. It was my first language.”
Silence.
Daniel looked away.
Then whispered, “Why didn't you tell me?”
I swallowed.
“Because I was afraid you'd ask me why I hadn't said anything sooner instead of asking why your mother said those things.”
May you like
He looked back at me.
And I watched the realization hit him.
