Page 96 of Fractured Silence

“Yes, he’s the one who sent me the message.He wants my students to send cards and letters for the men to get better.”

Carli sidled up next to her.“That’ll be nice.How bad are the men injured?Did he say?”

“He didn’t go into detail, except … one of the men, who was very close to the blast, has damaged ear drums.They think his hearing is permanently impaired.He wants to know if I could help him.”

“When are they coming back to the States?”their dad asked.

“The three men who were hurt are returning in a few weeks.The unit was from the Boston area so they’re all from around here.”

“Do you know the man with the war deafness?”Blake asked, the doctor in him concerned.

“I got to know most of them if they participated in the videos.Remember the one they were all teasing in the video I showed you?It’s him.Rafe.”

“The one you have a crush on?”Evan asked.

How had her brother picked up on that?“I don’t have a crush on him, but I am concerned.I wonder if there’s anything I can do.”

Okay, she wasn’t being entirely truthful.Rafe had become kind of special to her.He’d gone above and beyond to learn how to sign.Plus, he’d taken the initiative to write to her separately.They’d become pen pals of sorts and discovered they had lots in common.

Mercedes wrapped an arm around her shoulder and offered a gentle smile.“Seems Rafe might need a good deal of support, as well as someone to introduce him to the world of being deaf.As a teacher, you’d be perfect for the job.”