Page 83 of On the Bright Side
“And you will figure it out. It doesn’t have to be right this second. Good things take time.”
“True.” I pull her toward me for a long, soft kiss, grateful for how comfortable and safe I feel talking with her. “Thank you, though. Seriously.”
“Anytime.”
Chapter Forty-one
Ellie
Monday before Thanksgiving,I’m making applesauce for our Friendsgiving at the Deaf house. My hands are still so sticky from slicing chunks of fruit that I don’t grab my phone right away when it vibrates with a text.
MOM:
Are you coming Thursday?
Hmm, I’m not sure how to phrase my response. Large family gatherings are like the drama at the dinner table times ten. And right now, I don’t think my parents are open to finding a solution for that yet.
ELLIE:
I’ve already got plans here for Thanksgiving, but maybe next year.
I brace myself for her anger, but I’m pleasantly surprised with the response I get.
MOM:
I’ll drop off a spare Crock-Pot.
ELLIE:
Okay, I’m around until later.
I can’t bring myself to say it, but maybe she’ll understand that to mean she can ring the doorbell and stick around for a few minutes this time. We still haven’t seen each other since I moved out, so I’m not sure if we can have a civil conversation.
After stashing the applesauce in the fridge, I get ready to go with my friends to the first-ever Deaf Night Out event hosted at our very own Coffee Garden. They usually close around six but are staying open late specifically for the event.
Shay led the charge on this one, getting the word out to folks all over the Cincy area with the help of a certain tall, handsome Xavier University student she met recently—a CODA eager to hang out and use the sign language he was raised with.
“Are we going to finally meet Arun tonight?” I ask.
“I’ve told you all it’s not like that,” she protests, a little too much, almost tripping over a Crock-Pot that’s been placed on our stoop.
“Whoops!” I say, grabbing it and bringing it inside. So much for Mom stopping to say hi.
We hop into Izzy’s car, with Alex up front beside her, and Kayla, myself, and Shay squished across the back. Even though we’re the first to arrive to help set up, others start to flood in, and soon the place is packed. The owners of the Coffee Garden seem surprised but delighted by the turnout.
Shay’s been running around making sure everything goes smoothly, so the next time I see her, she’s giggling in a corner with the guy who could only be Arun. Sensing her nervous energy, I sign to Alex andIzzy, “Time to go help Shay be the one to find some love now, am I right?” They push me toward her encouragingly.
I center myself and become party-Ellie, the confident girl I can only fully channel when the lights are dim and my hands are set free. “Hey! Is that the famous man Shay has told me so much about?” Shay looks more relieved than irritated. “Nice to meet you,” I sign.
Arun chuckles, sharing a glance with Shay that convinces me he’s smitten. “Let me guess—one of the roommates?”
Giving Shay a side-hug, I sign, “E-l-l-i-e.”
“A-r-u-n,” he replies, even though I obviously already know that. “I’m helping DJ.”
“Ooh, whatcha got on?” I glance toward the playlist approvingly. “Now, that! Is my favorite.” I point to the next song, and he skips to that track.
Holding out my phone, I record the three of us enthusiastically signing along to the song, before slipping away so that it’s just the two of them left dancing together. My work here is done.
