The Sign Language He Faked, The Family He Hid Chapter 03

The Sign Language He Faked, The Family He Hid Chapter 03

Two days later was what they believed to be my official cochlear implant activation appointment.

Three years ago, when Grant first started learning sign language, he made me a promise.

[When you can hear again, I want my voice to be the first one you hear.]

That morning, he brushed my hair for me, then signed with the same earnest care.

[Whatever happens today, I’ll be right there with you.]

[When you hear again, the first thing you hear will be me saying, “I love you.”]

At the hospital, the audiologist finished checking the implant and spoke to Grant.

“Everything looks good. We can go ahead with the activation today.”

“She’s waited three years. I don’t recommend putting it off again.”

The audiologist didn’t know sign language, so she relied on Grant to interpret for me.

Grant nodded.

But when he turned to me, he signed something completely different.

[There’s a problem with the implant data.]

[The audiologist says going ahead with the activation today could damage what hearing you have left.]

I stared at his hands.

For the first time, I watched him turn the truth into a lie right in front of me.

The audiologist tried to hand me the test results.

Grant stepped in first, folded them, and slipped them into his pocket.

“She’s been emotionally unstable lately.”

“If she finds out the activation failed, she could start showing signs of self-harm again.”

“For now, don’t tell her the truth.”

Then he took my hand and signed to me.

[The audiologist is worried you won’t be able to handle the results, so she asked me to explain them to you slowly.]

[Don’t be afraid. I’m here.]

It suddenly clicked.

Maybe my treatment hadn’t failed over and over these past three years.

Maybe Grant had used the fact that I couldn’t hear to refuse every chance to restore my hearing on my behalf.

When Camille was about to give birth, he needed me to stay deaf.

When Stella learned to call him Daddy, he needed me to stay deaf then too.

And now he was trying to stall again.

He wanted to keep delaying my hearing until everyone knew Stella as our goddaughter and he could openly bring Camille and Stella into the life we shared as husband and wife.

I took out my phone and typed my answer.

[I’ve waited three years. I don’t want to wait anymore.]

Grant pulled me into his arms.

[I won’t gamble with your health.]

[Listen to me. I’m doing this for your own good.]

Just then, Camille called.

Stella was supposed to perform at her first Preschool Family Night, but she refused to go onstage and kept crying for Daddy.

Mom spoke up immediately.

“She only gets one first performance.”

“Elise has already been deaf for three years. What difference are a few more days going to make?”

My brother urged him too.

“Hold off on the activation for now.”

“Wait until everyone knows Stella as your goddaughter and she’s used to calling you Uncle Grant in public. Then let Elise hear again.”

Right in front of me, Grant told the hospital staff to cancel my activation.

Then he turned to me and signed.

[The audiologist was called away for an emergency.]

[We can’t continue today. Next time, I promise I’ll be there.]

I grabbed his hand.

He hugged me gently first.

Then he peeled my fingers from his hand one by one and had the driver take me home.

He left with Mom and my brother for Stella’s preschool.

Before he went, Grant gave the audiologist one more instruction.

“Don’t contact her directly about the next appointment.”

“Once she’s more stable, I’ll reschedule it myself.”

He came home very late that night.

A little flower Stella had gotten at the preschool show peeked out of his pocket.

Grant quickly tucked it away, then came over and signed to me.

[There was a problem with the hospital’s equipment.]

[Don’t be upset. Next time, I promise you’ll hear.]

I deliberately asked him a question.

[What if I never get my hearing back?]

He immediately pulled me into his arms.

[Even if everyone else leaves, I’ll always be your ears.]

But once he went into the kitchen, he spoke to my brother.

“Tell the hospital not to contact her yet.”

“Once Camille and Stella move back, we’ll decide when she gets the activation.”

My brother laughed.

“You’re the only person she trusts now.”

“As long as you tell her it’s what the audiologist recommended, she won’t suspect a thing.”

Standing outside the kitchen, I finally understood.

Grant hadn’t become my ears after I lost my hearing.

He had shut every other voice out and made himself the only one who could speak for me.