Epilogue
D eanna Jameson picked up a deviled egg and took a big bite.
So good. Yet this engagement party was a bit different from the one thrown for Carli and Blake last year at the Wentworth mansion.
Today, they celebrated at the Elk’s Lodge in town with food brought in from friends and family.
Her brother Evan was getting married to Mercedes, his childhood crush, their sister’s former roommate, and the love of his life.
It was funny that it had taken those two so long to figure out their feelings.
Deanna had never said anything, but she’d sensed the tension between them for years.
Good tension that leads to a lifetime of happiness.
Hopefully. She’d love to find a man to share her life with someday. It hadn’t happened yet.
“To Mercedes and Evan,” her oldest brother, Brian said. “May they always be as in love as they are today.”
Everyone raised a glass and toasted the happy couple. A few more people said nice words with Brian interpreting for the hearing people in the crowd.
Once that was over, the guests nibbled on more of the food and talk began regarding the wedding.
“When’s the happy occasion taking place?”
“Have you chosen a venue yet?”
“Who’s in your wedding party?”
“Where are you going on your honeymoon?”
Mercedes and Evan fielded the questions like pros.
“Probably in the fall. The wedding will be small. We don’t want anything elaborate.
We can use the chapel at Tufts for the ceremony, and they have a cute little room we can use for the reception.
I’ve already spoken to the chef at the dining hall, and he’s happy to cater it for us. ”
Evan pointed some fingers. “I’m hoping Brian will be my Best Man and Blake and Jonas will be groomsmen.”
The men in question grinned and nodded. So much for asking them privately like Mercedes had done with them.
She smiled sweetly. “Carli is my Matron of Honor, and Deanna and my cousin will be bridesmaids.”
Deanna’s phone vibrated in her pocket—she loved that this dress had them—so she inched away and checked the screen. After reading what was on there, her breath stopped.
“Are you okay, honey?” her mother asked. “You’ve gone all pale.”
She shook her head, still not comprehending what she’d read. “Remember the army unit my class has been teaching to sign? There was a bombing near their base, and several of them were hurt. One of them was killed.”
Her father scowled. “Wasn’t one of them the uncle of your student?”
“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.”