Chapter Seventeen
Claire
Itake another deep breath and allow the hint of cedar from the old booth we sit in to mingle with the maple syrup that floods the space. Waffles for lunch is fun, and remembering how much I love Jamison’s friends eases some of my nerves.
The restaurant is chaotic this afternoon, but everyone is completely at ease. They’re at home in this cozy but friendly restaurant. Rylee, with her gorgeous glow and bright eyes, is leaning into Chadwick as he charms her, I’m sure. She doesn’t seem to fall for it, but her body says she wants to be close to him. I’m not sure if it’s just comfort or something more, though.
The waitress walks away, and I sink back a bit into the booth. Jamison’s large body moves with mine until we are touching from our shoulders down to our knees. His arm rests on the wooden table, and he taps the straw against it.
How’s your dad? Chadwick asks when he knows I’m watching him, but I have to focus hard to read his lips. Jamison gives a signal he wants to sign, so I turn his way.
He repeats, How is your dad?
I smile and let Chadwick know, Dad is okay.
I’m certain the sign for “okay” is somewhat universal, but I use the more common okay that those who don’t sign know.
“I got that,”Chadwick mouths to Jamison and turns my way with a smile and a headshake. “She doesn’t need…”he continues, but I struggle to capture the last words.
I nod to him when he looks at me expectantly, but I have no idea what I agreed I don’t need. The smell of maple syrup and ground coffee hits me, so I turn toward the waitress, thankful for the distraction. She’s speaking to the table as she sets down the plates and drinks.
Black coffee and a large waffle with syrup is placed in front of me. Jamison’s waffle is piled high with whipped topping and strawberries. He looks at me once he realizes I’m shooting him a stern look.
I know things are happening around us, but sometimes it’s just Jamison and me in our little bubble, a bubble where I have his attention and we can just be us. Where I can share a look, he gives me a smirk, and we swap our plates. I grin back to him, and we share a laugh together.
That’s more like it, I sign.
He leans in and kisses my neck, a wave of warmth flooding me.
He leans back and signs, I’ll have to remember you like whipped cream and strawberries too. He winks at me, then turns his attention to his waffle. Jamison is a big man, his large body taking up most of the air around us in the booth. He has a presence about him that draws attention to us and our group.
A guy appears as we eat, so I look down to busy myself with my lunch. Talk about a sweet and perfect combination…I see why he ordered it.
Jamison sweetly rubs my arm, and I glance his way. He’s signing, This is Marty Ortega. He runs the bar in town. Wanted to say hello.
I summon a smile and wave hello.
Marty tips his head as a hello but also speaks. The words are lost to me. Hearing people never are as aware of their body movements. Well, other than Jamison.
Jamison signs, He said to stop by anytime. Enjoy your lunch.
This happens again and again. I’m sweating as everyone seems to want to meet the new woman at the table. The woman who is buried in the side of the man that means so much to them. You catch it in every story. How much the rescue team at this table has done for them. I get it, though; they saved my father too.
I sense someone’s gaze on me and look up to see Rylee watching with wide eyes. She glances to the right just as Jamison’s body tenses beside mine.
A gorgeous brunette walks up to the table. I cut my gaze to Rylee, who signs two letters: E and X.
I glance back at the brunette. Jamison’s ex says something, and for the first time, Jamison doesn’t translate. His body is tense, so I place a hand on his thigh. We haven’t reached the place where we’ve shared about our exes, so I have no idea how he feels about her. Does he still love her? Was it a mutual breakup?
All I know is he’s uncomfortable and doesn’t want to be here. I’ve never seen Jamison out of sorts before.
I read her lips. He expects you to be there tomorrow.
The wedding that Jamison invited me to is tomorrow. Is it her wedding? Doesn’t matter, because Jamison is expected to be there and said it would be easier if I was by his side.
“We’ll be there,” I say. I hadn’t entirely agreed to Jamison yet, but I won’t let him do this himself if he’s this uncomfortable.
I decide to make myself uncomfortable so he won’t have to be alone. Even though I have profound hearing loss and haven’t been able to hear the way my voice sounded since I was six, even with hearing aids, I know English enough to communicate. I can lip-read and process body language to have this conversation with his ex, but my blood is pounding and my heart is rapid.
“Haven’t met you?” I gather by lip-reading, and her body tilts toward me. Her hand is extended, but her face is soft. She seems genuinely interested in who I am.
“I’m Claire. It’s nice to meet you.”
She says her name, I’m sure, but I don’t catch it. Her hands raise, and as she speaks, I capture a few words. “Mom excited,”then someone must say something because she turns over her shoulder. Some hearing people are so unaware of themselves. They also assume that because I’ve spoken, I can hear everything.
Jamison gathers himself and turns to me, signing, I’m sorry. She put you on the spot. We don’t have to go.
I want to go. Is it her wedding? I ask.
And that bubble around us that I love comes back in. I know others are around, but Jamison is focused on me. He’s communicating in my language. A language he learned just for me.
Yes. And Thorne. My boss and stepdad. He’s marrying her.
My eyebrows shoot up. So, his stepdad is marrying his ex-girlfriend. I see now why he wanted someone there with him.
I’ll be there. Mom and Dad are doing just fine without me this weekend. Think they want a break from my fussing.
I glance back up and see that his ex has left and everyone has returned to eating. Chadwick’s eyes lift to mine, and he winks. I just shake my head and take my last bite of waffle. We finish up, then rise from the table after the guys pay. Rylee catches me off to the side when the guys’ backs are turned.
I’ll see you tomorrow. Happy I’m not alone.
Jamison mentions she’s newer to the group and new to Alaska. Perhaps she doesn’t have many friends up here besides the guys.
Should be fun. I make a face that disputes my words.
We share a laugh.
Want to do our hair and makeup together? Some of the questions she doesn’t know the correct signs for, but I couldn’t care in the slightest. She’s a hearing person who looks past my inability to hear and puts tremendous thought and care into communicating with me.
I would like that,I sign but also nod, just to make sure she knows.
She pulls her phone out, and I grab mine so we can exchange phone numbers. While I’m texting her my number, Jamison’s hand slides against my lower back, causing a shiver to run down my spine. He doesn’t seem to be rushing us, he just doesn’t like when we aren’t touching. It’s the same for me.
Rylee comes in for a hug and smiles big when she pulls away. So excited, she tries to sign. I still love it because of the way her body tells me more how excited she is to spend time with me than her hands do. She waves bye before meeting up with Chadwick.
Planned a girl date?Jamison asks.
I did. We are meeting up in the morning to get ready for the wedding.
He puts his arm across my shoulder and pulls me from the restaurant. He places a kiss on my temple, then walks to the Jeep to hold open the driver-side door. I just love the playful Jamison, the way he can lighten the mood.
I jump in and reach my hand out for the keys. He leans in and steals my mouth in a deep kiss when he drops the cool metal keys in my hand. I miss the connection when he pulls away, but we’ll never get home if he doesn’t stop right now.
He pauses at the front of the Jeep, and his body goes stiff as he pulls his phone from his pocket and holds it to his ear. There’s a shift like a draft from an incoming storm. His eyes lift and lock on mine. They’re dark and cold. He’s in the Jeep and slams the door shut moments later.
Drive to the lake fast. Now.
There’s an eerie calm to Jamison and an authoritative press on me. He’s devastating to observe right now. He lifts the phone to his ear and looks at me. I turn the ignition and drive at speeds that would guarantee me my first ticket.
My hands grip the steering wheel the entire five minutes it takes me to cross Casper and reach the lake. So many thoughts rush through my mind, but none can prepare me for what is waiting for us when we pull in.
The lake is surrounded by panicking people. Jamison jumps out and pulls supplies from the back of his Jeep. People are shouting, their mouths moving swiftly, their bodies shaky and unsteady. There’s a woman crying while a man holds her secure to his chest. A look of sorrow hardens his brow. I glance out at the lake to see a large dog lying down and a bright red arm hugging his body. The pink glove covering her hand stands out harshly against the white snow. Her blonde hair is wet as it clings to her forehead.
My blood runs cold, chilled by the thought that there’s a child alone and helpless in the lake. It’s breakup time right now. The temperatures are warming to the point that it’s not safe to travel on ice. She shouldn’t be out there. Why is she out there? The breakup is earlier than normal with the temperatures rising so fast, but she shouldn’t have been walking on ice anyway. The ice isn’t safe enough to hold the weight of someone going to get her, and she’s too terrified to come back. Jamison is working quickly to put on layers of clothing and is securing himself with a rope around his waist. Chadwick pulls in behind us and rushes to help Jamison.
Things happen quickly as Jamison rushes toward the lake. I watch him drop to his stomach and begin crossing the frozen lake to the girl and the dog. I can’t breathe as I watch. My hand lands on my mouth each time he slides farther out. He almost reaches the girl when the unthinkable happens. A large chunk of the ice breaks when the girl tries to reach for Jamison.
I’m being held by someone as I scream. Jamison’s body, the girl, and the dog disappear under the icy water. Two more cops and Chadwick begin to cross the water. They’re pulling the rope, working to bring them back. The time they’re under the water stretches out until I see Jamison’s bright yellow coat reappear. He’s got the girl wrapped in his arms. He’s being pulled across the ice, and he never lets her go. The large Alaskan Malamute follows behind as he breaks more of the ice and swims to the surface. The officers on scene grab Jamison and the girl. They’re swarmed by the paramedics that have joined the rescue team.
I can’t breathe. My heart was torn in two when Jamison disappeared into the water. Someone is holding my face, making me look at them. His hands are cold, but he’s demanding for me to stop. To breathe. His lips say “Breathe, Claire. Fucking breathe for me.”
Chadwick’s eyes are piercing. The brown depths are stern. I take a deep breath. I’m hyperventilating, and now that the oxygen hits my system, my chest constricts.
“He’s going to be okay.”
I nod that I understand. Chadwick forces my gaze and speaks slowly and clearly. Jamison is going to be okay. I look around for him. Rylee rushes to me joining the fray of the rescue team.
“He’ll be at the hospital.”
Then that’s where I need to be.