“Then who is this?”
“The brother,”I signed in frustration with my brows pinched.
“The brother?”she returned, looking confused. Then it clicked and her hands sliced through the air in a rushed motion. “Rylee’s brother?”
“Yes.”
“So he is rich? And fine? Heavy on the fine. You talk to him?”
I shook my head and then signed, “No, he’s coming to my house after we leave here.”
“Shit, me too then.”
“No you’re not. This is already going to be awkward.”
“Which is why you need me there. Moral support, Somee.”
“You just want to lust after him in person.”
“I do but can you blame me? Look at him.”Her hands moved quickly, then she tapped my screen, holding it up so I could see the picture she’d selected. Ryland on a football field, shirtless, in Sharks practice shorts. He wore a sexy grin, not looking at the camera.
“You have to let me meet him,” she signed after putting the phone down.
“Fine, but you have to behave.”
“Scout’s honor.”
“You’re not a damn scout, H-O-E,”I signed, bringing a smile to her face.
“Hold please. I’ll search the oath and take it now so you know I’m serious.”
I shot her a bird and signed, “He has custody.”
I glanced at Rylee who was still contentedly playing by herself. She was such a loner and I hated that because it was learned behavior. Even at school, she didn’t interact much with the other kids. Being isolated at home kept her isolated in the world. Plenty of deaf children thrived beautifully in a hearing society but that was mostly when they had the proper support systems and resources available. For years, Rylee had not.
“Shit, already. That was fast.”
“He’s rich and has pull. I’m sure that has a lot to do with it, and well, her mother is M-I-A and he’s her only accessible blood relative according to Miranda.”
“You’re sad. You don’t want her to go,” Marlee signed while delivering a softer expression. She knew me well and could read my moods.
“I am. She’s happy with me. He won’t even be able to talk to her.”
“He can learn and he’s rich; so he can afford to hire someone to assist.”
My hands moved angrily. “It’s not the same.”
“It’s not, but what can you do? You knew this was happening. Rylee being with you was temporary.”
My shoulders dropped and she narrowed her eyes and signed, “But you were hopeful.”
That she could stay with me…
“Yes,”I signed.
“Talk to him. Having Rylee is going to be a lot. If he sees she’s happy, maybe he’ll let her stay. He’s a professional athlete. Playing football and raising a kid would be a challenge.”
One thing my girl was going to do was support anything I wanted. I didn’t know a damn thing about being a parent but she was going to hype me to take on the role for Rylee.