Read Online The Heart's Voice by Arlene James - Free Book Online

of the small, modest Kinder house, Becca started to get out, but he stopped her.
    “You didn’t tell them,” he said, and she knew that he was referring to his deafness.
    “Of course not.” She picked up the bag of ice from between her feet. “But don’t worry, I’ll help you stay on top of the conversation. You’ll have to stay close to me, though.”
    He looked at her, smiled and took the ice from her, saying, “Thanks.”
    Feeling some trepidation at the task ahead, she got out of the truck and joined him on the buckled sidewalk. Together they moved across the grass to the concrete steps that led up to the stoop and the door. With one last smile of encouragement, Becca opened the door and ushered him inside. The small, crowded living room was dark and cool. Becca quickly snapped on a lamp.
    Abby appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, wearing an apron over her Sunday dress. “Come on in,” she said, disappearing again. “John’s changing the kids’ clothes.” Becca knew that sheought to help John get the children out of their Sunday clothes, but she dared not leave Dan on his own. He followed her into the kitchen, carrying the bag of ice.
    “Where do you want this?” he asked.
    Standing in front of the small, high table where she did most of her kitchen work, Abby stirred buttermilk into the depression she’d made in a bowl of flour and other dry ingredients as she answered him. “Just put it in the sink there, hon.”
    Becca pointed to the sink, but Dan didn’t even look at her, let alone budge. Instead he just stood there holding the bag of ice by the end with one hand. Then he said, a little too loud, “You’ll have to look at me when you speak to me, ma’am.”
    Abby did look at him then, obviously surprised, but no more so than Becca when he calmly announced, “I can’t understand you if I can’t see your mouth move. I’m deaf, Mrs. Kinder.”
    Becca clapped a hand over her heart, which had just given a decided lurch. Abby dropped the spoon into the bowl with a clatter.
    “Oh, my soul!”
    Dan looked down, then carried the ice to the counter and laid it gently in the sink, demonstrating that he had gotten Becca’s message after all. Tears gathered in her eyes. He had obviously already made the decision to go public with his problem when he’d accepted Abby’s invitation. Becca wanted to let him know how proud she was of him,and the only way she could think to do it without making a complete idiot of herself was with a touch. Slipping her hand into his, she briefly squeezed and retreated, but not before getting a quick squeeze back.
    He leaned a hip against the old-fashioned, chrome-edged counter and folded his arms, facing Abby. “Should’ve told everyone sooner,” he admitted. “Hard thing for a soldier who isn’t one anymore.”
    Abby came around the worktable and enveloped him in a hug. “I’m sure glad you came home,” she said.
    Dan could obviously tell that she was speaking but couldn’t know what she was saying, so he looked to Becca. She told him out loud what Abby had said so that Abby would know she hadn’t made herself understood.
    “She’s glad you came home.”
    Dan smiled and hugged Abby back. “Me, too.”
    Just then Jemmy bolted into the room in her bare feet, wearing shorts and a T-shirt. “Mr. Dan, Mr. Dan! I gots a turtle in a box in the yard. Come see.” As she spoke, she ran out onto the closed-in porch that served as a second bedroom. Becca called her back into the room, while Abby dabbed at her eyes with the hem of her apron.
    “Honey, what have I told you about speaking to Mr. Dan?”
    Jemmy looked up at Dan and asked politely, “Want to see my turtle? Please.”
    Dan smiled. “Sure.”
    “But not until you get some shoes on,” Abby instructed.
    Jemmy bolted for the porch again, crying, “They’re under the bed. Mr. Dan can help me.”
    Becca caught her by the shoulders and turned her back to face Dan. “I’ll help you with your shoes, but