Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164533 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 823(@200wpm)___ 658(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
“Not at all,” I told her. “As I said, I understand what you’re going through.”
“How long were you married?” she asked, finally looking at me fully, her eyes taking me in as though trying to decide something about me. I wasn’t sure what.
“Almost fifteen years,” I replied. “We met in college.”
“Goodness, you must’ve only been a baby when you tied the knot,” Maeve exclaimed.
“I was twenty,” I said. “And I was definitely too young to have made such a permanent decision, but I guess we can only see where we went wrong while looking back long after the mistakes are made.”
“You see,” Maeve said, looking to Stephanie. “This breakup might seem awful right now, but looking back, you’ll realise it was the right thing all along.”
Stephanie nodded quietly though she didn’t look very convinced, and I felt for her. It was scary being single after a long-term relationship. The fear of being alone was half the reason I’d stuck with Jesse for so many years, believing and hoping he might change.
The conversation turned to other topics, and I felt at ease. I liked both Stephanie and Maeve, and it felt good to have already made two new work friends.
Remembering I’d promised Mom I’d call and give her an update on how I was settling in, I made my excuses to the ladies before heading back towards the accounts office. I was almost there when I spotted two tall figures standing in the corridor. It was only as I drew closer that I realised it was Rhys and another man who looked a lot like him. Although the other guy was slimmer and an inch or two shorter.
I also noticed they were speaking in sign language, and a memory came back to me. During our few weeks together, Rhys had mentioned a cousin who was mute and that he’d learned sign language to be able to converse with him. Surely, this was the guy, especially considering the resemblance between them. What was his name again? Shane? Shay? Yes, that was it. Shay. Wow, I was impressed I could recall the detail.
Rhys wore a dark suit, and I grew flustered at the sight of him all professional and in work mode. I wasn’t exactly feeling confident enough to approach him, but I also knew if I tried to scoot by unnoticed, and he saw me, that would be far more embarrassing.
Catching his eye as I approached, I gave a little wave.
“Hi, Rhys,” I greeted politely then glanced at the man he’d been talking to, mustering some of the old sign language I’d learned when I’d worked with Jerry Devlin. He was my boss and had gone deaf from a hereditary condition, his hearing slowly worsening after several years. Many of us in the office had learned some basic sign language so the business could run smoothly. But he’d also been an incredible boss, and we were all happy to accommodate him.
And you must be Shay, I signed. I’m Charli. Rhys and I are old friends.
Rhys’ cousin blinked in surprise before he smiled at me, and wow, he was incredibly handsome. There was a warm, gentle look in his eyes that was so much like Rhys’.
Hi, Charli, he signed back, and then I was aware of a warm hand on my shoulder. I looked up at Rhys. He seemed surprised I’d remembered his cousin, and I felt embarrassed like I was some obsessive stalker who’d catalogued every little thing he’d told me that summer.
“When did you learn sign language?” Rhys asked, curious, the heat of his hand burning through the fabric of my cardigan before he lowered it.
“Oh, well, I only know a little. I had a boss who was deaf, so I learned some, but that was years ago.”
Shay signed something to Rhys, but I didn’t recognise what he’d said. Rhys turned back to me. “You used American Sign Language. It’s different from what Shay and I use.”
I gently slapped my forehead. “Right, you guys have Irish Sign Language.”
“Shay still caught your drift,” Rhys answered fondly. “He says it’s great to meet you.”
I glanced back at Shay. “It’s great to meet you, too. Do you work here as well?”
“Shay’s a member of my security team,” Rhys answered for him. “Speaking of which, you better get up to floor seventeen and deal with that incident.”
Shay nodded, shot me a parting smile then left. I brought my attention back to Rhys, raising an eyebrow. “What happened on floor seventeen?”
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he tapped the side of his nose. “That’s need to know only, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, come on. I work here now. Surely, I can be made privy to a little hotel gossip.”
Rhys exhaled, taking a moment to look me over. I was aware of his gaze travelling down my outfit, and I squirmed a little under his keen attention. “A group of twenty-somethings trashed one of the suites. I sent Shay to deal with the guy who booked the room. He’s arguing with one of the managers about clean-up charges, and having Shay there will discourage him from causing further drama.”