Sign Me Up by Dulcie Dameron
Jamie
rolling out of work, a weird sort of giddiness has me jittery. My plan is to head straight to the store to get Parker a few things like he did for me, then head to his parents' house.
I don’t have his mom’s number to call her and warn her beforehand, but something tells me she won’t mind my showing up there unannounced. Alexandra Kent seems like the type of woman who lives and breathes for entertaining company with her warm personality and excellent cooking.
Daria’s charge from the other night rattles around in my brain as I walk into the drugstore and begin perusing the aisles. Your homework is to put the moves on Parker and see if there’s any of this sizzling attraction we’ve been talking about.
My cheeks heat just thinking about being so bold, even with how sweet he’s been to me lately. Refocusing on my task, I grab all the junk food I know Parker will like, as well as his favorite pop. Then I go in search of anything space or starship related. Unfortunately, Walgreens doesn’t carry much space paraphernalia so I’m out of luck there, but I do manage to grab a Men’s Health magazine as a kind of joke.
It’s almost laughable how fit he looks with the way he eats, but hopefully he’ll find it funny.
I grab some cough drops and a few other things I hope will help him fend off the sickness, then I’m off to his parent’s house. When I step up to the front door, I’m feeling ready to give my bestie the same kind of treatment he gave me when I was sick. Without putting any kind of moves on him.
Mere seconds after ringing the doorbell, Alex swings the door wide. “Jamie!” she cries in her lilting accent just before wrapping me in the tightest hug in human history. “It’s so good to see you!”
“It’s good to see you too.” I hold up the bag of goodies. “I just came to drop these off for Parker and to check on him.”
“Aww,” she croons, holding a hand to her chest. “That is so so sweet of you, dear. Please, please, come in.”
I do as she says, and she practically flies around me, taking the coat off my shoulders. “Come into the kitchen for a minute,” she all but commands as she takes my hand and tugs me forward. “I made some tea. Parker’s favorite. You’ll take it to him.”
I can only nod in response as she ushers me into the kitchen where a sultry, woodsy smell permeates the air. She moves to the stove and lifts the teapot, pouring hot water over two teacups where looseleaf tea leaves are held suspended in metal strainers. “I was going to have tea with him, but I think he’d prefer for you to bring it to him.” She sends me a suggestive wink.
“Uh, thank you,” I say, dipping my chin and waiting patiently for the tea to steep. As quickly as I can, I change the subject. “What’s that lovely smell?”
She raises her gaze to meet mine, a slow smile spreading on her lips. “That’s my homemade soup. It’s a mixture of beef, herbs, and some vegetables. It’s good for the soul when a person’s sick.” She completes her description with a kiss to her fingers, then removes the strainers from the teacups. “Now, you take this to Parker. He’s in his bed, but I don’t think he’s asleep.”
She places both teacups on a small antique tray and hands them over. I scoot the bag of goodies to my arm and accept the tray. “Yes, ma’am. I will.”
Alex nods her approval with an encouraging pat, then shoos me out of the kitchen with both hands.
I can’t help but giggle at how sweet yet forceful Parker’s mom is while I take my time walking down the hall so I don’t spill any of her yummy smelling tea. Once I reach Parker’s door, I knock, then realize how stupid that was. Slowly, so I don’t spill anything or surprise him, I creak open the door.
He’s lying on his back with an arm slung over his eyes, his chest rising and falling with even breaths. Great, I’m probably gonna scare him.
I carefully set the tray down on his dresser, then drop the bag to the floor and move to the end of his bed. I figure keeping my distance will be the best thing to not startle him. Lightly, so I don’t jostle him too much, I trail my finger over the top of his bare foot that peeks out from the edge of the covers.
Immediately, he lifts his arm and head to peer up at me. As soon as he sees it’s me, a full-blown pearly white smile graces his handsome face. Hey you, he signs, then starts to sit up.
I hurry around to the side of his bed and motion for him to lay back. “Don’t get up,” I say as well as sign. “Rest. I’m just here to check on you.”
His smile tips up a little more on one side than the other as he scoots closer to the wall and motions for me to sit next to him. I’m glad you came.
I can’t help but grin in response. He looks so cute when he’s sick with his hair even messier than normal and wearing a wrinkled T-shirt. If it wasn’t for the dark circles lingering under his eyes, I’d want to see him like this all the time.
A wracking cough suddenly sounds from his chest, loud and painful, as he turns into his elbow. “Oh, Parker.” I cover my eyes with my hands. “I’m so sorry I did this to you!”
He grabs my hands and lowers them to my lap. You did not do this. We’re together a lot, we were probably exposed at the same time.
I shoot him a look that says I’m not buying it. He chuckles but it’s barky like his cough. Don’t worry, he signs. I’m not mad about missing work. Just mad I couldn’t see you. His lopsided smile paired with the way his thumb grazes over the back of my hand almost has my heart leaping from my chest.
“Well, I brought you some stuff so even if you are secretly upset about me getting you sick, hopefully you’ll forgive me.” I rise from the bed and grab the bag I’d dropped earlier. Handing it over, I sign, “All your favorites. Plus a little something extra.”
He digs into the bag with a husky giggle as he pulls out his favorite snacks plus the cough drops and medicine. When he reaches the Men’s Health magazine, he pretends to be offended. Really?You’ll never stop trying to get me to eat healthy, will you?
I shake my head. “It’s a grueling task, but someone’s gotta do it.”
He lets the magazine fall to his lap as he raises his “sword finger” like a threat.
“Don’t you dare…” I hiss with narrowed eyes, a finger pointed right back at him. He bends the makeshift sword up and down like he’s getting ready to jab it into my side. “Parker, I mean it,” I warn, trying to keep my voice low so his mom doesn’t overhear.
But as soon as I go to get off the bed, he grabs me with one arm and hauls me back, sword finger jabbing into my ribs and waist. I try so hard to hold in my hysterical laughter, but it’s no use when he’s laughing hard enough for the both of us.
I try to adjust my body so I can knee him in the stomach, just enough to push him away, but he’s too strong. When he turns his head away to cough into his elbow, I take that as my opportunity to tickle him under his arms.
He quickly retaliates by pinning me to the bed by my wrists, his large body hovering over mine. The huge smile on my face falters as his gaze suddenly drops to my lips, before slowly making its way back up to my eyes.
Okay. This time, I know I didn’t imagine it. PARKER WAS STARING AT MY LIPS.
Something warm begins to buzz between us, tangible and electric. Parker’s breaths fan over me and in a moment of complete and utter surprise, I want nothing more than for him to lower himself on top of me and connect his lips with mine.
Then, as if I’m dreaming, he starts to erase the distance between us, lowering himself to his elbows. I freeze, my body going totally still. His eyes seem to snag on every feature of my face as his hand brushes over the top of my head, fingers tightening in my hair.
Then a harsh knock at the door has me frantically pushing against his chest. “Your mom,” I mouth, hooking my thumb toward the door.
His expression turns murderous as he sits back on the bed. I jump to my feet and go to grab the tea from the dresser. It’s probably cold now with all the flirting we’ve been doing.
I feel my cheeks flame. Oh my gosh, I just FLIRTED WITH PARKER.
“Can I come in?” Alex calls through the door just as I hand Parker his cup of tea. My gaze flies around the room, unsure where to situate myself to appear as unsuspicious as possible. Before I can move to the chair at Parker’s old desk, he grabs my hand and tugs me down onto the side of his bed. I pinch my lips and widen my eyes in protest, but he merely shakes his head, his green eyes telling me not to move.
“Come on in!” My voice is too bright and cheery for the moment. I wince, guilt washing over me. If Alex knew the position her son just had me in, she’d probably kick me out of her house.
She opens the door and comes in with another, larger tray full of two bowls of soup and crackers. “I just wanted to bring you two some dinner.” Her beaming smile is aimed my way. “I hope you didn’t already eat.”
I came straight from work, not even taking time to go home and change out of my dress pants and blouse first. “No, I didn’t. That sounds amazing, thank you.”
She sets the tray on Parker’s bedside table. When she places a hand to his forehead, he tries to bat it away, but even that doesn’t faze her. “Good, no fever. You’ll be right as rain soon enough, my baiat bun.”
He gives her a terse smile, then signs, Thanks, Mom. As wonderful as it would be to have such a loving, caring mom, it’s no secret that she tends to get on Parker’s nerves at times.
As if we’re incapable of grabbing the soup ourselves, Alex hands us each a bowl with a handful of crackers on top. She gestures wildly while going into a story of how Parker got sick one time in the tenth grade and missed school for a week.
“It was awful,” she says, clutching her throat. “He had the white bumps on the back of his throat…the skrept throat, they call it.” I bite my cheek to stifle a giggle and nod. “Thank God he never got that again.”
Parker interrupts her by signing something that looks like, Let Jamie and me sit and talk before she has to leave, and Alex holds her hands up in surrender.
“Fine, say no more. I will go, you two enjoy your dinner.”
When she leaves the room, Parker’s shoulders rise and fall on a sigh. Sorry, I know she can be a lot to deal with.
“She’s perfect, Parker. Truly. I wish I had a mom like that.” I lower my gaze to the bowl of soup in my hands, wishing I hadn’t said that. I hate sounding like I’m some pitiful orphan just because my mom’s dead and my dad abandoned us. I had two amazing people to raise me, there’s really nothing I should complain about.
Parker squeezes my knee. You’ll be a great mom too someday.
I blink at my friend. “What?”
His lips thin as he swirls the spoon in his bowl of soup on his lap. After a moment, he lifts his hands to sign, I don’t know. I could just see you being a great mom someday. Your Nonie seemed like a great example of how to live and love. I know I didn’t know her personally, but everything you’ve told me points to that. And your Pops seems like a great guy, too. They raised you well.
My eyes begin to mist over. I stare down at my soup again, blinking away the sudden moisture while I sign back, “Thank you, Parker. That was sweet of you to say.”
How had he known that my thoughts have been veering toward wondering what it would be like to settle down with a husband and kids lately? Am I that much of an open book? Or is he thinking the same type of things?
He taps my knee to get my attention. You OK?
I force a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I fall quiet while we eat, only speaking up to tell him about work and what Gladys tasked me with.
When I spot the time on small digital clock on Parker’s bedside table, I frown. “I’m sorry, Park, I’ve gotta go. I can’t be late for the game.” It’s a championship game too, so it’s a big one. He gives me a solemn nod as I take his bowl and set it on the tray. “I’ll take these to your mom.”
He tries to wave me off, but I insist. “I’ll see you in a few days, okay? Get better, Parker.”
With a downturned mouth that tells me he wishes I wasn’t leaving, he signs, Thanks, James. Offering him one last smile, I leave his room, taking the dishes with me.
As soon as I enter the kitchen, Alex walks out of the pantry. “Ah, thank you, Jamie. I’ll take those.” She removes the trays from my hands and marches them toward the sink.
“It was good to see you again,” I say, backing toward the doorway.
“Leaving so soon?”
“I must, unfortunately. There’s a game I need to cover tonight.”
She spins away from the sink and takes both of my hands in hers. “It was so good to see you again. You are a good girl for Parker.”
“Oh,” I squeak, then clear my throat. “We’re just friends, but that’s sweet of you to say.”
“No.” She closes her eyes and shakes her head, her curls bobbing around her face. “No just friends. You two are more. I see it.” Popping her eyes open, she points with two fingers at her eyes, then at me.
An uncomfortable, breathy laugh escapes me. “I’m sorry?”
“Sit,” she commands, pointing to a chair at the dining room table. I really don’t have more than ten minutes to spare, but I obey because as lovely as Alex is, she’s also a little terrifying.
“Let me tell you a story,” she begins, sitting down in a chair across from me and folding her hands over each other. I wonder if this will be like the one she told us about Parker getting sick.
“When Parker failed his newborn hearing test, I was devastated,” she says. “I was determined to do whatever we needed to do in order to help him hear as if you or I do. But after many visits to the audiologist without ever being given much hope, God helped me see that I was going about my son’s special ability all wrong.”
Her soft smile shows the truth in her words. “You see, Parker is different, but not in the way most people see him. He’s more in-tune with the way things feel. He experiences the world through sight and touch, through vibrations. And I think because of that, he’s a more sensitive individual. It’s not his deafness that sets him apart, it’s his intuitiveness.”
I nod, taking in all she’s saying. I could never understand what it’s like to be Parker, but I do understand him and everything she’s saying resonates with what I know of him.
“But it’s no secret that my second son has always struggled with making friends. It’s partly because of his sensory difference and partly because we moved a lot during his childhood. We enrolled him in different schools and determined to learn Sign Language for ourselves to communicate with him better, but he still struggled to maintain relationships. He withdrew from us, and it broke my heart.”
My own heart tugs at the mention of Parker’s lack of friends growing up.
“But when he was in junior high, he met a girl named Ella at his school for deaf youth. She was such a sweetheart. But she wasn’t well. She had cancer.”
I gasp, unable to stop myself.
“Parker and Ella became very close over the two years we were stationed in Idaho. He saw her in a way others didn’t—focusing on who she was as a person and not her illness. But her health took a wrong turn…” Alex’s voice thickens with emotion as her gaze falls to where she’s running her finger over a groove of wood in the table. “As she neared the end, Parker refused to leave her side. Her parents, God bless them, understood and allowed him to stay during her final hours. But when Ella took her last breath, Parker took it very hard.”
My sudden emotion boils over and a tear rolls down my cheek. Quickly, I swipe it away.
“He fell into his father’s arms, weeping. And then, two months later, we got orders to move again. The move might’ve been just as hard for him—to leave the place that carried Ella’s memory.” She sighs, long and sorrowful. “Since then, he’s never allowed himself to get close to another girl. Not in high school, not college.” She pauses. “Not until he met you.”
My breath hitches.
“You should see your face,” she says, a smile curving her lips. “You look like I just told you he’s going to propose.”
“Is-is he?” I sputter, not knowing what to do, what to think.
Her grin widens. “No, dear. Not that I know of. He says the two of you are just friends.” She gives me a sly wink, then reaches over and pats my hand. “But I’m his mother and I see what he doesn’t. He cares for you, Jamie. And if you care for him, all I ask is that you give him a chance.”
Her brown eyes are warm and filled with unshed tears. “I’m not trying to put any pressure on you. But if you don’t feel the same about him as he does you, tell him before he falls too hard. Because when Parker loves, he dives in deep.”
Alex’s words stick with me the rest of the night. I barely have the mental wherewithal to record any of the stats from the girls’ volleyball game. And when I’m lying in bed hours later and receive the sweetest text from Parker, thanking me for the things I brought him and telling me that he already feels healthier just holding the men’s magazine in his hands, I can’t help but wonder if I should take her advice to heart.