Page 95 of What Started In Deception

He shook his head. “I’m not sure what that means.”

“Mosaic Down Syndrome is pretty rare. Like two to four percent of cases type of rare.”

His brow furrowed. “I didn’t realize that that was a thing.”

She nodded. “Basically, some of Everly’s cells have forty-six chromosomes like ours do, and some of them have forty-seven. An individual with Trisomy 21, which is the most common form of DS, has an extra chromosome in all of their cells—the chromosome called Trisomy 21.”

“Huh,” he said. “I’m learning something new today.”

She smiled. “If you’re born with Mosaic Down Syndrome, you can have milder symptoms. Everyone is their own unique person, no matter what form of DS they have, but Everly seems to fall into the category of having milder symptoms.”

“Huh,” he said again.

“Her development was a little slower, particularly her speech, and she hit some of her physical milestones later because she has lower muscle tone, but Will and Mac started interventions almost immediately, which have made a huge difference. For the most part, she’s right where she should be physically, emotionally, and intellectually. As you’ve seen for yourself, she’s super smart and outgoing once she warms up to you.”

He nodded. “She’ll go to school and stuff?”

She nodded. “She may need a little academic help in the classroom, and she’ll continue with her speech, physical, and occupational therapies until they’re no longer necessary, but the world is her oyster, just like it is for any child. Mac and Will want her to live as independently as possible and have whatever it is that she wants for herself in life.”

“That’s great, Lyd.”

She smiled as she nodded again. “I love doing my small part. Reading to her once a week. Helping her build her vocabulary and sneaking in some early phonics skills. She has some of her blends down already, and I’m hoping to start her on some basic sight words later this fall. She should be well ahead of the curve when she starts kindergarten next year.”

He wrapped her up tighter. “You’re amazing.”

She shook her head. “No. I’m getting her ready for the world. People are going to look at her and see her disability first. They’re going to underestimate what she can do. Plus, my family lives in the spotlight. Everly’s grandpa may very well become the next president of the United States. She’ll have extra pressure to be a role model because she has Down Syndrome. We’re doing everything we can to make sure she’s ready for all of it.”

He stopped her as he heard the fierceness in her voice—as he understood the trappings and pressures of what it meant to be a Monroe. “You are amazing, Lyd.”

“I appreciate that you think so.” She hooked her arm through his and tugged, clearly wanting to keep going. “What did you and Uncle James talk about?”

“And we’re changing the subject.”

She laughed.

He grinned. “He wants to join Will and me for our workouts.”

She nodded. “I know he takes his physical fitness seriously, so that will be nice.”

He nodded this time. “I also talked to your grandma. She wants me to help her put on some muscle.”

Her gaze whipped to his as she frowned. “Is that a good idea? Is that safe?”

He nodded. “Absolutely. Her doctors gave her the green light. We’re going to start slow.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

He still saw the concern in her eyes. “This is a good thing, Lyd. Getting her into the gym and putting weights in her hands is going to keep her strong and independent.”

“If you say it, I believe it.”

He liked the sound of that—of Lydia completely trusting him. “I’m saying it.”

She nodded. “Thank you for helping her.”

“I’m happy to. I actually really enjoy helping people change their bodies for the better. When I was in college, I ended up getting a couple of FBI summer internships. I’d really wanted to land one at Headquarters, but they stuck me at Quantico for my first year. Some of the new agents in training didn’t prepare for the physical standards at all.”

“I take it that’s a big deal.”