Page 44 of Before We Break

Shortcake: Willow Tree Festival for date #2 this weekend?

Me: Correction. This would be #4

Shortcake: I know counting is hard, but even my preschoolers can do it.

Me: 1.Movie 2. Meeting 3. Dinner

Shortcake: We went over this. The movie doesn’t count, and the dinner was just an extension of the meeting.

Me: Let’s break up.

Shortcake: Pick me up at 3 and bring Auggie. We can make it look like a family thing.

“Get your shoes on, Auggie. It’s time to go.”

He rushes into the entryway and flops onto the floor beside the welcome mat where our shoes are lined up. As I’m grabbing my leather jacket off the hook, my phone rings, and Bramble County Jail appears on the caller ID.

My fist tightens around the phone as I accept the call, every one of my nerve endings on high alert. “Hello.”

“This is a free call from Jonah Weston, an inmate at the Bramble County Jail. This call is subject to recording and monitoring. Press one to accept this call.”

The line clicks over and a voice I haven’t heard in years greets me. “Hey, Noah.”

“Jonah.” A million questions swirl in my mind.

Did he do it? Is he ok? Why did he send Auggie to live with me? There’s a much louder voice in my head telling me I shouldn’t care anymore—that he made his bed.

“How’s Auggie?” His voice breaks, but he clears it. “How’s my son?”

I swallow around the sudden tightness gripping my throat. “He uh… he’s good. Misses you. And Andrea.”

“Yeah. I miss them both. Can I… can I talk to him?”

I glance down at the little boy near my feet, carefully putting on his Velcro dinosaur shoes with his tongue sticking out of his mouth in concentration.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Please. Just for a minute. I don’t have long.”

I weigh the pros and cons, but in the end there’s only one truth that matters. Auggie would want to talk to him.

“Yeah. Ok.” I crouch beside Auggie, hoping like hell this doesn’t set back the progress we’ve made.

Despite the sudden move from Starling Falls to Willow Valley, Auggie is doing better. He was able to retain his Deaf mentor through the state-sponsored program, and we still meet up for our weekly hour-long visits. It’s been an eye-opening experience.

Being able to maintain some of Auggie’s old routine has helped with his transition. Candice, Auggie’s mentor, has been incredibly supportive and recommended a great online program for me to learn ASL at home, emphasizing the importance of learning ASL from a Deaf person.

It’s getting easier to communicate when he’s not wearing his ears. Bath time is still a nightmare, but that has more to do with Auggie’s dislike for having his hair washed.

“Hey, buddy. Your dad’s calling.”

His face lights up, and he stands, reaching for the phone. I put it on speaker and hold it between us.

Auggie doesn’t miss a beat. “Hi, Daddy! I miss you!”

“Hey, buddy. I miss you too. Is Uncle Noah taking good care of you?”

I resist the urge to jump to my defense.