Chapter 2 - The Language Gabriel Never Learned
The following Thursday, Chloe arrived at work and found Gabriel waiting in the kitchen.
Alone.
She stopped.
“You know customers aren't allowed back here.”
“I've been called worse than a customer.”
“I can imagine.”
He held out an envelope.
Chloe didn't take it.
“What is that?”
“Money.”
“That usually comes after I bring food.”
“Five thousand dollars.”
She stared at him.
“For what?”
“Teach me.”
“Teach you what?”
Gabriel raised his hands awkwardly.
He attempted a sign.
It was terrible.
Chloe almost smiled.
“Was that supposed to mean mother?”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
“You just signed something closer to Tuesday.”
Gabriel lowered his hands.
“Then I need lessons.”
Chloe studied him.
“Why me?”
“My mother likes you.”
“Your mother doesn't know me.”
“She asked about you every day.”
That surprised her.
Gabriel placed the envelope on the counter.
“Five thousand. Teach me enough to speak to her.”
Chloe pushed it back.
“No.”
His eyebrows rose.
People apparently didn't tell Gabriel Costello no very often.
“Not enough?”
“That's not the problem.”
“Then what is?”
“You don't need a translator.”
He stared at her.
“You need to pay attention.”
His expression chilled.
“Careful.”
“See? That's exactly what I mean.”
She stepped closer.
“Your mother spent dinner trying to talk to you. You treated her like an inconvenience.”
“I run businesses involving hundreds of people.”
“She raised one.”
That landed.
Gabriel said nothing.
Chloe lowered her voice.
“You want to communicate with her? Start by looking at her when she talks.”
Gabriel glanced toward the envelope.
“Keep the money.”
“No.”
“You need it.”
Chloe stiffened.
“How would you know?”
“I know everything about people who spend time around my family.”
There it was.
The reminder.
He was still Gabriel Costello.
“What do you know about me?”
“Your brother was Leo Bennett. Deaf since birth. Killed by a drunk driver two years ago.”
Chloe's face drained.
“Don't.”
“Chloe—”
“Don't say his name.”
Gabriel stopped.
Her eyes burned.
“You investigated me?”
“I protect my mother.”
“You frightened a waitress because she spoke to her.”
“I didn't know what you were doing.”
“Exactly.”
She turned away.
Gabriel remained silent.
Then he surprised her.
“I'm sorry.”
Chloe looked back.
“What?”
“I said I'm sorry.”
“You might want to record that. Nobody will believe me.”
His mouth almost moved into a smile.
Almost.
“Will you teach me?”
Chloe considered him.
“Three conditions.”
“Name them.”
“You pay normal tutoring rates.”
“Fine.”
“You don't investigate my life again.”
A pause.
“Fine.”
“And during lessons, I'm the boss.”
Gabriel stared.
From across the kitchen, Marco dropped a spoon.
Chloe waited.
Finally Gabriel said:
“That one may be difficult.”
“Then Tuesday still means mother.”
He exhaled through his nose.
“When do we start?”
“Tomorrow.”
Gabriel's first lesson was disastrous.
Beatrice wasn't present.
Chloe sat across from him in the empty restaurant.
“Again.”
Gabriel signed:
How are you?
Except he got the movement wrong.
Chloe shook her head.
“You just asked me if I'm a shoe.”
Gabriel stared at his hands.
“This language is impossible.”
“Your mother learned English.”
“She was born here.”
“Then you have even fewer excuses.”
He glared.
Chloe smiled.
“Again.”
For two hours, the most feared man in the neighborhood struggled with basic conversation.
Mother.
Hungry.
Happy.
Sorry.
The last word stopped him.
Gabriel looked at Chloe.
“How do I say, ‘I'm sorry I waited too long’?”
Chloe's teasing disappeared.
She showed him.
He copied her carefully.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Until he got it right.
Then Chloe asked quietly:
“Why now?”
Gabriel stared at his hands.
“Because last Thursday was the first time I'd seen my mother laugh in months.”
May you like
He looked up.
“And I didn't know why.”
