She put her right hand in front of Andre and made a nodding gesture with it. A-N-D-R-E, she spelled. 'Are-you-hurt?' She signed.
He made the sign for 'hurt' again and then nodded. Satia signed Andre's name again and then took her pointer finger and ran it from her ear down to her chin.
Andre copied the sign.
"What's going on?" asked Stix.
Satia looked up at him. She had no idea how to tell him.
"Andre... I think he's deaf."
Stix looked to Andre and then back at Satia. "No. Andrea said he's a little behind."
Satia shook her head. "He's not slow in speech. I think he's deaf, Stix. That's why he didn't hear you call his name. It's why he doesn't talk. This sign," She pushed her fingers together. "It means hurt. And this one," She moved her finger from her ear to her chin. "This one means deaf."
Stix's gaze traveled to Andre's face and he stood silently for a moment.
"Do another one," he said quietly.
Satia got Andre's attention again. "Andre, are you hungry?" She cupped her hand and moved it from her throat to her stomach.
Andre nodded and copied the movement.
"What is that?" Stix asked.
"Hungry." She repeated the sign. "He's hungry."
Stix appeared like he might pass out. Satia wanted to say something to comfort him, but she couldn't begin to imagine what he was going through.
"Well then," he finally said. "Let's take this stuff home, and he can have something to eat."
Stix handed Andre to Satia again, and he rubbed his back as Andre put his head on her shoulder. Stix unloaded the cart and paid.
He hardly noticed them as he checked out. Satia kissed Andre's head. What had Andrea been thinking? Had she hoped he wouldn't notice? Did she think Stix was so stupid he wouldn't find out? She swallowed hard. No. She knew what Andrea had been thinking. She'd been afraid that Stix would reject him when he found out. But the truth was, if that's what she thought of Stix, she obviously didn't know him very well. But that wasn't the real question. The real question was, why had Andrea come to Stix now and why was she so desperate for Stix to accept Andre?
Chapter Fifteen
"What the hell is wrong with you?"
"I'm sorry," said Andrea. "I... I wasn't thinking."
"Unfortunately you keep saying that. At some point, I have to believe you're lying to me on purpose or that you're just stupid."
"Stix, that's not fair."
"Okay." Satia stood from her chair and crossed to them. "Why don't we try and be a bit calmer about this." She turned to Stix. "I'm sure you are crushed by the news that you have a son you're only now finding out about." She turned to Andrea. "And it took a lot for you to come and even reach out to Stix. The thing is, he's in your life now, and Andre's and you two need to start trying to work together to take care of that sweet little boy in the other room. This isn't about the two of you, it's about him."
Stix stared at Satia. The voice of reason that he's always needed. The soothing and fun presence that had been missing his whole life. Hell the way she treated Andrea with respect and was so good with Andre. It was impossible for him to deny that she was meant to be his mate.
"I'm sorry," said Stix. "But you have to give me more credit than you are. Did you honestly think I would reject Andre because he's deaf?"
"No," said Andrea. It was evident that she meant it, but the expression on her face told him that someone had. Most likely her clan. It was probably the only reason she'd come to him at all he realized.
"Maybe we should start this again," she said. "How about tomorrow instead of me just dropping Andre off here, you and I and Andre spend the day together?"
"I thought you had work."
"I'm owed a few sick days."
Satia nodded. He wanted to ask her to come along, but this was something he needed to do on his own.
"Sure," he said. "I'll meet you at your place at ten."
"You don't need to go all the way down there," she said. "Why don't we go for a picnic in the park instead? Andre loves the park."
Stix nodded. "Sounds good."
"I'll text you the address." She walked past Stix into the other room, and Andre smiled at her. She signed something to him, and he nodded and got up. Satia gathered Andre's bag and coat and handed them to Andrea.
"Thank you." She walked toward the door, and Andre waved. The smile on his face hit Stix straight in the heart.
"I'll see you tomorrow, buddy," he said.
Andrea walked out the door, and Stix stared at it for a long moment. Part of his heart broke knowing that Andre was gone for the night, but he was secure knowing that he'd see his son in the morning.
He glanced at the clock on his phone. "The bartender is going to open tonight, so we have a couple of hours to relax if you want."
Satia smiled. "Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat."
"I can grab some leftovers from the fridge."
"Then I have an idea." She took his hands in hers. "How about we eat and while we do I can teach you some signs."
He nodded. "Now is as good a time as any to start learning."
The day and the evening passed quickly. Satia wasn't fluent in sign language, but she knew enough to communicate with a toddler for sure. After they'd eaten, Stix went up to his room and searched the internet for classes and books on sign language and the deaf community in general. When he came down hours later to head to work Satia was in the middle room of the three and had set up an entire section for Andre to play in.
"I thought maybe I wouldn't go with you to the restaurant tonight," she said. "Instead I thought... maybe I would set up a room upstairs for Andre."
Stix nodded. "That would be amazing, but you don't have to do all that."
"I don't mind. And after all, I am still your assistant."
Stix chuckled. "I'll take that because I get the feeling that soon you're gonna be my boss."
She picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "I think I might like being the boss."
He caught the pillow and laughed before tossing it back to her. "So which room do you think we should give him?"
"Maybe Deacon's room?" She tugged on the fringe of the pillow.
He nodded. "Makes sense. Then you can move into my parent's old room."
She looked at the pillow. "Maybe... you could move in there too?"
It was so odd to think that the house was his now. That his parents wouldn't be coming back except to visit now and again. He'd left their room the way they had. Though all of their things were gone from in there, he still saw it as their room.
Stix walked to Satia and pulled out his wallet. He handed her his credit card. "You buy whatever you want to make that room yours."
"Mine?"
"Ours."
She smiled. Stix wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a long slow kiss that almost had him pulling her to the floor so he could bury himself inside her. He broke away and took a deep breath.
"Okay. I need to stop, so I can get to work."
"Are you sure?" she gave him a wry smile.
"I'm sure. I don't want to. Believe me, I'd rather be here with you, but yes, I need to go." He kissed her once more and headed for the door. "Get whatever you like," he called. "You're okay getting to the store, right?"
"I can figure it out," she replied. "Stix?"
He turned.
"What if I want butterflies and unicorns?"
He stopped at the front door. "Then I guess you'll be sleeping in there alone."
She laughed and shook her head. "I'll see you when you come home."
Stix nodded. He liked the sound of that.
* * *
Satia took her car to Target, a half hour away, where she bought several things for their new room. Being sure to only get items on sale she purchased bedding, pillows, sheets, an extra blanket as well as a pair of lamps, some curtains, and then a couple stuffed animals for Andre.
She carried her p
ackages up the stairs to the second floor and then walked into what would be her new room. The scent of Stix's mom and dad lingered on every surface. Not overpoweringly but very obviously they'd lived in the room for many years. The smell wasn't unpleasant. Strangely it comforted her and made her feel more at home.
She walked to the bed and stripped it bare. She spent over an hour arranging everything in its place. She hung curtains and placed every pillow. Finally, she walked into Deacon's room, flipped on the light and set down several empty boxes she'd found in the basement.
When Satia had finished clearing out Deacon's things and taking them to the basement, she stretched and yawned. She hadn't done that much work in a long time. Exhausted she dragged herself into her new room and plopped down on the bed. She was asleep before she even turned out the light.
* * *
Stix walked into the quiet house and stood in the doorway for a moment. Somewhere inside he knew Satia was waiting for him. The thought warmed him all over, and he closed the front door. He'd lived in the house for close to fifteen years and now with her there it finally felt like a home.
Stix turned off the lights in the kitchen and the front room and headed up the stairs. He stopped at Deacon's door and glanced inside. Satia had cleared out everything of Deacon's and set up Andre's bed in the middle of the room. She'd even bought a few more toys for him. Stix smiled. She had taken to Andre the same as he had, and he couldn't ask for more.
He headed to his bedroom and stripped off his clothes. Then he walked in his underwear to his parents' old room. Satia lay curled in a ball on the large bed. Stix took in the room. Even with the little she'd done, the entire space felt different. She'd moved around the furniture and changed the colors. She'd put a beautiful cream-colored comforter and pillows on the bed. The thick, light blocking curtains were a lovely cream compliment.
Stix walked to Satia and turned off the new lamp on the nightstand. She stirred, and he kissed her head and pulled the covers down and she crawled underneath.
"Stix..." she murmured.
"It's late. Go back to sleep."
He slipped under the covers and she curled into him. He pulled her close and closed his eyes. Everything about her felt so right.
Chapter Sixteen
"So what are you doing for work again?" Stix picked at a piece of fried chicken on his paper plate.
"I'm a... a... receptionist at a dentist office."
Her hesitation made Stix look at her. She waved at Andre.
Andre climbed up the ladder to a baby slide and stood at the top smiling.
"Good job, Buddy," he called.
Stix felt Andrea's gaze on him, but he didn't turn. He wasn't sure how much more awkward things could be between them. He'd been trying hard to understand her position and why she'd done what she'd done, but he still couldn't come to terms with it.
"So, the bar looks like it's doing well."
"It's good."
"And your parents? How are they?"
He glanced at her and then back to Andre. "Good."
"Stix." She placed her hand on his. "I don't want this to be weird between us. I want us to be able to raise Andre together."
Stix gazed at her hand and slid his out from under hers. "I would have liked that from the beginning."
"Stix-"
"Look, Andrea. I'm not sure what you want from me or why you came back. It's fine if you want to keep that to yourself but I want you to know I intend on mating Satia. So she is going to be in Andre's life too."
"I want you in his life... and if that means Satia as well, then... I'll have to learn to live with that."
Stix stared at her for a moment and found nothing but truth in her eyes. He nodded.
"For what it's worth she seems like a nice person."
"She is."
Stix got to his feet and jogged over to where Andre was getting ready to go down the slide. He held his arms out at the bottom. Andre slid down, and Stix caught him at the bottom. They laughed, and Stix swung him around in a circle.
Andre smiled and then he laid his head on Stix's shoulder and squeezed him tight. Stix's ursa chuffed with happiness.
The next week passed quickly for Stix and Satia. They fell into a routine with Stix and Satia heading to the gym first thing in the morning and then Andre coming over while Andrea went to work. Her picking him up before Stix left for the bar. Satia continued to work on the house. She'd gotten the bedrooms upstairs repainted and redecorated. He appreciated her thrifty ways and how she wasn't one to spend money on unnecessary items.
Over the week he came home to find new things here and there to brighten up the rooms or change outdated items but never too much.
As Saturday rolled around, he decided he couldn't wait any longer. Again he asked Deacon to take over the bar so he could take Satia out. Deacon agreed, and Stix told Satia to dress nice.
As they walked toward the small Italian restaurant, which had become his favorite Stix fiddled with the little black box in his pocket. He'd never been that nervous before. He opened the door for her, and she smiled up at him. Again he was struck with the feeling of completeness.
Gianna, the hostess, welcomed them. "Stix. How nice to see you." The leggy brunette walked over and hugged Stix.
Stix introduced her to Satia. "Satia this is Gianna. We grew up together in Wolf River. But she ran away and showed us all what it looks like to stand on your own two feet without help from anyone."
Gianna chuckled. "Please. You know I left for a lot of reason, wanting to be on my own was only one of them."
She showed them the way to a booth in the back of the restaurant. "You two need anything, you just let me know. I'd never forgive myself if you two got anything less than a perfect night out on my watch. Especially since I still owe Stix for helping me out of a jam in high school."
She winked at Stix and walked away.
Satia looked at Stix. "What jam?"
Stix's skin flushed with heat. "Uh... she might or might not have stolen a car from Jeremiah at one point."
Satia's eyes widened. "Wow."
"Yeah... she used to be quite a troublemaker in high school."
Satia chuckled. "And you weren't?"
He smiled broadly and batted his eyelashes. "Little ole me? I would never do any such thing."
They both laughed.
Satia looked at the menu. "This place smells amazing."
"The food is incredible." A flutter of fear rustled in his gut.
She searched his face. "Are you okay?"
He smiled trying not to let his nervousness show. "Of course."
The waiter appeared, and Stix ordered a bottle of wine and two plates of pasta.
"I love what you've done with the house," he said.
"Thank you. It's a place with lots of warmth to it."
The waiter brought the wine and poured them each a glass before leaving the bottle. Stix grabbed his and gulped it down and then filled it again. Satia eyed him with concern as she sipped her drink and replaced it on the table.
"I was wondering if you'd mind if I brought up some of the photographs in the basement," she said.
"Sure. Whatever you want."
Her gaze dropped to the table, and she moved her glass in a circle. "I thought it might be nice to bring up a few photos of you and Deacon and Opal."
Stix's gut clenched. She'd found Opal's boxes. "I'd... like that."
"Why don't you or your parents talk about her? Where is she?"
Sorrow burrowed inside him. "She's in a mental hospital. She's been there for about a year."
"Do you see her?"
Shame burned his cheeks, and he shook his head. "I haven't for over six months. Seeing her in there... it's just hard."
Satia reached across the table and gripped his hand. "I'd like to meet her with you. In the past weeks being in the basement and searching the boxes I feel like I've gotten to know her somewhat."
Stix stared at her unable to believe his good fortune. In a
rush, words tumbled from his mouth. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. I can't even imagine what I did to be so lucky to have been blessed to have you come into my life. Satia I want you for myself now and forever. Will you marry me? Become my mate?"
He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out the black box. He dropped it to the ground and picked it up again. By the time he got it on the table he was so nervous, he wanted to run.
Her fingers trembled as she reached for the box and opened it. Tears welled in her eyes.
"It's too expensive," she whispered.
Stix pulled the three-carat princess cut diamond out of the box and took her hand in his. "There aren't enough diamonds on earth to equal your value."
A tear spilled down her cheek, and she nodded. "Yes. Yes."
Stix slipped the ring on her finger and she leaped from the booth and kissed him. He picked her up and hugged her tight, his ursa roaring with happiness.
Around them claps and cheers sounded. Stix and Satia laughed as he set her back on her feet. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him again.
They sat back in the booth and the Gianna brought over a complimentary bottle of champagne.
"Finally found a girl to put up with ya, huh?" Gianna laughed.
"Let me know when you find someone who can tame you. That I'd like to see," Stix shot back.
Gianna smiled. "There isn't a wolf strong enough."
Stix found he couldn't stop beaming as Gianna poured the bubbly and handed them each a glass.
Satia chuckled.
"What?"
She shook her head. "You seemed so nervous I had no idea what was going on. I thought for sure you were going to ask me to leave or something."
He picked up her hand and kissed it. "Never."
* * *
Satia couldn't keep the smile off her face. Everything had moved so fast between them and yet it felt like they'd always been meant to be. She devoured her pasta and they both talked about the future and what they wanted. He'd looked into the design college for her and found out that enrollment opened soon. He'd printed out the applications for her to read. They spoke about the changes to the bar. They talked about Andre and about a community education class Stix had found online for them to take so they could learn sign language better. For the first time in her life, Satia found herself dreaming of the future without fear of the past.
Unleashed With The Moon (Wolf River, ID. Book 5) Page 11