Silent Storm Lesbian Story

12: Devil In The Details

12: Devil in the Details

Belle watched Davie move from the small rental house on Maple. Mirabelle's eyes widened and her mouth broke open in a silent gasp. She wore comfortable looking jeans, calf height brown Sanuk boots, and a lightweight University of Washington crewneck sweatshirt over a fitted henley. Davie pulled her hair back into a loose ponytail and carried a bouquet of flowers. She slipped into the passenger side of the car and caught Belle in her stare. "Okay? Too casual?" Davie held the car door open, not sure if she should go back in and change.

Belle blinked and swallowed. "No! You nailed it! Aside from the obvious, you'll fit in perfectly at a Fontaine family gathering."

Davie shut the door and raised an eyebrow, "Obvious?"

Belle laughed and her eyes sparkled in response to Davie's question. "Oh well you're about as 'white' as a person can get Davie!"

"Oh!" Davie rolled with laughter and she smirked. "Yes very 'white.'"

Belle pulled away and explained. "So I'm sure Mama gave you the Fontaine family history?" Davie nodded. "And you've seen the photos." Davie nodded again.

"So think of me and Julian, my brother, as the lightest end of the Fontaine spectrum and my cousin Francois as the darkest. We're all essentially Mulatto or mixed race, but my Papa, Charlie Way, is maybe even a little more Anglo-Saxon than you." Belle grinned.

Davie pulled out her phone so Belle could concentrate on the road as she spoke. "Your family is incredibly beautiful, Belle. And your mom is fascinating." Davie glanced over at Belle as she typed. "She has this way about her. What is that? It's not just me. Right?"

"Oh no! You're right! Mama is special. She reads people really well and everyone loves her. You just can't help it. Right?"

Davie nodded in agreement,"Yes, you're right."

"So Dr. Kaplan, Davie. Do you mind telling me? You know, about your ..." Belle struggled with the word she wanted to use, " ... um ... condition? I'm not as adept at understanding you as Mama is."

"I don't mind. People are often curious because I'm not also deaf." Mirabelle nodded, encouraging Davie to continue. "I have a pretty significant case of Traumatic Mutism. That means that basically one day I ceased to have the ability to speak words. I can still laugh and vocalize normally in other ways, but no words."

Belle picked up immediately on the word 'trauma' but did not push for a detailed explanation. Again she found herself frustrated that she couldn't hear Davie's voice and therefore gained no additional insight.

Silence dominated the car for a few minutes. Davie knew very well that Belle was contemplating what caused her mutism. The voices of the trauma had screamed in her head for years, unheard. Belle broke Davie from her thoughts. "Is that rare? Your mutism?"

"Yes, very. Rare because the case has endured, almost 10 years. It is more common for much shorter periods of time."

Mirabelle's breath tightened at the thought of Davie's pain. "Oh Cher, I'm so sorry to hear that."

"Thank you Belle. Now I work with children who suffer from Selective Mutism, usually they don't speak in certain situations or about certain topics. I'm conducting research in therapy and teaching at Tulane's medical school."

Belle grinned,"So, no shortage of brainpower?" Belle could see in her peripheral vision Davie shaking and her heart skipped a beat hearing the woman's quiet laughter.

As Belle drew closer to her parents' place she gave Davie a short history of the area. The area was originally settled by French trappers and Native Americans. Later the suburb became a bustling local for cafes, dance halls, billiard halls, and jazz. "Here we are!" Belle slowed and parked just down the block from a large white, 2 story home with covered porches on both levels. The architecture was uniquely New Orleans with columns and wrought iron details.