Things had been tense between Maddy and David since Maddy had found out that Cecelia was deaf. Now, two weeks later, Maddy was being released from the hospital and would be seeing Cecelia in person for the first time since before her Guillain Barre was diagnosed. David made sure everything was prepared for Maddy's arrival home, and helped her into the car. They drove essentially in silence home, only speaking when Maddy asked questions.
"Are you angry?" Maddy asked.
"No" David said plainly.
"Then why aren't we talking?"
"Because we have extremely different viewpoints on something really important"
They were quiet again for another few minutes before Maddy spoke.
"I've been reading a little... I can see where you're coming from. Can you send me the things you've been looking at?"
David looked over at Maddy and smiled at her a little.
"Of course"
David pulled into the driveway, helping Maddy into the wheelchair he had picked up and getting her into the house.
"Welcome home" Natalie smiled as she walked in.
Natalie had been watching Cecelia for the day and double checking to make sure everything was in place. She left to give David and Maddy space to settle in. David helped Maddy onto the couch and went into his room to get Cecelia, who was sleeping in her crib. He rubbed her back gently and she opened her eyes.
Hello, I love you. He signed. He always signed this to Cecelia as she woke up.
He picked her up gently and placed her into Maddy's arms.
Cecelia, Mom loves you. He signed.
"Oh my god" Maddy said, crying slightly while looking down at Cecelia. "You're learning sign language for her?"
"Of course" David sat with his arm around Maddy. "This" He said, demonstrating the sign "is I love you. It's the most important sign"
David signed it to Cecelia again, who smiled and wiggled around a little.
"Fuck the cochlear implant" Maddy said. "You're right, she's perfect. She doesn't need it"
David pulled Maddy a little closer, looking down at Cecelia who was beginning to fall asleep again.
"Everything is perfect" Maddy said. "Everything about her, and you, and everything is so perfect and I am so lucky or blessed or whatever you want to call it to be home"
"Home" David repeated.
"Yes" Maddy said, gently stroking Cecelia's arm. "Home"
-----------
I loved loved loved being able to make David the voice of reason in this. I feel like he was never the voice of reason in this story and now he literally just was the ultimate voice of reason by fighting for Cecelia... I meant for this to be one of those like "damn, if Maddy hadn't been in the coma he might not have researched and just followed Maddy and gotten the implant", you know? Idk man, one last chapter to wrap it all up, even though it really ends here
