Chapter 1
I hummed a melody I'd caught on TV last night, my hands busy preparing Saturday morning breakfast. The eggs sizzled softly in the pan—one of the few sounds my right ear could pick up clearly.
"Morning, my angel."
Braden's voice came from behind me. I felt his gentle fingers brush my hair aside, exposing the hearing aid in my left ear.
"How's the new hearing aid working out?" His touch was feather-light against my ear, practiced and tender. "The technician said this model's top of the line. Should help you hear so much better."
I turned around to find those deep brown eyes full of concern. Even unshaven and rumpled from sleep, Braden was still handsome.
"Much better," I replied, combining sign language with speech. "Thank you for coming with me to get it adjusted. I know Friday afternoons are crazy for you."
He cupped my face gently, his thumb tracing my cheekbone. "Tomorrow's our big day," he signed, his eyes sparkling with the softest light I'd ever seen.
Tomorrow—our wedding. Ten years since he first learned sign language to talk to me in high school, and now we were about to walk down the aisle. I could barely believe any of this was real.
"I couldn't do any of this without you," I whispered against his chest, feeling his heartbeat. And I meant it—not just because of my hearing, but because Braden was my entire world.
"Don't be silly," he kissed the top of my head. "You're the one who made me a better man."
We stayed wrapped up in each other until the smell of burning eggs snapped me back to reality.
Braden laughed and helped me turn off the burner, then suggested we grab breakfast at the community café instead.
"Mrs. Martinez said yesterday she wanted to celebrate with us. I think she's rallied half the neighborhood." He smoothed down my hair, smiling. "Ready to face all those well-wishes?"
The moment we walked through the door, I spotted several familiar faces gathered around the big corner table. Mrs. Martinez was the first to stand, arms spread wide as she rushed toward me.
"Audrey, sweetheart! Tomorrow's the big day!" Her voice was loud enough for even me to hear clearly. "You look absolutely radiant, doesn't she, Braden?"
"Every single day," Braden said proudly, his arm sliding around my waist. "She makes me feel like the luckiest guy in the world."
The neighbors crowded around us, voices overlapping with congratulations and blessings.
Mr. Jenkins clapped Braden on the shoulder. "Son, the way you've looked after Audrey all these years—that kind of character is rare these days."
"Taking care of Audrey is my honor," Braden replied humbly. "She gives me so much more than I could ever give her."
Mrs. Smith grabbed my hands, tears in her eyes. "You two have been together since high school, and now you're finally getting married. Audrey, you're such a lucky girl to have a man like Braden."
I nodded and smiled, warmth flooding my chest. Yes, I really was lucky. Braden hadn't just stayed despite my hearing loss—he'd learned sign language, came to every doctor's appointment, even moved us to this welcoming community so I'd feel more comfortable in social situations.
"Remember your first date?" Kate giggled. "Braden waited outside school for two whole hours because he got the time wrong."
"I was so nervous," Braden scratched his head sheepishly. "I wanted to make a good impression."
Everyone laughed. I watched Braden's profile, remembering all those sweet moments from our younger years. He was always like this—patient, thoughtful, never making me feel different.
"You two are a match made in heaven," Mrs. Martinez sighed. "In this crazy world, it's so rare to see love this pure."
'I'm the luckiest girl in the world.' I repeated the words in my mind like a prayer. Sitting here, surrounded by these kind people, watching Braden's gentle smile, I couldn't imagine life being more perfect.
Back at the apartment, I went to change into comfortable clothes while Braden checked the final wedding arrangements in the living room. Everything was ready—the church, flowers, cake, sound system (specially chosen to be hearing-impaired friendly).
Suddenly, a distinctive ringtone cut through the air.
Not Braden's usual phone sound, but something I rarely heard—sharper, more urgent. I was hanging up clothes in the bedroom when I caught a glimpse of him through the half-open door, checking his screen.
His expression changed instantly.
The shift was subtle, but I'd known him for ten years. I could see the flash of tension in his eyes, maybe even... panic?
Braden glanced quickly toward the bedroom, then hurried out to the balcony, quietly sliding the glass door shut behind him.
My pulse spiked. This was weird—Braden never hid phone calls from me. He always said we had no secrets between us.
Curiosity got the better of me. I crept into the living room, hiding behind the kitchen corner. Braden stood with his back to me on the balcony, phone pressed to his ear, voice low and urgent. Even through the glass, I could read lips—a skill every deaf person masters.
I caught fragments: "tomorrow night," "bachelor party," "she won't know."
Bachelor party? Tomorrow night? We were getting married tomorrow—what bachelor party? And "she won't know"—those words made my stomach lurch.
Braden started to turn around. I scrambled back to the bedroom, pretending to organize tomorrow's jewelry. A few minutes later, he came in, that gentle smile plastered back on his face.
"Who was that on the phone?" I tried to keep my voice casual.
"Work call," he answered quickly. "You know how it is—still some last-minute stuff to confirm for tomorrow."
Work call? But I clearly saw him say "bachelor party." My brain raced, searching for reasonable explanations. Maybe I misread? Maybe it was about someone else?
"Braden," I turned to face him, studying his expression carefully. "You're not hiding anything from me, are you?"
His eyes flickered—just for a split second, but I caught it.
"Of course not, babe," he pulled me into his arms. "What could we possibly have to hide from each other? Tomorrow's our big day. I just want everything to be perfect."
His embrace was still warm, his voice still tender, but a seed of doubt had taken root in my chest.
Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe pre-wedding jitters were making me paranoid. After all, Braden had loved and cared for me for ten years. He couldn't possibly...
No. I couldn't think like that. This was Braden—my Braden, the man who was going to be my husband tomorrow.
I held him tighter, trying to push those strange thoughts out of my head.
But that distinctive ringtone, those words I'd lip-read, that fleeting expression in his eyes—they all lingered like pebbles dropped into still water, sending ripples through my mind.
Tomorrow was our wedding day. Everything should be perfect.
Should be.
