This foster situation was turning out to be okay. A nice house, a safe neighborhood, a foster parent who was kind and who signed, a cool dog, Coach Diesel to keep them safe . . . And he and Joshua got to stay together. That was the most important thing.

Dr. Dani covered Joshua up, then opened the closet door, revealing boxes labeled PANTS, SHIRTS, PJ’S, SOCKS, and UNDERWEAR. She rummaged in the PJ’S box and pulled out a pair of Spider-Man pajamas. She put them on the foot of the bed, then pointed at the stuffed animals on the closet shelf below the boxes.

“Pick something you think he’d like,” she signed to Michael without voicing, so they didn’t wake Joshua.

Michael went straight for a soft dog plushie. “He has one kind of like this at home,” he signed, then carefully placed it next to his sleeping brother.

Dr. Dani gave Michael’s shoulder a pat. “This room is safe. Nothing that can hurt a small child in here. The windows are locked.” She tugged on one to demonstrate and it didn’t budge. “They’re also alarmed.” She pointed up at the ceiling, where there was a strobe light, dark at the moment. “If the house alarm or smoke alarm goes off, the lights strobe. Your room has the same. It’s set up to be secure and safe for deaf and hearing kids.”

Wow. He had not expected any of this.

She showed Michael a baby monitor on Joshua’s nightstand. “I carry the receiver in my pocket. It vibrates when there’s sound. If Joshua wakes up and is afraid, I’ll know and can get to him quickly. Your room has the same setup, plus I have a panic button for older kids. Press it if you need anything, okay?”

He nodded, overwhelmed. “Thank you. So much.”

She smiled at him, then the two of them turned to find Coach Diesel filling the doorway. He’d been staring at them. Or at Dr. Dani. Michael wondered what their deal was, but knew better than to ask.

He wasn’t sure they knew what their deal was, but he’d caught each of them looking at the other when they thought no one noticed. Kind of like high school, he thought with an eye-roll. Dr. Dani was even blushing. He didn’t know older ladies like her still blushed. She had to be at least thirty. Maybe older. But he knew better than to ask that as well.

Coach moved out of the way and Dr. Dani showed Michael to his room. It was . . . super-nice. Posters of sports stars—hockey, baseball, football, even soccer—covered one wall. A second wall had photos of dancers, ice skaters, and musicians. The third wall was floor-to-ceiling shelves. Covered with books.