“I like going to the movies too. I just need closed captioning. But seriously, Beau, this is wonderful. I’m excited.”

SAME, Beau agreed, a smile breaking out across his face

“Let’s get started then.”

We started up the left side of Main Street first, browsing through the cute, old-fashioned shops that sold Christmas-themed items and antiques. There were a couple galleries full of nature photography, clothes shops, bookstores, and an old general store still standing in all its original glory. Georgetown’s Christmas market had perfected the art of making you feel like you were stepping back in time.

Beau paid for us to go on a carriage ride around town, which seemed to increase the holiday cheer even more. A young girl wearing a bright pink coat and hat stood up and started telling us about Georgetown’s history as two Clydesdales pulled us through town—or at least that’s what Beau told me. He tried to interpret what she was saying, but she was speaking too quickly for him to keep up.

FINE, I signed, not even thinking about it when I gave his hand a squeeze.

Beau did not let go of my hand.

His fingers were long and thin, warm beneath the woolen blanket tossed over our laps as he traced a random pattern across the back of my hand. My heart gave a few erratic beats and breathing properly was suddenly a struggle.

My hands were probably the most important part of myself because I used them every day to communicate. But it was strange thinking that no person ever seemed to give that any attention, focusing more on the signs I made rather than what I used to make those signs.

I flipped my hand over, letting Beau’s fingers move to my palm. My skin felt hot pressed against his. Just like with that hug during class, releasing his hand and breaking contact was the last thing I wanted to do.

I think I stopped breathing when Beau laced his fingers through mine. Peeking up at him took some effort, and I saw Beau was staring straight ahead like he was merely watching all the houses go by, but there was no mistaking that smile of his.

The carriage ride ended when we returned to the giant pine tree covered in Christmas lights next to the marketplace. There were a few brief seconds when Beau released my hand to help me down from the carriage, but once my feet were carefully on the snow-covered ground, my hand was back in his. Now I couldn’t keep from smiling too.

We wandered over to the marketplace where we tried on a few different hats and scarves and Beau bought us hot cider and a bag of cinnamon-roasted almonds as a treat. It started snowing as we stood huddled together by the bonfire, sipping our hot cider, almonds stuffed in our jacket pockets.

BEAUTIFUL, I signed again, pointing up at the sky.