Rather than sign his answer, Beau held up a large cream-colored envelope for me to see, Yale University’s impressive crest stamped on the top left. No wonder Beau looked like he was about to be sick. This was the response he’d been waiting on practically for years. What Beau considered to be the key to his future was right there in his hands.

“Holy crap,” I blurted. “Why haven’t you opened it yet?!”

WAIT FOR YOU, Beau signed with one hand, setting the envelope down.

“That’s nice, really, but open it!”

Beau’s shoulders rose and fell as he took deep breaths, reaching for the envelope again. His hands were shaking while he tore open the envelope and shook out the contents. A couple brochures fell onto the counter along with a thick, official looking paper.

“What’s it say?” I asked when the silence started to stretch on.

Beau’s eyes were moving back and forth rapidly as he read the letter, but I had no idea what he was thinking because of the blank look stretched across his face. My heart started to sink the longer he went without answering.

“. . . got . . .” Beau said finally, looking up from the paper.

AGAIN? I signed, frowning.

My guess was Beau had no idea how to sign whatever was on the letter, so he just signed, YES.

“You got in?” I said aloud, loud enough to make Mom pop her head into the living room with an alarmed look.

YES, Beau signed again, his movement sluggish.

“Beau, that’s awesome!” I said, signing, YAY! at the same time. “Aren’t you happy? Be happy!”

Beau’s lips twitched with a small smile, but he still didn’t sign anything.

“You . . . I mean, you are happy, right?”

Somehow, I didn’t believe him when he signed, YES, again.

“Hey,” I said, and when he looked up at me from the letter, I signed, PROUD, and pointed back at him.

That got a full-on smile from him, and I felt myself start to relax a little. Maybe Beau just processed things differently. He must have been excited about getting into Yale, he just didn’t know how to express it yet. This was major news for him.

THANK YOU, Beau signed, his smile growing. I . . .

Beau suddenly stopped mid-sign and straightened up as a man came walking into view on the screen. I immediately recognized Dr. Watson. He didn’t seem to notice me on the phone, reaching for the mess of Yale stuff on the counter instead.

YOU OK? I signed to Beau, pointing a finger at Dr. Watson.

Beau nodded quickly, signing, SEE YOU LATER, and the FaceTime call went dead.

I wandered into the kitchen still in a slight daze, casting my phone aside on the counter to go help Mom with dinner.

OK? Mom signed when I joined her at the sink as she washed some vegetables.