Returning Home and A Proposition

Closing the box, Alexandra buried it in her last suitcase beneath the rest of her clothes and herbal text books. Lisa came by later to say goodbye to her and found her all packed and ready to head home. The students wouldn't be leaving until the morning, but she was ready now.

"You're already packed?" Lisa asked.

Alexandra nodded.

"What about your voice? Is it really back?"

She shook her head. "A miracle if everyone heard it," she signed.

"I'll say." Lisa sat on the edge of the bed beside her. "Would you like me to accompany you part way home. I am leaving tonight."

"Would you?" Alexandra signed.

"Of course." Lisa gave her a hug. "It's been good being able to learn from you, Alexandra. You'll make a good teacher somewhere."

Alexandra nodded before Lisa let go.

Then the two of them loaded her things into the carriage and Lisa and Alexandra left. When they reached the first post, they parted ways. Alexandra had at least two more stops before she would reach home. She made it to the second stop before she needed to spend a night in a hotel. Her father's carriage was there in the morning, waiting to take her home.

Trif stepped out of the carriage he had just arrived in, and he saw Alexandra disappear into hers and drive off. She had left the school without saying goodbye to him. He wondered if she even had feelings of friendship for him anymore. A few hours later, his next carriage arrived to take him the rest of the way. His aunt had invited him to stay with her in his old home and immediately he had accepted. This way, he hoped to see more of Alexandra and perhaps work with her in getting her voice back again. His aunt was out when he arrived, so he just left his trunks in his room before going over to Alexandra's.

A maid answered the door and invited him in.

"I'm here to see Alexandra," he said.

"If you'll follow me, Sir," the maid replied.

Trif followed the young woman into a sitting room, where Alexandra was reading. She stood and bowed politely to Trif. He bowed back.

"How are you, Alexandra?" he asked, stepping closer to her.

"Fine," she mouthed.

"Why won't you speak anymore.

"No matter how much I practice, it won't come back."

"Give it a little more time. I'm sure it will return."

"No, I don't think it will," she mouthed, eyes locking with his.

"It will."

She shook her head. Then Alexandra sat, motioning to a chair at the same time.

Trif sat. "Then how were you able to speak your presentation?"

She shrugged and let her book close completely. "Face it, Trif. My voice is gone."

"Thomas," he corrected, willing to pick up their mutual friend's name if he had to.

Her father walked in. "Alexandra, has...?" He stopped when Trif stood. "Who's this?"

"Name's Trif, Sir."

"Trif."

"Yes, Sir."

"I don't believe I've met you before."

"No. I'm one of Alexandra's classmates. I just came to see how she was doing, since she left school before I could."

"I see," her father said, disapproval in his voice.

"Is something the matter, Sir?" Trif asked.

His question was ignored as he turned to Alexandra. "Do you plan on keeping your secret agenda, my dear?"

Alexandra shook her head.

"Then why haven't you mentioned this young man in your letters home?"

She signed something before standing and leaving the room.

"Stubborn that one. Can't get her to do much of anything anymore, but that will change soon enough."

"Sir?" Timmy asked.

"I'm hosting a ball tomorrow night, Trif. Please come back then. Perhaps Alexandra will be in better spirits."

"Thank you. I'd be delighted."

The following night, Trif arrived to find the house full of guests. Many were just standing around. Few were actually dancing, but he didn't see Alexandra anywhere. As the song ended, she came in. The room fell silent for a moment and no one seemed inclined to approach her. Trif stepped forward and offered her a hand, just as the musicians began the next dance song. Alexandra smiled politely, as he escorted her to the center of the dance floor. She followed well and many others joined the dancing around them.

After that, Alexandra had hardly a break between dances. Trif would look for her sporadically throughout the evening. It seemed like everything was going well. Much better for her than it had been before she had left for school. But that all changed when she stomped from the room to the garden in the backyard.

"Alexandra, where are you going?" her father asked.

She didn't respond and let the door swing closed behind her.

Trif followed her out. In the darkness, he barely made out her form on the far side of the fountain. Her face was cupped in her hands, elbows resting on her legs.

"Alexandra, is something wrong?"

She nodded and turned her face away from him.

"Will you tell me what's wrong?"

"Alexandra," he father called from the doorway. "You are being very rude to our guests. Come back inside."

She stood and signed to her father.

"Who has done this?" he asked.

She signed something else.

"I'll talk to him. Now, please come back inside. I have done this for you. It's about time you found someone to be with."

Alexandra shook her head and turned to hide in the darkness, but Trif grabbed her arm. "Alexandra, what's wrong?"

"I am done being mistreated just because I cannot speak!" she mouthed.

"If we send those who have offended you away, will you go inside?"

She just watched him for a moment. Then, slowly, she nodded.

"Okay." Trif let go of her arm and approached her father.

She could hear them speak softly for a moment at the door before her father went inside.

"Alexandra, your father will make the announcement. Will you come now?"

They entered together as many of the guests were leaving. They cast glares in her direction, but a few of the young men snickered, since one of them had goosed her while they were dancing. The few that were left didn't really see a point in staying and left as well, bowing or curtsying politely to Alexandra as they left. As the last of them were leaving, once young man stepped towards her and began to sign.

"I have a proposal for you, Alexandra, but I shall ask you at a better time."

"What is your name, Sir?"

"Jake."

She nodded once, before Jake turned and left. Trif left as well, sensing that Alexandra would prefer to be alone.

The following morning, she came down to the kitchen and found Jake speaking with her father. She wasn't paying attention to their words as she grabbed an apple then left the room. A half hour passed before Jake came into the sitting room where she was reading.

"Good morning, Alexandra," he said to get her attention.

Setting her book down she signed, "Good morning, Jake."

"Did you rest well?" he signed. He would continue to sign for the rest of the time he was there.

"Well enough. Yourself?"

"Good. I came with that proposal I mentioned last night."

"Okay."

"I have been given permission from the school board to start a natural healing branch in this area that is specialized for the teaching of those who are deaf and/or mute. Lisa said you would want to be a part of it."

"Yes, I would like to be. But I feel there is a catch to what you are telling me."

"No catch. I would be over you and send reports every once in a while to the main school so certificates and degrees could be sent out to the students as they completed the course work. You would be the teacher."

"Can I give it a little more thought and get back with you later?"

"Sure. Tomorrow too soon?"

"Tomorrow should be fine."