Our Hearts Entwined Read Online Free

Louise’s tiny frame step through.
    You’re back! Mia signed excitedly, rushing toward her friend and pulling her into a tight embrace. I got the cake for you, she told her, earning a fist pump from Louise - it was her favourite.
    Moving back into the kitchen, Mia loaded up the tray with the plate of cake, a plunger full of coffee, a milk jug and two cups, spooning in sugar for Louise and some powdered sweetener for herself.
    Since when do you use artificial sweetener? Louise signed to Mia as she watched Mia prepare the tray.
    Since I’m trying to kick my sugar habit. I eat way too much, Mia replied, before carrying the tray over to her dining room table. It had been over a month since she had seen her best friend. Louise had been up in Sydney visiting her older sister with her parents after the birth of her sister’s first child.
    I’m so glad you’re back. You’re not going to go and move up there on me are you? Mia asked. Louise’s sister had moved up to Sydney when she married a few years ago. Her parents had wanted to follow when they’d heard about the pregnancy, as they didn’t want to miss out on their grandchild, but had decided to stay in Melbourne with Louise. They were very protective and didn’t want to leave without her, and she refused to go. She didn’t refuse out of any sort of jealousy or unkindness - she had good friends and a good job in Melbourne and she was happy for her parents to go without her, she simply wasn’t willing to join them and lose everything she loved about her life.
    I’m glad to be back too. Sydney is so busy, and everyone talks so much faster than they do down here. It was harder to lip read. I’ll stick to Melbourne thank you very much, she stated, taking a sip of coffee. I’m still trying to convince my parents to go up there and leave me alone though.
    Don’t be hard on them, they worry about you.
    I know, but I’m twenty-three years old. I’d like to move out of home but they seem to think I can’t live without a hearing person around me. I keep reminding them that my hearing aids let me know when someone is approaching or calling to me – but they don’t really get it, Louise explained before shaking her head and waving her hand through the air to dismiss this much talked about subject. Louise was a very independent girl, and while she loved her parents, she was more than ready to come out from under the proverbial wings. How’s Eric?
    Frowning, Mia thought about their phone call that morning and wondered why he hadn’t called her yet. I don’t know, how’s Josh?
    Josh is fine, she signed, blushing at the thought of him. They had only been dating for a little over a week when she left, but they’d been texting and video calling the whole time. His signing is getting a little better, but I think he feels silly when he’s doing it… What do you mean you don’t know about Eric?
    We had a really weird phone conversation this morning. He was insisting that we went out to dinner last night, but we didn’t – I was here all night.
    That is weird. Maybe he has his days mixed up or something?
    How? It’s not like we go out to dinner midweek all the time, Mia responded, staring into her coffee as Louise attempted to continue some sort of a conversation.
    “Mia!” Louise called out loud, causing Mia’s head to snap up.
    “I’m sorry!” I guess I kind of drifted away there.
    You did… You know what? I’m going to get going. It’s almost five thirty and I have a lot of unpacking to do before I go to see Josh. You look like you could do with a lay down. I’ll text you tomorrow and maybe we can have lunch, ok? Louise said, a concerned look on her face.
    Mia had to admit that she wasn’t really feeling the best. She was hoping to spend some more time catching up with Louise. But she was struggling to focus, her head felt as though it was wrapped in cotton wool and weighted with sandbags.
    The two women embraced as they said their good-byes at the door to