A woman approached the table, smiling at Sam, then at Jesse.  With quick hands, the woman signed, It is wonderful to see such a well versed child, how long as he been using sign?

            Sam felt the blush rise to her cheeks, this woman thought that Sam, or Jesse, was deaf.  Neither of us are deaf, Jesse, my son, wants to learn a variety of languages.  He’s fluent in French, and ASL was the next language he chose to learn.  I’m Sam Vance, this is Jesse Masters.

            “It is a pleasure to meet you, what a brilliant child,” the woman said in her muted voice.  Sam looked her over, seeing that she didn’t have a hearing aid or a cochlear implant, she must have been reading lips.  “I’m Rachel DuBois, a pleasure to meet you both.  I’m sorry to have bothered you,” said the woman, an easy smile on her lips.

            Please, don’t go, sit down?  Signed Jesse, an impish smile spreading over his face. 

            Smiling, Rachel signed back, I’m here with someone, but thank you.

            Invite them over too, the more the merrier. 

            “Jesse…,” said Samantha in a threatening tone of voice, Jesse ignored her.  He had a way of doing that, just being himself, and his new mission in life was to find someone for his mother to love. 

            “If you don’t mind?” Rachel turned to Sam, her attention had been fully on the charming eight year old before her.

            Sam forced a smile, “Of course not.  He needs the practice.”  Rachel moved away from the table, and Sam wagged a finger at a laughing Jesse.  “You are incorrigible!”

            “I take after the best.  Come on, Sam, it’s time to start dating again.  Mom died three years ago.  You’re still wearing her ring.”

            Sam swallowed, her hand moving to the silver titanium band that rested on her right hand, twisting it.  She knew that her son was right, but that didn’t make it any easier.

            “Samantha, Jesse, this is Bette Porter.  We were having lunch, but with such a sweet offer, we couldn’t resist,” said Rachel.