Page 26 of Butch

The first thing we’re going to do is connect your external processor and then sync it to your phone. Once we get that and the magnet’s strength correct, we'll turn it on and start the first mapping. Do you want me to explain it step by step?

“Please,” she almost begged him.

She didn’t like being in the dark about things. Edmund loved doing that and put her through hell by always staying alert and trying to figure out his next move.

When we turn it on, it’s going to be loud. It might be uncomfortable, but we are going to work on figuring out where you need things to be. We’ll start with some tests where you’ll hear buzzes, beeps, or tones, and you’re going to let me know if it’s too loud, okay, or if it needs to be louder. It might take some time, but we are going to get through it together. You can hold your Daddy’s hand the whole time if you need to. Do you have any questions?

Rae thought about it for several seconds before shaking her head.

“Wait,” she quickly said when Dr. Peterson went to write on his phone. “Will I be able to hear his voice right away?”

Just the thought of hearing Butch say a full sentence brought tears to Rae’s eyes. How long had she longed to hear him talk to her?

Not really. It’s different for everyone and what they experience their first time, but we’ll get it to where you’ll be able to hear his voice.

“What will I hear?” she asked.

Some people say it’s like a buzz, robotic, or high-pitched sounds. But with the mapping and figuring out what you can and can’t hear, we’re going to get it so you can hear his voice. Don’t worry. Any more questions?

“Not right now,” she replied and grabbed Daddy’s hand.

Things were starting to get real now as Dr. Peterson started to unbox her external processor, making her hand tighten around Daddy’s. Before she knew it, Dr. Peterson was attaching it and making sure everything sat nicely.

Are you doing okay?

“Yes,” she whispered, already feeling overwhelmed.

If that changes and you need a couple of seconds to regroup, let me know. I know this day can be a lot, and I don’t want to add to the stress. Promise me?

“I promise.”

We’re going to pair your processor to your smartphone now, and then we are going to activate it and start going through the tests, but I’ll let you know when we start to do that.

She nodded and carefully watched as Dr. Peterson synced her processor with her app and typed notes for her to remember.

“Daddy?” she whispered and looked up at him. “Will you help me remember?”

Daddy ran his hands down her hair and nodded. Her shoulders dropped as she looked back at Dr. Peterson. Rae was going to try her hardest to remember everything, but it was starting to get overwhelming with all this new information.

We’re going to start with the short tones to figure out what’s too soft, too loud, and comfortable. Then, when we get it all figured out, you’ll come back in a month so we can change anything that you notice. After that, it’ll be three months, six months, and then at the year mark. After the year mark, I’ll see you twice a year to see how it’s going and if we need to change anything. Any questions?

Rae shook her head, tightening her hold on her Daddy’s hand as Dr. Peterson gave her the thumbs-up.

“I’m ready, but I’m not,” she said as the doctor turned to his computer. “It’s new, and I’m scared.”

Looking up at Daddy, he gave her an encouraging smile before she looked at the doctor. It was now or never.

“O-okay,” she whispered. “I’m ready.”

CHAPTER 12

RAELYNN

Raelynn was exhausted when they got home from the audiologist. Listening to all the sounds to see what was too loud or quiet, and hearing for the first time in three years, was hard. She didn’t realize how much it was going to take out of her.

“How are you feeling?” Daddy gently asked.

Rae flinched and looked over at Daddy, not expecting him to talk to her. She was going to have to get used to that as well. Actually being able to hear people talk to her, without having to wait for them to write on the whiteboard or their phones.