He'd heard the footsteps coming from behind and he tensed up, willing them to keep going while he tried to snap out of his sudden inertia. But they didn't, and he stayed where he was, so now it seemed they were having a conversation.
Maria, he remembered, family connections pinging up in his mind as she typed. His eyes flickered down to the phone as it spoke, before returning his gaze to her face. "I can sign," he said, signing at the same time as he spoke, although it had been a while since he'd had to and his rustiness probably was obvious. It didn't help that his right arm was aching as he moved it away from his side. "I just want a coffee."