Was blind, but now I see.
Bert and Charlene both had to sit down immediately. Their legs practically buckled. Bert searched his pockets for a handkerchief as tears rolled down his face and clearly weren’t going to stop anytime soon.
Skylar’s chin trembled as she watched and continued to listen. Eddie’s mother did indeed sound like an angel. It was no exaggeration. She had never heard a voice like it. Those who had heard her in person had not lied.
Eddie stared at the pulpit from which his mother had sung. It was as if he could see her there now, standing before him. Singing with all her heart. As if she had never left. As if she was singing to her one and only child. Her beautiful and unique baby boy.
It was clear that Eddie wasn’t only hearing her voice. He was feeling it. As he turned to Skylar, a single tear rolled down his cheek. And then another. And then the floodgates opened. He touched his wet cheek with his finger and examined his fingertip. With great pride, he said, “Happy tears.”
Skylar nodded, also crying tears of joy as they listened to the angel’s voice. Eddie’s angel. Whatever was to come, whatever would happen, Skylar had done something good. She had not failed him. She had not broken him. She had helped Eddie achieve his lifelong dream. He had heard his mother’s voice like she’d promised he would. His joy was her joy, and it was pure. The hole in Skylar’s heart, the one that she had carried around since the death of her little brother, now seemed just a little bit smaller. And it felt absolutely wonderful.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
’Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
And Grace will lead me home.
CHAPTER 114
Harmony House, Woodbury, New Jersey, June 1, 10:12 a.m.
Several days later, the last of the morning dew had evaporated from the rolling lawns surrounding Harmony House as Eddie and Skylar took their morning walk to nowhere. It was already part of their daily routine. They moved slowly, enjoying the crisp morning air. At least, Skylar was. Eddie was busy rotating his head from side to side. “The birds are happy this morning.”
“How can you tell?”
“They’re singing.”
She closed her eyes, listening intently. “I wish I could hear them, too.”
He continued listening to the birds. “Why do you think I can hear so much more than everyone else, Skylar?”
“That’s a good question.”
“Why is it a good question?”
“Because it’s something I want to know the answer to as well.”
“Well, you know what they say, ‘Great minds think alike.’”
Skylar paused, dumbfounded. “Eddie, you do realize that’s an expression.”
“Yes, I know.” A devilish look came over his face.
“I thought you didn’t like expressions.”
“I don’t.” He paused, waiting to see if she would understand his intent. “It was a joke, Skylar.”
She shook her head, marveling. “Will wonders never cease.”
“I hope not.” They kept walking.
Later that morning, Eddie waited in the cafeteria lunch line with the rest of the Harmony House patients, along with the nurse’s aides who selected the food for those not capable of choosing for themselves. Binder #138 was tucked under his arm, and there was tissue paper sticking out of his ears, just like there always was. It was Thursday, and that meant lunch consisted of chicken tenders, french fries, canned corn, and several different Jell-O options for dessert. Today’s choices included yellow, green, and red. Eddie was thankful that the Kraft food company did not make purple Jell-O, or if they did, that Harmony House never served it.
Jerome smiled at Eddie from behind the counter. “What’s up, Eddie?”
“Fluorescent lighting.” He looked up to the ceiling. “It makes an annoying buzzing sound, which is why I always have tissue paper in my ears during mealtime.” He pointed to the tissue, which was not difficult to spot. Eddie made no effort to conceal it.
“I was getting worried about you, man. Didn’t see you around here for a couple days. You doing okay?”
“I’m doing much better than okay, Jerome. I am doing great. Can you guess why?”
“Because we’re serving your favorite dessert, yellow Jell-O?”
“I got to hear my mother sing. She really did have the voice of an angel, just like people said.” He was beaming.
Jerome glanced over to his boss, Ida, who did not seem pleased to see him chatting up this particular patient. Jerome backed away, clearly moving on to other business. “I’m happy for you, man. Let me know what you think of the Jell-O.”
“It will be my pleasure,” Eddie replied, and then carried his tray to a table. He placed the binder next to his tray and methodically moved the food items onto the table. He spaced each plate evenly distant from the others, then sampled the food items, recording the score of each in his binder. The chicken tenders got a four; the french fries a three; the canned corn a two, which was why he spit it back out onto the plate; and the Jell-O a five. He savored every last bite of the dessert, and looked back to the counter to see if there was any more. Had there been, Eddie would have certainly gone back for seconds.
He carried his tray to the “Dirty Dishes Here” sign, then counted the 113 steps back to his room. He was surprised to find the door slightly ajar. Eddie was sure that he had closed it when he had left. It was not unusual for nurses or other Harmony House personnel to enter his room when he was not present, but they had never left his door open before.
Eddie knocked on the door. “Hello, is anybody in there?” There was no answer. He pushed the door open carefully, only to find the room was vacant. He entered, surveying his various possessions. Everything was in its proper place: the echo box, his special laptop, his binders, his pencils, the sharpener, even his Batman pillowcase was just as he’d left it. But then he saw it. He raced out of his room, running right into Nurse Gloria.
“Eddie, what’s wrong? I was just coming to see you.”
“Nurse Gloria, somebody put something in my room!”
She responded calmly, just like she always did. “What? Who did? What is it?”
“It shouldn’t be there! It doesn’t belong in my room! Don’t you see it?” He pointed inside his room.
“See what?” She had no idea what he was talking about.
Eddie continued past her, racing down the hallway to Skylar’s new office, which until recently had been Dr. Fenton’s. She hadn’t yet had time to hire her own assistant, which explained why Stephen Millard still had his job. He looked up as Eddie rushed in. “Dr. Drummond isn’t in. Is there something I can help you with?”
Eddie didn’t respond as he continued directly into Skylar’s office. All signs of Fenton had been removed, but there was still little that identified the space as Skylar’s. Stephen poked his head in the door. “I told you, Eddie, the doctor isn’t here.”
“Where is she?” His panic was growing.
“All I know is she had an outside appointment.”
“I don’t know what an outside appointment is. Outside what?”
“Outside Harmony House.”
“Well, this is an emergency. She needs to come back.”
Nurse Gloria entered, having heard the last bit of conversation. “Eddie, until Dr. Drummond gets back, can you tell me what the emergency is?”
“I want it out of my room!”
“I will be more than happy to help you. But, first, I need you to calm down. Can you do that for me?” Her voice was soothing as ever.
Eddie took a deep breath and nodded.
“Will you show me what we’re talking about?”
He nodded again and led Nurse Gloria out of the office.
After they departed, Stephen waited a moment before removing a phone from his pocket. It was the same model Senator Davis now carried with him. Stephen pressed the speed-dial button for the only number he was ever to contact with it. “You said I should call if anything unusual happened.”