Edward's Eyes by Patricia MacLachlan Read Free Book Online

“Can we.”
    Wren began to cry. Trick gathered her onto his lap and held her.
    â€œSo, he’s just gone. Like that?” said Will angrily. “Gone forever?”
    Maeve took a deep breath.
    â€œYes,” she said. “And no.”
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    They have taken Edward’s heart. And his lungs and other organs to give people who need them. Even his tissue they’ve taken. Maeve tells us this is like Edward living on. No, I want to say. It is not like Edward living on. Where is he? I want to yell at her. They’ve taken all of him. Where is Edward!?
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    â€œAnd there’s one thing more,” said Maeve, looking at me.
    â€œWe have donated Edward’s corneas.”
    I jumped up from the table, my chair crashing on the floor behind me. Sabine began to cry.
    â€œWhy did you do that?” I yelled at Maeve. “I hate you for doing that!”
    Albert Groom put his arms around me and held me close. I fought him at first. Then I gave up and cried.
    â€œNo!” I said into his shirt. “They are Edward’s eyes!”
    Albert turned and walked me to the kitchendoor and out onto the porch, closing the door behind us.
    After a minute he leaned down close to my ear. I could feel the tears on his face. He whispered so softly that I leaned back and looked at him to hear better.
    â€œSomeone should have those wonderful eyes,” he said softly. “Someone who needs them.”
    I stared at him.
    Then he looked over my head out to the water.
    â€œRemember what Trick once said? You have to ask the right questions.”
    â€œI would ask why did Edward die,” I said.
    Albert sighed.
    â€œMaybe. But maybe the right question now is what would Edward want?”
    I went over to the porch railing and looked out to the baseball field. No players. Only Weezer sitting down by the water waiting for something.
    â€œWeezer looks like he’s waiting for something,” I said. “A sign.”
    Behind me Albert Groom’s voice was clear and steady.
    â€œI think we’re all waiting for a sign,” he said sadly.
    Chapter 16
    It was quiet for days. There was no laughter in our house and no talk. Silence filled all the spaces, taking up all the air.
    Flowers were delivered. Food arrived.
    But no music.
    â€œMaeve doesn’t sing,” I said to Jack.
    â€œShe will, Jake. When the right time comes.”
    â€œWhat’s the right time?” I asked him.
    â€œIt will come,” was all he said.
    He put his arms around me.
    â€œI promise,” he said very softly.
    Will packed up all his books in boxes and put them under his bed.
    â€œI don’t want to read,” he told me.
    Wren was quiet.
    â€œWant to go to town, Wren? We’ll have ice cream,” I said.
    Wren shook her head.
    â€œIt’s too scary,” she said.
    I had no answer for her.
    Some nights Maeve took walks. I saw her from my window. And once when I passed Edward’s room she was there, sitting on his bed, slowly turning the pages of Goodnight Moon. She never saw me standing in the doorway. I wanted her to look up, smile at me, and beckon me in to sit by her. But she didn’t. So I made her hear me.
    â€œI taught him how to read,” I said, my voice loud in the quiet room.
    Maeve jumped a bit, startled.
    â€œAnd I sat with him in the bathroom, and read him that book.” I pointed.
    â€œEven in French, and I taught him baseball rules, and…” I couldn’t go on.
    Maeve got up and put her arms around me.
    â€œOh, Jake, it was as if he was yours from the very beginning,” she said. “You raised him.”
    I looked at her, surprised.
    â€œHe loved you,” said Maeve. “Maybe he never said it. But it was you he came to for everything.”
    She looked down at me.
    â€œI’m so sad for you, Jake,” she said.
    I started to cry again.
    â€œYou know what?” I said after a while.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’m mad