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CC opened the door to Julia. "Oh Ms Wainwright! How can I help you?"
"I need Mason's help," Julia said simply. "How do you do, CC."
CC shook his head. "I don't think it's a good idea. Moreover — how are you going to talk to him?"
"No problem," Julia smiled. "When a child I had a deaf and dumb girl friend, and I think I still remember the sign language."
Julia found Mason reading morning newspapers.
"Hi there," said Julia cheerfully, and her hands easily doubled the pronounced words.
"Counselor?" said Mason rising in surprise.
"I have had no chance to offer my best wishes on account of your wedding. I do hope Mary and you will be happy."
"She loves me," Mason said simply. "And — you're doing quite well," he pointed to her hands.
"Fortunately I have not forgotten how to talk this way, yet."
"How are you?"
"This is exactly what I've come about."
Julia took a file out of her case and put it onto the desk, to free her hands. "Mason, I'm up to my ears in work, and this is a very complicated case. I've spent hours and hours thinking it over — I feel I can grasp it but every time it escapes me. You've always been good at cases like this one — do you think you can help me?"
Mason was taken aback, "Wait a little — you know — I can't!"
"Why?" said Julia with surprise. "Have you lost your brains together with hearing?"
"Julia!" Mason's eyebrows met at the bridge of his nose.
"Mason!!"
All Mason saw was the movement of her lips, but the peculiar intonation was alive in his memory, and, almost against his will, he laughed aloud. The passion of fight burned up bright in his blood. Julia laughed, too.
"You know what? I think I've missed our banter."
"Me too," Mason nodded.
"So — will you look through the papers?"
"I will."
"Good; thanks," Julia smiled. "I'll be waiting for your call — I mean your report."
Having seen Julia to the door, Mason felt the urge to get right to the documents, mixed with fear he would fail the task. He went to the kitchen instead where Mary was taking the cookies out of the oven.
"Right on time, as usual!" Rosa laughed.
"Taste it," Mary suggested.
Rosa made a glass of milk for Mason, and he sat down and took a cookie. "Very delicious," he said.
Mary smiled. Mason kept silent for a while, and then blurted out, "Julia's been here… she's asked to help her."
"Have you agreed?" Mary asked.
"Yes," Mason nodded taking another cookie. "I'll try to."
"Of course why not try," said Mary; she was ready to jump for joy for her plan seemed to be working.
When they got to their room Mason, after some hesitation, sat down at his desk, and Mary lay down. Mason opened the file and started looking through the papers. In spite of the long break, his brains quickly remembered his usual strategy, picking up facts like little bricks and building them into a system. Looking at her husband Mary understood: everything was going to be all right from now on.
After the sleepless night Mary fell asleep very soon, and Mason went on working. He took a clean sheet of paper and started to take down his ideas. When the bigger part was done, Mason straightened up wearily, looked at his watch and did not believe at once it was 3 a.m.
Mason decided it was quite enough for the first day, so he put off the papers, took a shower and joined Mary. Straightening happily on the bed he dozed off immediately and slept without seeing a single dream.
The next day was a busy one for Mason. He was sitting at the desk, books all around him, and Mary had real trouble making him go down for dinner.
"Isn't it a bit too much?" CC asked anxiously.
"No," said Mary, quite sure of her plan. "This is exactly what he needs!"
The next morning Mason announced he was done and wanted to take the papers back to Julia himself.
"Of course," said Mary hugging him. "I'm so proud of you!"
Mason rode the car confidently though he'd never tried to after the accident. In the office his former colleagues all were glad to see him and greeted him cheerfully; Mason was a bit confused, and so he was relieved to get to Julia's office finally.
When she looked through the documents she exclaimed, "But this is a flash of genius!"
In a split second she remembered to ‘say' it with her hands, and Mason smiled back, "Not as complicated as all that…"
"I need to show this to Smith; just wait for me here!" Julia sprang up and ran out.
She came back together with her chief. Smith shook Mason's hand, "You've really helped us out!"
Julia quickly ‘translated' his words into the sign language.
"I was not sure I'd cope," Mason admitted honestly.
"Don't you want to come back to the firm?" Smith asked. "To be frank, I need your brains."
Mason was all eyes watching Julia's hands; he was not sure he was reading it correctly. Then he asked, "Do you want me to work here? But I…"
"This is the proof you can," said Smith pointing to the papers. "If you are not sure, let us just try."
A wave of joy swept over Mason. "I agree," he said huskily, his heart beating fast.
When he told Mary of his meeting Smith, she threw her arms round his neck, "Great, Mason! I'm so glad for you!"
Life was getting back to normal, little by little. In the morning Mason would breakfast, kiss Mary and go to work. He shared the office with Julia. It would have gotten on his nerves before, probably, but now that she was his ‘ears' he was only glad to.
Smith gave him rather a heavy load but Mason never stayed at work late. "I need to go home," he would tell Julia. "Mary's waiting for me."
If there was something urgent, he'd take the papers with him and work nights at home.
Mary was very glad her plan had worked. Mason had become quieter and more sure of himself. It was very important as the baby was growing, and the labor time was approaching. Mary knew only too well that soon she would not be able to give Mason that much time. Very soon she herself was going to need help and support.
When Julia was to argue their first common case in court Mason could not find any peace.
"I can take you to the courthouse," Mary suggested. She knew this first case was especially important for him.
"No — what's the use," said Mason with a crooked smile.
Mary hugged him. "It's going to be all right."
Mason pressed Mary to him, but suddenly drew back when he got kicked by a little foot.
"Oh my, the way he's kicking!" he cried in surprise.
Mary laughed, "Not as much!"
Mason's eyes were shining, "But Mary, it's a miracle! Oh, God, Mary — what would I do without you! I love you so!"
"I love you, too," said Mary kissing him tenderly.
In the evening Julia phoned and asked to tell Mason they had won the case.
When Mary said this to Mason he was absolutely happy, "I did it! Mary, I did it!"
"Of course you did it," she smiled tenderly. "I never doubted you."
The first success helped Mason believe in his forces once again. Now he felt not so deprived and gave up worrying about his deafness.
When there was but a week left before the date of labor, Mason arranged it to be working home. He was afraid to leave Mary, if for a minute.
"Mason, everything's going to be all right," Mary would try to reassure him.
"Yes of course," he would agree. "But I'd rather be around — just in case there's no one to hear the phone call…"
In the evening, when Mary felt the first contractions started, Mason went to sleep fully dressed. He told Mary to wake him up when she felt the time had come. But Mary woke him only in the morning.
Mason was going to be present throughout the labor. Mary had asked the doctor lots of questions in advance, and then had instructed Mason fully so that now he was ready. Or at least he thought he was.
When it all started Mason was so nervous he was shaking like a leaf. It took him much effort to compose himself. He reminded himself he needed to be there for Mary. He'd hold her hand, wipe her forehead dry and repeat, "It's okay, it's going to be okay. Good girl."
When the baby's head showed, Mason was overwhelmed with excitement. His heart was beating violently; as to the rest of the world, it did not exist for him at the moment. Soon the baby was out his mother's body. The doctor took him in his arms and turned upside down. The baby gulped in some air, his lungs got right and — the baby's shrill cry entered Mason's ears.
"My congratulations!" the doctor said with a smile. He wrapped the baby in a diaper and handed it to Mason, "Do you want to hold your son?"
"Of course I do," Mason said, in his excitement paying no attention to what'd happened to him and took the baby.
"Let's go here, we need to find out his weight," the nurse called, and Mason followed her.
"Mason!" Mary cried out, shocked. "Mason — can you hear?"
"Me?" Mason turned round, amazed. "Oh God…. Yes, Mary, I can!... I can hear!... Mary!!"
When the nurse took the baby's measurements Mason took him and cautiously lay him on Mary's breast.
She hugged her son tenderly and looked at Mason through the tears of joy, as he was trying to cope with this forgotten waterfall of sounds that was pouring into his ears. The most pleasant ones were the baby's crying and Mary's voice, "Mason, I love you!"
"I love you, too," said Mason in a voice harsh with excitement. "And our baby. I love you!"
On unsure legs, Mason walked out to the hall where his family was waiting for him: CC, Sophia, his sisters and brother. Rosa was standing by the wall, too, nervously clutching at her rosary.
CC rushed to his son, confusing all the signs in his excitement, "Mason — how is it?"
"Okay," Mason nodded wearily. "You've got a grandson, dad!"
"Thank Heaven! I'm so glad," CC breathed out in relief and then looked at his hands thinking how to express this with signs.
Mason smiled and took his father's hand, "Forget it, dad. My boy's got lungs that broke that damned silence… Dad, I can hear again!"
"Oh Mason," Sophia exhaled, "is it true?"
"Yes," Mason nodded. "I did not understand at once…"
CC grabbed at his son's shoulders, "Son — my boy!" He pressed Mason to his chest.
Everyone ran up to congratulate Mason and were close to choking him in their hugs.
"Can we see Mary?" Sophia asked.
"Yes, you can," Mason said. "They're in the ward already. Go now, then, I'll join you a bit later."
Having showed his family Mary's ward he headed to the end of the corridor where there was a little chapel. Mason lit a candle and watched the flame for a while. Then he looked at the crucifixion and said quietly, "I've never believed in You too much — maybe this is the reason You've sent me these trials. But I am grateful that together with the trials You've sent me an angel. I'm so grateful for having Mary — and our baby. Thank You for this gift. I promise I'll treasure it and I will try to deserve it… I promise!"
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