Page 89 of Rescued Heart

Mary set her bread down. “I’m not sure that alone would have helped. I saw you on the news with Bia Pearl, and it brought back old memories. I hadn’t had a stronger pull to come and hug you before. With some other things about to happen in our lives, I knew it was time.”

Eddie lowered to his chair. “I believe that’s called guilt, and it’s there for a reason.”

Tears filled Mary’s eyes. “This is a long time coming, but I’m proud of you, Eddington. Proud of us both. Look where we are. When I saw you in that first heroic article online, everything had finally lined up.” She wiped away a fallen tear. “I hadn’t been the best mother to you. Drugs and addictions controlled me. In and out of jail. I didn’t know where you were even when I was home.” She reached for Joel’s hand. “Then I found Joel’s book, and it changed my life. But I needed more help. I knew Joel’s words spoke to me. Turns out we needed each other to find our complete happiness.”

Eddie shook his head. All this time, and she was still just as lost. “It’s not about finding happiness.”

Joel aimed his buttered knife at Eddie. “Son, I hear your tone, and it’ll get no one at this table closure.”

Eddie scooted to the edge of his chair. “It’s not a tone problem. Mary…Mother, you need to look for answers from the Bible. It explains where our joy comes from, which is far better than temporary happiness. How our past can be forgiven.”

How to find strength to forgive his mother.

Bianca put her hand on Eddie’s thigh, and he rested his on top of hers.

Mary twisted the longest of her necklaces. “I can’t be wishing my past away, because it’s healed both of us.”

Eddie didn’t blink. She wasn’t sorry for what she’d done. “I suppose I can’t wish all the past away either. Without your decision to leave me, I wouldn’t have ever stepped foot inside a church and heard the actual truth. If you hadn’t dumped me?—”

“She didn’tdumpyou.” Joel took in a quick inhale and rubbed his chest. Sweat shined on his forehead. “She was on her path to healing and self-worth.”

Eddie’s hand laced around Bianca’s under the table. “A path toward your co-partnering and selfishness masked behind what you claim as happiness.”

Joel grabbed his glass of lemonade and took a gulp. “Why is this so sour?” He set the glass down. “You really need to read my books. It’ll explain everything. Without my books, you’re still blocked.”

Eddie tilted his chin up. “Mary’s partly right. Without her road to so-called happiness, I wouldn’t have been dropped into foster care. Wouldn’t have been taken to church by Grand-ma’am and heard where my worth actually comes from. It isn’t found in anything you’ve written about.”

Joel dabbed his napkin against his sweaty brow and grunted. But it wasn’t because of anything Eddie had said. The man stiffened and grabbed at his collar. Another strangled gasp came from Joel’s mouth. His body jerked, and he fell to the ground.

Bianca’s hand squeezed his. “Eddie?”

Eddie sprang from his seat and rushed over to a white-faced Joel. “Call 9-1-1!”

Mary released a shriek. “He’s allergic to…to…cherries and…and soy!” Her hands flew to her cheeks. “Help him, Eddie.” Then she threw her purse across the table, knocking over Joel’s lemonade. “His epinephrine autoinjector is inside. You must save my Joely. I can’t live without him.”

Eddie put his two fingers against Joel’s neck.

No, but she could live without her son.

Which had probably saved Eddie’s life.

No pulse.

Bianca grabbed her phone and dialed for help as Eddie dropped to his knees beside the man he’d grown to hate. “He doesn’t need epinephrine. He’s having a heart attack.”

NINETEEN

Hospital waiting rooms really should be warmer. Bianca shifted on the loveseat that felt more plastic than the leather look someone had probably been aiming for. A poster announcing the visiting hours had peeled away from the striped wallpaper and now flapped under the air-conditioning vent.

Beside her, Mary grabbed Bianca’s hand and squeezed her fingers. “Tonight was supposed to have led to more happiness.”

Eddie paced behind the chair he’d only rested in for about two seconds before he’d practically tossed a tissue box from the table to his sobbing mother.

Mary swiped a tissue from the box nestled on her lap. “Joel has to make it. We’re so close to total happiness. So close to our adoption placement.”

Bianca’s free hand went to her chest.Adoption?

Eddie stopped and pivoted toward Mary. “What did you say?”

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