Page 25 of The Sound of Harmony

“That’s very nice of you,” she said.

“But?”

“But I haven’t listened to music in a long time.”

“Really?” Kendrick dropped the shoe he was holding. “No concerts? No Spotify? No car radio?”

“No, no, and absolutely not.”

Kendrick tried—and failed—to imagine life without music. It would be like living in a world of black-and-white where the food had no flavor. He couldn’t picture it. Even when he was in a quiet room, he heard melodies in his head.

He was about to ask Emma another question when the bathroom door swept open and Ben emerged wearing a towel. He pulled his suit out of the closet and pointed at the outer door.

“I have to go,” Kendrick said. “Ben is putting on his Sunday best and trying to shoo me out. There’s a reception tonight and he’s hunting for free shrimp cocktail.”

“Have fun,” Emma said. “Tell Ben I said bonjour.”

“I’ll send you that playlist. Bye.”

Ben finished dressing and then did a slow pace of the room. “What happened here?”

Kendrick pocketed his phone. “You wanted me to clean up.”

“I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”

“You’re welcome,” Kendrick said. “We need to stop in Columbus on our way back tomorrow. Emma has some pianos for me to look at. She says bonjour, by the way.”

“Nice.”

“She is nice.”

“She’s hot is what. She looks like she works out.”

“Probably keeps in shape by doing her job.” Kendrick had noticed her looks. How could he not? But to him, Emma’s beauty was a happy side-effect. What he found most attractive about Emma was her voice. He’d almost completely lost the lower register in his right ear, so he found women’s voices easier to listen to. Or maybe he was just extremely interested in what she had to say. And when she laughed! That sound sent bolts of pleasure straight through him. He could spend days thinking of things to amuse her so he could hear that sound again.

He’d be sad when his house organization was finished and he didn’t have an excuse to talk to her. Asking her out wasn’t a possibility. Emma wouldn’t want a man with one working ear and no driver’s license. But perhaps, after his house was finished, she’d choose to be his friend. He liked the sound of that.

Ben stood at the sink and combed his hair, then checked the clock. “Let’s go. I require wine, women, and song.”

Kendrick stood, and immediately sat down again when the room tilted to one side. Dammit, not now. He gripped the edge of the desk with one hand and put the other over his eyes. It was hard to focus when the vertigo was this bad. He found it was better not to even try.

“You okay?” Ben asked.

Kendrick took a few deep breaths. Small movements seemed bigger. Slightly twitching his hand felt like upending the whole room and his head was full of helium, trying to float right off his neck. “I need a second. Maybe you should go ahead. I’ll meet you there.”

“I’ll wait.”

Kendrick felt his throat close. He wasn’t sure if it was nausea or Ben’s unexpected kindness. “You should go.”

“We’ve got time.”

Kendrick put his head on the desk and did some of the breathing exercises his doctor had shown him. The room spun in circles and bobbed over invisible swells as he breathed through it. At times, he’d try to lift his head, only to have to put it down again immediately.

Twenty minutes later, when he was finally himself again, he saw that Ben had silently placed a water bottle on the desk. Kendrick nodded his thanks, uncapped it, and drank. He leaned back in the chair and slapped his right ear a few times.

Ben caught his arm. “Stop that.”

“I hate this beschissen ear.” Kendrick got to his feet, checked his balance, and made for the door. “Porca vacca, testa di cazzo. Fucking Meniere’s.”

“If you’re swearing in three languages, I know you’re feeling better,” Ben said.

“I’m fine.” The attacks of vertigo always left as quickly as they came. Kendrick let out a gush of air. “Thanks for waiting.”

“I can’t go without you,” Ben said. “I need to bask in the reflected glow of your accomplishments. It’s the only way women will talk to me.”

“I am not bait to dangle in front of your prospects.”

“Why are we friends again?”

Kendrick opened the door. “I’m coming back to the room at midnight, so whatever you’re going to do, do it before then.”

Ben shrugged. “And if I don’t come back at all?”

“Then I’ll high five you tomorrow.”

Kendrick took one last look at the perfectly organized room before the door closed. Ben was already halfway down the hall. Ordinarily, Kendrick would be the one out in front, eager to mingle with his people. But something had changed, and it wasn’t just his ear. He patted the phone in his pocket and trudged behind Ben, wondering why a reception full of musicians seemed so unappealing.