The Concealers Read Online Free PDF Page A

Still, there was P.J.’s disability and Marcia’s concurrent uneasiness. And secretly, he was still struggling with the sudden death of his mother two months before P.J. was born.
    In Preston’s excitement bordering on euphoria at the hospital at P.J.’s birth, he either was unaware or did not notice the equipment the technician was using. He barely focused on the doctor’s concern that P.J. had not passed the hearing test.
    Preston didn’t know that an infant’s hearing could be tested so quickly after birth. It was later, in discussions with the doctor, that Marcia and Preston learned about measurement of an acoustic reaction produced by the inner ear that bounces back in response to a sound stimulus from a small probe with a microphone and speaker. It was all too technical to Preston, who knew lots about business but little about science—something about electrical stimulus sent from the cochlea to the brain stem and a second and separate sound that does not travel up to the nerve but returns to the infant’s ear canal, the otoacoustic emission.
    During the weeks following P.J.’s birth, there was much discussion with Marcia’s gynecologist, and numerous pediatricians and audiologists, concerning the causes of hearing impairment, its varying degrees of seriousness, and the need for continued assessment. The good news was that with early detection, depending upon the cause and type of loss, much could be done to increase P.J.’s access to sound. Notwithstanding many consultations since, however, Preston still couldn’t understand how P.J.’s hearing could ever be normal.
    Marcia saw things differently. “P.J.’s hearing will never be normal.” The audiologist had explained that hearing aids amplify the sounds that would reach an infant’s brain and stimulate it to produce the architecture that will allow him to hear and speak normally with aids or cochlear implant depending upon the severity of the loss. “If you can’t accept our son’s disability, Preston, at least I have—and I thank God every day that it was not worse,” she pleaded as she gently rolled the baby over to face them and leaned down to cuddle his cheek. “He can be fitted with hearing aids right away. Don’t you think it would be worth trying?”
    All year Preston and Marcia had argued about whether to fit their growing son with hearing aids. When Marcia chided him for his unwillingness to make the decision, Preston only procrastinated further. She feared now it might be too late.
    For Preston’s part, he was totally supportive of full exploration of all efforts to correct P.J.’s hearing, but worried at the time it was taking and whether his son’s hearing would ultimately be normal. Besides, the pediatric specialist he had consulted counseled patience, telling Preston that he had seen many cases where hearing ultimately developed on its own—as late as year two or three—and to wait and see.
    Preston had worked hard over the years to develop automobile sales franchises—Porsche, Audi, BMW, Mercedes—that were upscale, unique, and more durable. His success hadn’t happened overnight. Now it was a bit like having a cartel. On the business side, his stores appeared to have recovered from a previous setback and were even showing spurts of growth; most of his dealerships, in part because of the nature of the franchises, were far ahead of the dealers he knew who had struggled more to achieve much less. Of his ability to lead Wilson Holdings, Preston was certain. Accumulating wealth and managing relationships, however, were another story.
    Preston’s thoughts were interfering with his playtime with P.J. He pushed them out of his mind and lifted P.J. into his circular bouncer, where he could play with all the buttons and colored animals.
    â€œDaddy’s got to get back to the office,” Preston said for Marcia’s