Families Page 15

  The next Sunday the whole household went to the late church service.

  Chapter 13—Families

  Although Debbie’s tennis was a bit rusty, it took her no time to get back in good form. Kensy’s doubles partner had retired from playing. It was a natural for Debbie and Kensy to partner up.

  Many summer evenings the whole family was at the club either playing tennis, golf, or eating dinner. They had all made many friends.

  “Come on, Jessie, you’re going to be late for choir practice,” Aly yelled down the hall to their bedrooms.

  “And now our doubles tennis team champs, Debbie Pierce and Kensy Sheerer. Come on up, ladies, and get your trophy.”

  The room filled with cheers. Several people congratulated the women on their walk to the front.

  Vicky walked up to Gini and gave her a big hug. “Gini, what a great hat.”

  “Oh… yes, buy, for, sun, pro… teck. Beeg… uff, het.” She grinned.

  “Robert.” Vicky kissed him on the cheek. “Great fundraiser.”

  “This is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had. You ladies did a good job getting the word out.”

  “I love the name, Walk New Haven to Help the Disabled. How was the walk?”

  “Beautiful, right, Guiney?” Robert put his arm around her.

  “Oh… yes. Meny, bird, meny.”

  “How about the wheelchair races and those wonderful kids from Roxbury’s school for the deaf signing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’ Absolutely a perfect day.” Vicky was pleased with the efforts of the committee she chaired as a hospital volunteer.

  Jessica had grown into a tall, athletic six-year-old. The family was involved in many activities through the church, country club, and hospital. This was the exact family life Debbie wanted for Robert and Gini, and she was enjoying it right along with them.

  Her romance with Micky finally ended about eight months after Debbie met Kensy. Debbie hadn’t wanted the relationship to end, but Micky was hard to pin down as to just what she wanted. Debbie got tired of not being sure, not feeling valued enough. She knew Micky loved her, but there was something—something in Micky that needed to stay aloof. Debbie had seen too much of commitment by now to be satisfied with that. It wasn’t a bad breakup, at least not for Debbie, just a parting of the ways.

  Debbie had attended many events with the ladies’ tennis group along with Kensy. Their friendship had flourished. Debbie was not ready to jump into another relationship and, although the two were close, no romantic advances had been made by either one of them. But there was not one day that went by that they didn’t see each other or talk on the phone.

  Debbie liked the fact that she didn’t have to pursue or be pursued. The strong friendship was all she needed.

  “Come in here,” Debbie said, opening the door for Kensy. Kensy carried in a long baking dish with her famous carrot cake. “You have more?”

  “The salad’s in the car.”

  “I’ll get it,” Debbie said.

  Pastor Daniel was just getting out of his car, parked behind Kensy’s in the Young’s driveway. And two cars with the Meyers gang had pulled up in front of the house.

  It was the seventh annual Christmas Eve dinner at the Youngs’.

  The first one had been the year Jessica and Jason were born. Robert was so down with Gini’s slow recovery from the Coch virus, Vicky wanted to do something to help him through Christmas. She invited them to their house, but Robert said no, he didn’t want to get Gini out in the cold. So Vicky brought the event to him.

  The Young house was scantly furnished, so she brought folding chairs, tables, and dinner.

  The two babies were on a big blanket in the middle of the great room floor. Jessica had just learned to sit up. She had a plastic ring fisted in each hand and was jabbering, moving her arms up and down. Jason half crawled to her and took both toys.

  Jessica scrunched up her face to cry but stopped and looked at Gini reclining in her chair, covered with a blanket. Jessica looked for a long moment and then reached over and picked up two different rings. Once again jabbering, she tried to put one of the fat rings in her mouth. Jason reached over and took the rings from her again.

  Tamra, Jason’s mother, sat down on the floor next to him. “Jase, don’t take her toys.” She took all the rings and put them next to Jessica and put one of Jason’s toy trucks in his lap. He immediately started crying, reaching for the ring. “No, baby boy. Play with your truck. Vroom, vroom.”

  Jessica sat quietly, watching her talk. Jason continued to cry.

  Jessica looked up at Gini, then she picked up a ring and held it out for him to take. He did… and the two played in harmony the rest of the day.

  As the years passed, the two families got together every Christmas Eve at the Young house, and the two children became good friends. Any time Jason was at his grandparents’, the children played together.

  Now the house was fully furnished, and a big, beautifully decorated tree stood tall next to the staircase that slightly curved into the great room. And a few new guests were attending—Kensy, and Pastor Daniel, who had been romantically involved with Alyssa for a couple of years.

  The dinner was early afternoon, followed by church and then caroling through the town center.

  “Jason!” Jessica shouted, running to him as he walked up the sidewalk. She hugged him and then took his hand back to the house.

  The afternoon was as good as it gets with lots of talk and laughter.

  “Rob… ber! Snow,” Gini said with glee.

  The large flakes were just starting to fall after the feast had been eaten and the kitchen cleaned up. It had become a tradition that for the first snowfall of the season, the girls would go outside and let the flakes fall on their faces and in their mouths. Robert loved the joy in Gini’s and Jessica’s faces out in the backyard. He always made hot chocolate to enjoy when they came in out of the cold.

  This day everyone went outside except Robert and John.

  “Great bunch of people,” John said as the two men watched the kids running around the backyard, Daniel and Alyssa longingly looking into each other’s eyes, Noah hugging his wife as she shivered, and Debbie, Kensy, Gini, and Vicky each with an arm around the back of another, swaying, with their heads back and mouths open.

  “The best ever. How’d we get so lucky?” Robert asked.

  “Truly blessed.”

  Kensy was often at the Youngs’. Robert didn’t know why Debbie had never brought Micky into the main house, because Kensy was always with the family. Maybe it was because they all knew Kensy. And it wasn’t only Kensy; several of the church ladies visited often. He was glad Debbie had a life of her own, not only devoting her time to Gini. But he knew whoever Debbie was involved with had to understand that Gini came first. He was grateful for her dedication, but Gini didn’t require as much care as she used to—she was determined to be independent. Both Debbie and Robert stepped back and let Gini do as much as she could by herself. And Jessica had always been attentive toward her mom. The bond between them was like none other he had ever seen.

  It was spring, the trees were blooming, and the flowers had buds. This was Debbie’s favorite time of year. She was hosting the women’s tennis group for their annual start-of-season dinner.

  “Hey, thanks, Deb, for the great party,” Kensy said. She kissed Debbie on the cheek.

  “It’s been fun.” Debbie reached over and took hold of Kensy’s hand.

  “Come to the square tomorrow; we’ll do lunch, bring Gini.”

  “Okay, we will.”

  “Love you.”

  Love you? Debbie thought after Kensy had left. She never kissed her on the cheek before or said those words. Debbie smiled. Friends love friends and kiss them on the cheek.

  Robert and Gini went to the club for dinner and then stayed in the master suite while the visitors were there. Jessica played contently up in the game room.

  After Gini fell asleep, Robert walked into the kitchen and helped Debbie fi
nish cleaning up. He grabbed a towel and started drying the hand-washed dishes.

  “Robert, you don’t have to help.”

  “I know. Did you have a good meeting?”

  “Yes, it was great. I don’t know why it took me so long to get involved in the church and country club. I guess I didn’t want to take time away from Gini. She doesn’t need me much now.”

  “Deb, she still can’t live without our help.”

  “I guess. I love my baby. I’m glad she is so happy and doing well. Hahaha, someone told me people think you and me are married, and Gini is my daughter.”

  “Really, married? How would anyone get that impression? Then I’d have two wives.”

  “And two kids.”

  They both laughed.

  “Probably think that because we’re close in age and out together a lot, both helping Gini and Jessie.”

  “I think a lot of you, Deb. Not as a wife but a good friend, maybe even a sister.”

  “I feel the same. Funny how we were thrown together in a crazy life. I always admired you and enjoyed working with you at the hospital, but I never thought we’d live together.” She turned and looked at him. “You’re a man, and I hated men.”

  “I am a man. I think you had some terrible experiences with men, and it turned you against all of us.”

  “Just one, my dad. He was a real jerk.”

  “I’m glad you realize us guys aren’t all bad.”

  “I know many good men, you included.”

  On a bright sunny Saturday in June, there was a lot of activity at the house. Alyssa was getting Jessica ready for the youth golf tournament at the country club and collecting her gear. Debbie had already left to help get everything set up for the kids. Robert and Gini planned to watch Jessica play.

  They were walking toward the club’s front entrance when Robert realized he had forgotten Gini’s dark glasses. They stopped in front, next to one of the benches that lined the sidewalk going to the door.

  “Gini, sit here while I run back to the car for your glasses. I’ll be right back.”

  “Be, goo. I, can, way.”

  A few minutes later, two young boys came running up to the sidewalk. Gini heard their mother in the distance telling them to wait for her. They stopped in front of Gini.

  “Hey… yo,” she said. Her eyes were closed.

  Both boys turned toward her. The older one asked, “Are you sleeping?”

  Gini giggled and opened her eyes; they soon slid closed. “No. No, have, goo, eye.”

  “You talk funny.”

  “Bain, dam…age. No, goo, bain.” Gini laid her hands flat with palms up toward the brothers. The younger one took her hand and sat next to her on the bench.

  “Wha, name?”

  “I’m Toby,” the older one said. “And that’s Jack. I’m going to win the tournament today.”

  “Play… uff, gahf?”

  “Yes, I’m the champion of the five- and six-year-olds.” He sat down on the other side of her.

  “Jess…eek, be… uff, gah… fer.”

  “Jessie Young?”

  “Oh, yes, my, dah…” The rest of the word got caught in her throat, and the younger boy finished the word for her.

  “You’re Jessie’s mom?” Toby asked with surprise.

  Robert and their mother came walking up the drive together.

  “Look at them,” she said. “Gini has them eating out of her hand.”

  Robert smiled. “She’s so good with kids.”

  “Robert, she’s remarkable. I remember when you first brought her to the club. No one could understand her when she talked, and now look at her, so confident and talking all the time.”

  “Yeah, pretty amazing.”

  “Mommy”—Toby jumped up—“this is Mrs. Young, Jessie’s mom. She has brain damage.”

  “Toby,” she said quietly.

  “That’s what she told us.”

  “Come on, boys, we need to get inside. Good to see you again, Gini.”

  “Oh, yes.”

  Gini stood up, and the two boys both held her hand and led her to the door and held it for her to go in.

  “Goo, luck, Toe… bee.”

  “Thank you. See you later,” Toby said as they walked away.

  “Nye, boyze.”

  Robert kissed her on the top of her head. “They are.” He slipped her sunglasses on her face.

  Jessica and her two buddies, Jason and Timmy, were in the same group playing. Timmy was a big boy with freckles and copper-orange hair. He was tall, but Jessica was a little bit taller with a lanky body, long arms and legs, and straight light brown hair. Jason was shorter and dark-haired, with strong arms. They were quite the team, and with Jessica constantly encouraging Timmy to hit hard, they won the five- and six-year-olds’ trophy.

  Legotti

  “Come on, babe, our car is here.”

  “Papa, I’m so excited about camp this year, science and cooking. They’re going to show us how to play golf. Do you play golf?”

  “No, Lizzi, I’ve never had time for such a slow game.”

  “What sports do you like?”

  “I was a pretty good football and baseball player when your mom and I were in high school, but that was a long time ago.”

  “Was I born then?”

  “No, it was a lot longer ago than seven years. More like fifteen or twenty.”

  “Wow, Papa, you must be really old.”

  Franco rustled his daughter’s curly locks. “Yeah, really old. Ancient, in fact.” He felt that way sometimes. Besides his daughter, he felt like most of his life was in the past. But he’d never say that to her.

  He picked her up and headed to the car. She took the long braid down his back and let it run through the circle she made with her fingers like she always did. She loved her dad.

  “When we get married, Papa, we’re going to have a little boy to play football.”

  “Oh, babe, you can’t marry me. Remember, I’m old.”

  “Papa, you’re so funny. We’ll name our boy Jason, like your son.”

  Franco had no life other than his daughter. His company had prospered over the years and he had plenty of money. But life wasn’t all about wealth. He would love to have a wife, someone who loved him as much as Gini had. But he had screwed that up royally, and even though he had tried to date, the woman generally either walked out or asked him to take her home early. He’d never learned friendly social skills. Gini took care of all that when they were together; people flocked around them. He’d have to admit he was lonely, but that was totally his fault.

  He squeezed his precious daughter tight. Virginia Elizabeth Legotti was the most important thing in his life. He was going to give her everything he could and try his hardest not to lose her love like he had his wife’s.

  Santini

  “Ric, don’t you dare hang up on me,” Janet said on her cell phone when she heard dead air. “Ahhh…” She threw the phone at the bed. It hit the nightstand, and the cover popped off. “I hate that man sometimes,” she yelled.

  Ric walked up to his daughter, who was running through the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

  “Daddy, who was on the phone?”

  “Your mom. Come on, sweet Gins, we’d better get going so I don’t get spanked when we get home.”

  “Oh, Daddy, you’re so funny.”

  “You think so?” He swept her up off her feet. “Tell your mom that.”

  “Mommy, we’re home.”

  “Virginia, go to your room; your father and I have to talk.”

  “Daddy’s really funny. He wanted me to tell you that.”

  “Go!” she yelled and pointed her finger toward the bedroom.

  Ric casually walked into the kitchen and put a six-pack of beer in the refrigerator. “Jan, why don’t you let up? She’s just a little girl. You don’t need to yell at her for no reason.”

  “You’re exactly right. I need to yell at you.”

  “So what did I do wrong this time? I
just spent the afternoon at the beach with my daughter.” He walked up to Janet. “You could have come.” He quickly tickled her under her chin with one finger.

  She grabbed his hand. “You are not going to use that charm on me. I wanted to go to the movies. I’ve been asking for a week. And when I get home, you’re nowhere to be found. I rue the day I had that child. I might as well be in Timbuktu. You don’t even know I’m here most of the time.”

  He was looking at his phone. “I can hear you. I know you’re here. That movie is not appropriate for Gins.”

  “Her name is Virginia. She’s not Virginia Anderson, she’s Virginia Santini.”

  “Let me know when you’re going to stop complaining. I’m going to the office for a while.” He went out the door.

  “Ric Santini, I hate you!” She picked up the pillow off the chair and threw it at the door.

  Young

  The next Saturday morning, Robert and Gini came out of the bedroom in pajamas and robes. His hair stuck up and out.

  “Daddy? Is Mama fixing your hair again?” She started laughing.

  “So what if she is?” He lifted his daughter up, sat her on the kitchen counter, and started tickling Jessica.

  Gini went to Debbie and hugged her.

  Life was perfect—perhaps too perfect.

  Chapter 14—Trauma and Blessings

  It had been a quiet evening after a busy day. Robert went on a field trip with Jessica’s class, and Debbie and Gini spent most of the afternoon at the club getting the Christmas bazaar set up. Everyone was ready to turn in early.

  The house was dark when Debbie went to the kitchen for a glass of water around ten-thirty. She had just gotten in bed and picked up her adventure novel when there was a tap on her outside door—it startled her. Then her phone lit up on her nightstand.

  Bunny, it’s me, Micky. I’m at your door.

  Debbie jumped out of bed and pulled back the shade. “Hold on a minute, I have to turn off the alarm,” she called out.