Families Page 5

  “Do you know how you hear me talk, or the birds sing?”

  She shook her head.

  He put his hand on her ear. “We hear through our ears.” Then he took her fingertip and kissed it. “What did I just do?”

  “Kiss, feenger.”

  “You felt my kiss, right? That’s called touch. We have five senses: hearing with our ears, touch with our fingers, or lips, or feet or other body parts, smell with our nose and taste with our mouth.”

  A memory of fish and garlic smells came to Gini from the time Robert and she cooked a fish dinner in the kitchen together. “Coo… uff, fis.”

  “Yes, yes, I let you smell and taste as we were cooking, I remember.” That was the meal Robert first cooked for her when they started seeing each other.

  Debbie’s look of concern changed to a smile as she thought about them cooking that night.

  “And the fifth sense is sight. We see with our eyes.” He paused again. “Where were the ducks the other day?”

  Gini thought hard, and the vision of the ducks appeared. “Wah… ter.”

  “You looked at the ducks with your eyes. You could see them on the water in the pond, right?”

  “Oh… yes.”

  He pulled her head back close to him. “I know your brain and your eyes sometimes don’t work as they should. But the fact that you can describe things and talk about them, like the roofs in the villages in Mexico, tells us that you can see.”

  “Fly, like, bird.”

  He kept rocking her and smoothing the back of her head. He wasn’t sure if his explanation made any sense, but they would keep talking to her about seeing until she understood.

  That night after Gini was asleep, Robert and Debbie talked about what had happened.

  “Robert, I can’t imagine what it must be like for Gini not knowing things and unable to communicate to tell us. My heart was broken for her tonight.”

  “I think we have pretty well confirmed there are damaged circuits between the eyes and the brain. Her eyes work, but the vision of what she sees is delayed.”

  “I’m not sure I could be so cheerful as she, living in a world of unknowns,” Debbie said.

  “We’re here to guide her. She needs to know that she’s different, but that is okay because she is a real miracle, an intelligent woman, a loving person, and well loved by others. Those are the important things.”

  Chapter 5—Weddings

  Debbie loved hearing Gini giggle and talk when she was chatting online with Catherine. Gini’s speech had gotten so much better the last few months. The long pause before she spoke was getting shorter, telling Debbie that Gini didn’t have to concentrate so much to find the words, and she was doing better with pronunciation.

  “Cat… ter… rin, be, on, date?”

  “Be on date?” Catherine repeated. “Am I dating?”

  “Oh… yes!”

  “Ah, funny you should ask. I’ve been seeing a lot of Ric since you got married. We left your wedding together, remember?”

  Gini sat quietly for a moment. A vision of a tall man with dark, wavy hair came into her mind. “Han… some,” she said, barely audible.

  “Yes, very. And such a gentleman. I’ve never had a man treat me so well. I’ve been to Florida a couple of times, but mostly he comes to DC.”

  “Get, mare… reed?”

  “No, no. No wedding bells. I know he’s seeing other women. We just have a good time together. Ha, who’d ever guess I’d be dating a man four years younger than me.” Catherine leaned in closer to the screen. “I will have to say he is more mature than most of the bozos I know.”

  Gini put her head back and laughed her cute laugh. What a funny word, bozos, she thought. Debbie was just walking to the back bedroom to check on her. She smiled at the happy sounds.

  “Okay, honey, stand up and let me see that tummy of yours before I go,” Catherine said.

  Gini stood.

  “Turn sideways. Wow, your baby bump is really growing.”

  “Jess… eeca.”

  “You’re sure it’s a girl.”

  “Yes,” Debbie said, coming in the room. “Confirmed at her last appointment.” She smoothed Gini’s hair. “Not that any of us doubted Gini.”

  “Bay… be, girl.” Gini’s voice rose at the end of the statement.

  “Hi, Debbie. Well, I’ve got to get going; I have a meeting to go to. So, until next week, keep laughing, honey. I love you.”

  “Love, too.” The call ended.

  Gini hugged Debbie. “Be… uff, fren.”

  “Yes, she’s a good one.”

  They walked out of the bedroom together.

  “Baby, you got some mail today. It’s addressed to you and Franco. I think it might be an invitation to something. Do you want me to open it?”

  Gini slowly nodded her head. The picture of a strong man with long, wavy, dark hair appeared in her head.

  “It’s a wedding invitation. I’ll read it: Laura Ann Perry and Kenneth William Phillips cordially invite you to their wedding…”

  The sound of Debbie’s voice faded in Gini’s ears as she thought for a moment, then she saw three kids standing in a football stadium: a boy with dark hair holding the hand of a girl with curly hair and dimpled cheeks, and another taller blonde girl.

  “Cheer… led.”

  “Laura was a cheerleader with you?”

  Gini nodded.

  “The wedding is in three weeks in New York City. Do you want to go?”

  The first thought Gini had was, would these people want to see her in her condition? When she asked Debbie that, Debbie said she’d write to Laura and tell her about the accident. Then Gini made it clear it was the fact that she was pregnant that concerned her. Should a pregnant woman go to a wedding?

  Debbie took her hands. “There will probably be other expecting mothers there. You and your friends are in your childbearing years. You and Robert can talk about if you want to go or not.”

  After several conversations, the three of them planned to go to the wedding. Debbie wrote a note to Laura telling her about Gini’s accident and requested three reservations rather than two. Debbie gave Laura her phone number in case she had any questions.

  A week later, Debbie got a call.

  “Ms. Pierce, this is Laura Ann Perry.”

  “How are you and the wedding plans going?”

  “I’m well, and the plans are fine. It’s a little stressful working full time and all, but Ken and I are enjoying putting it together and looking forward to the day. I was so sorry to hear about Gini’s accident. I do hope she is doing okay. She was the smartest kid in our class by far.”

  “She is doing well. As I told you, she and Franco are no longer married. Gini is married to Dr. Robert Young now.”

  “I couldn’t believe that when I read your note. That’s amazing. They were nearly inseparable since, like, the third grade.”

  “Franco had a difficult time after Gini’s accident, and well…”

  “You don’t happen to know where he is?”

  “No, he just kind of vanished after the divorce. In South America somewhere, I believe.”

  “Well, I don’t think I’ll go on that search. Anyway, of course, you are welcome. I look forward to meeting you and Dr. Young and seeing Gini again. I was calling to see if she needs anything special, like food or wheelchair access?”

  “No, nothing special. She can walk. We’ll bring her wheelchair just in case she gets too tired to go long distances to the car or whatever.”

  “This is so exciting. There are several classmates that live on the East Coast that are coming. It will be like old home week.”

  “Where did you know Gini?

  “We grew up together in Sacramento.”

  “She’s certainly looking forward to going to the wedding.”

  “Good. We’ll see you in a couple of weeks.”

  The closer the wedding got, the more Gini talked about going. During one of the trips to New Haven, Debbie bought Gini
a pretty dress to wear.

  They decided to take a day trip and drive the three and a half hours, taking the big SUV. That way Gini could sleep both ways, and they could load all her paraphernalia in the back.

  Robert called the hotel where the wedding was, to find out about parking and restroom areas. He was told the fourth floor of the attached parking garage had plenty of handicap parking, and there were large men’s, ladies’, and family restrooms right inside the hotel from the elevator hall.

  After arriving, Gini rode in her wheelchair inside. Debbie freshened them both up in the restroom, and they took the elevator to the wedding venue. The ceremony and reception were held in the same room. Once they got to the area, Gini wanted to walk. Robert folded the chair and leaned it up against the back wall. The three of them were led to their seats, two tables from the back next to the aisle where the bride and groom would enter.

  The wedding vows that the couple had written were beautiful. Gini leaned over to Robert. She could recall Robert saying, “Gini, you took my heart. You stole it from me, and I give it to you willingly.” A warm feeling filled her inside. Visions of the day of their wedding appeared in her head, Robert looking so handsome, Debbie crying with happiness, and all their friends wishing them well. She now realized she had seen all the beauty of their wedding day.

  He put his arm around her, tilted her head back, and kissed her. “You remember our vows?” he asked.

  “Oh… yes.” She opened her eyes and gave the smile he loved.

  The bride and groom were making their way out of the room. Laura immediately saw Gini. She pulled her husband with her and went to the table for a quick word. “Gini, I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Gini continued smiling. The newly wedded couple left the room.

  Jackie turned to Janet, sitting at a table up near the dance floor. “Did you see who Laura Ann was talking to? Gini Anderson.”

  “I saw. Laura Ann said she was coming. Gini was in a terrible accident, you know, and has brain damage.”

  “No…”

  “Yes, and she and Franco split. Gini’s now married to a doctor.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “Nope, Franco left her after the accident. Couldn’t handle her injuries.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing. I thought they’d be together forever.”

  “Yeah, me too. She looks the same.”

  Both girls moved so they could see Gini better.

  The dinner was served, and the bride and groom made their rounds of the room.

  “Gini, you look beautiful,” Laura Ann said.

  “Thank… you. Be, my, hus…ban, Doc… tor, Rob… ber, ong.”

  “Nice to meet you, Doctor. And you must be Ms. Pierce.”

  “Debbie, please, yes, we talked on the phone.”

  “Listen, Gini, there’s a whole table of classmates up front. I’ll come get you later, and we can be crazy together again.”

  Gini giggled. “Cazey.”

  “See you in a little while.”

  As Laura Ann walked away, she laid her head on Ken’s shoulder. “Oh, Ken, so sad.”

  “She looked good to me,” he said.

  “You didn’t know how smart and clever she was before, now rather helpless.” Laura Ann had seen Robert feeding Gini, and her holding a handled cup awkwardly.

  All the rituals of a wedding reception were performed, throwing the garter and bouquet, toasting with speeches from friends and family, the cutting of the cake, and the couple’s first dance. Then the dance floor was opened to everyone.

  Laura Ann finally made her way to the classmate table. They talked about how great it was to see one another.

  “So, where’s Franco?” one of the men asked.

  “I don’t know, somewhere in South America.”

  “Too bad, it would be good to see him.”

  “Ric Santini RSVP’d he’d be coming. Looks like he’s not going to make it,” Laura Ann said.

  “Dang, I’d love to see how he turned out,” Jackie added.

  “That nerd?”

  “Now, come on, Scott, not everyone is a jock like you.”

  “Best quarterback ever—me.”

  They all told Laura Ann what they were doing. Ronnie told them he was happily married with eighteen-month-old twins, a girl and a boy.

  “Why didn’t your wife come?” Janet asked.

  “Vonnie is with the kids. She’ll be at the brunch tomorrow morning.”

  About thirty minutes into the dancing, Laura Ann proclaimed the classmates were going to do their high school fight song. She went to get Gini.

  “Oh my gosh, Gini, you’re pregnant,” she said when Gini stood up.

  “Bay… be, gill.”

  Holding Gini’s hand, Laura Ann led her to the table of friends. Robert followed a few steps behind.

  Everyone was chatting and asking questions and laughing when they got to the table. Gini just smiled and closed her mind—too much confusion.

  Robert stood away from the group with his hands clasped in front of him. He wanted her to enjoy her friends.

  The group went to the dance floor and started the chant. The former cheerleaders did the hand and arm movements, but Laura Ann never let go of Gini’s hand. Debbie could see Gini trying to mouth some of the words. At the end, the others yelled, “Rah, Rah, Rah,” and Laura Ann raised her arms, taking Gini’s with hers.

  “Oh, that was fun!” she called out.

  “Oh… yes…” Gini said, never stopping her smile. She could feel the warmth of Laura Ann’s hand wrapped around hers and the love of everyone in the room. Although all the noises of the room were muffled and blended together, the sounds were joyous and happy.

  Robert slowly walked up to Gini and put his hand on the back of her neck. He could tell by her vague look she was having a hard time concentrating, but the fact that she never stopped smiling let him know she was handling it.

  “Thank you so much for bringing Gini, Dr. Young. This has been wild seeing everyone again.”

  “My pleasure,” he said.

  Everyone gently hugged Gini and said how great it was to see her.

  “You let us know when that little girl arrives,” Laura Ann said.

  “Jess… eeca.”

  “We will,” Robert said.

  After they got back to the table, Gini let out a long sigh. “Tire…”

  “I know, baby,” Debbie said. “We should probably be going.”

  “Oh… yes.”

  Robert went to the back and opened the wheelchair, and Debbie gathered all their things and walked Gini back. Once out of the room, Gini sat in the chair, and Debbie put the bag with Gini’s things in her lap and her scarf on top, and they made their way to the elevator.

  Outside the large room was a long, wide hall. Ric came walking fast toward the room, looking at his watch. Just as he got to the door, he saw Robert standing by the elevator, then Debbie, and Gini sitting in the chair. He stopped. The door opened. The three went inside the elevator without seeing him.

  Ric put his hand across his mouth, then folded his fingers, pinching his lips. He closed his eyes, shook his head, opened the door, and walked into the room filled with lively music.

  “Oh my gosh, is that Ric Santini?” Janet asked as she stood up and waved at him.

  When he saw her, he gave a quick nod and wave and headed toward the table.

  Janet had him sit next to her. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was so tall, so smartly dressed, so handsome.

  “Ric,” Laura Ann exclaimed, “you’re here.”

  “Sorry, my meeting ran way over. You’re a beautiful bride.” He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Oh… well, flattery will get you everywhere. Have you eaten?”

  “Don’t worry—”

  “Please, bring this man dinner.” Laura Ann waved a waiter over.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “What are you drinking?” Janet asked.

  “I’ll get it; a
nd you?”

  “White wine.”

  After he walked away, she turned to Jackie. “He is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.”

  “He is. I was always so jealous of Gini with two good-looking men always at her side in high school,” Jackie said.

  Ric put a chardonnay on the table for Janet and a glass of bourbon—neat—for him. He unbuttoned his jacket, took it off, and hung it on the back of the chair, revealing the tight vest that showed his perfect, fit body. The waiter placed a plate full of food in front of him.

  The classmates chatted as Ric ate. As soon as he was done, Janet grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s go dance.”

  The music was jumping, and the dance floor crowded. The band strummed up a jitterbug. Ric started twirling her out and pulling her back in, then he took her arm and pulled her around his body, his feet constantly doing fancy steps. She was smiling and marveling at his dance moves. The other dancers started pulling to the sides of the dance floor to watch the pair. He leaned her back over his arm, then pulled her from one side to the other, touching hips, then to the front, leaning her back, pushing her back, twirling her out, and ending up pulling her back in his arms when the music stopped.

  He held her for a moment as they looked into each other’s eyes. Then he smiled, twirled her out, and bowed at the waist. Everyone clapped. The band started playing another song.

  He took her hand and walked off the dance floor. When they got to the table, he took a napkin and wiped the moisture from his upper lip. He downed the last of the bourbon and raised the glass to the waiter walking by, indicating another and telling him what it was.

  “Ric, where did you learn how to dance like that?” Janet asked.

  He loosened his tie and slouched a little in his chair. “I bought an entertainment company. We do all kinds of special parties and balls. I decided I’d better learn how to dance so I could be cool.” He leaned closer to her and smiled. “So I took dance lessons for a year or so. I picked it up rather quickly, I thought, since I was so awkward as a teenager. I love to dance. And you? You are a good follower.”

  “Follower!” She put her head back and started laughing. “You clearly don’t know me.”

  “Okay, I meant following my steps.”