Lisa saw the look on Debbie’s face when Reba announced the cruise was her love boat with Micky.
Debbie felt a deep pang of hurt. She had thought she and Micky were reconnecting on that ship when all the time Micky was sleeping with Reba. How did she miss the signs that they were lovers?
“Now, cookie, you know we didn’t really get together until we got back to Florida. Deb, you should have seen the hotel we stayed in after the trip. Fabulous!”
Reba was watching Gini carefully pick up breadsticks from her plate. Sometimes her eyes were open, but most of the time they were closed. Debbie fed Gini the bisque and salad.
“So, Gini,” Micky started. “I hear you were in Mexico when we were on our cruise.”
“Oh… yes. Fa… lie, lie…” Gini swallowed hard, put her head down for a second, lifted it up and said as plain as ever, “fly like a bird.”
Debbie leaned over and kissed her next to her eye. “Perfect,” she said.
Micky and Reba seemed puzzled and looked to Debbie for some help on the statement.
Gini started signing. She told the whole story of parasailing, flying over the water, the villages, and dolphins. All the women sat patiently quiet, listening to Debbie’s interpretation of the words about the adventure as Gini slowly moved her fingers to sign, occasionally saying the word at the same time. Even if Gini stopped, Debbie went on with the story, knowing it so well. Gini constantly talked about flying.
“Gini, I love that story every time I hear it,” Lisa said. “And you are going so fast with your signing, I have a hard time keeping up.” She turned to Micky. “We never thought Gini would spend any time out of a bed hooked up to machines. And look at her! She walks and talks.”
“An… fly.”
“Yes, and she flies with her husband. I mean, she’s married and having a wonderful life.”
“Lah… uff, Dee… bee.”
“You’re right, Gini, it’s partly because of Debbie’s great therapy, but mostly because of your will to live.” Lisa reached over and side-hugged Gini.
“Oh, my,” Reba sighed, daintily wiping the corners of her eyes with her napkin. “That is so uplifting, Gini. I love strong women like you, not letting anything get in your way. Angel, I’m so happy for you.”
Micky reached over and patted Reba’s hand.
At that point, Debbie felt gaggy. Reba was just too sweet, that fake sweet that Debbie disliked—she hated fake anything.
After eating, and clearing the table, Debbie served small assorted cookies and coffee in the living room.
“Deb, your coffee,” Micky said, closing her eyes to savor the taste. “I so miss your delicious coffee.”
The door slammed, and Robert walked into the room. “Oh!” He abruptly stopped. “I think I’m interrupting something.”
Gini went to him and they hugged.
“Robert, this is my friend from college, Micky, and her friend Reba.”
“Nice to meet you.” He ran his hand down Gini’s soft curls, then leaned down and kissed her forehead.
“Tole… uff, fly.”
He gave a small laugh. “The highlight of our honeymoon.”
“Great story,” Reba said. “I admire Gini so much.”
“Well, I’ll excuse myself and let you ladies go on with your afternoon.”
He turned to walk to the bedroom, and Gini never let go of him.
Debbie smiled when she heard Gini say as they approached the bedroom door, “lah… uff… make, on, hone… moon.”
Robert leaned down squeezing her tight. “Shh, that’s our secret.”
None of the other women heard.
“Wow, bunny, the doctor is a, well, a real man.”
Debbie burst out laughing. “Yes, he is. Strangely enough, we have been good friends for a long time. We worked on the same neurology team at New Haven Med Center. That’s where Gini was taken when she had her accident. Then he fell in love with her, and I became her guardian. You remember the story.”
“Yes, fabulous! Isn’t it weird living with a man?”
“No, not really. We work in tandem doing housework, shopping, cooking, and taking care of Gini. It’s my job.”
“Don’t make the mistake I made marrying a friend just to be a normal woman,” Micky said. She gave Debbie a warning look.
Debbie quickly looked away. “We are not married, not getting married; I am Gini’s nurse, that’s all.” Why was she feeling so defensive? The setup was not a suspicious one.
Lisa didn’t like the way Micky was drilling Debbie. She stood to go to Debbie’s defense—
“She’s so sweet, like an angelic child,” Reba said. “Debbie, you must be an amazing therapist.”
The tension in the room immediately cleared with Reba’s slow Southern drawl. Lisa was proud of Gini and she knew a lot of Gini’s success was because of her good friend—best nurse ever—Debbie. Lisa went to Debbie and hugged her.
“Trust me, Gini has her weaknesses, but she’s all woman,” Debbie said, running her hand down Lisa’s arm after the hug.
Lisa’s phone cooed like a baby. “Oh, there’s Lenny,” Lisa said, looking at the text. “He’s downstairs waiting for me.”
Lisa got all of Timmy’s things together and put on her coat. Reba held the baby while Debbie got him all bundled up.
“It was nice meeting you.” Lisa wrapped her scarf around her neck and head.
Debbie lowered the baby into the stroller and strapped him in, then pushed it toward Lisa. Lisa stood taller and kissed Debbie on the cheek. “Thanks for lunch, it was fun.” She smiled a silly smile. Debbie laughed.
When she walked Lisa to the door, Lisa decided to show Micky that Debbie was loved. She turned and kissed Debbie on the lips and then went to the elevator. Both Micky and Reba were standing back watching Lisa leave.
The three of them went back to the living room. “You mentioned something about an apartment,” Debbie said, feeling
