“Yes, we aren’t ready to release her yet, but we will be soon. Let me know when you are back in the country.”
Franco reluctantly walked up to Gini’s room. When he got to the door, he saw Ric sitting by the bed, holding her hand, and reading to her. She was in her usual position. His friend was taking the tragedy much better than he. He felt a stab of self-loathing and pushed it aside, letting himself admire Ric for his courage and devotion. He was just about to leave when Ric saw him.
He stood up and motioned for Franco to come in. “Reading her poetry.”
The two men hugged. “I didn’t know you were in town.”
“I had a meeting with Dr. Young. How’s she doing?”
“About the same, but you can see she’s out of the ICU, so that’s a good sign, I’d say.”
“Yeah, they’re about to move her into a nursing facility. That’s what Robert and I were talking about.”
“Oh, okay, I didn’t know.”
Ric hated that he was never told anything about her until Franco had been notified. Dr. Young had had a long talk with him after Ric loudly complained.
Robert explained that his hands were tied. Even though he knew the circumstances and could see where the true loving relationship was, Franco was still her next of kin legally and her guardian.
“You have time for a drink?” Franco asked.
“Sure.” Ric went to the bed and laid the book on the rolling table and then leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Sweets, I’ll be back.”
On their walk to the hotel, Franco told him about his work in Peru and that he would be traveling a lot. They ordered their drinks, and Franco put the papers Robert had given him on the table. The first thing Ric saw was the name of a place in Brooklyn, New York.
Robert walked in just a few minutes after the two men. When Franco saw him, he waved for him to join them.
He leaned across the table and shook Ric’s hand.
“Your day done?” Ric asked.
“Not hardly. I came for a cup of coffee and just to get out of the building for a while.”
The three men exchanged some small chitchat, and then Robert asked how they knew each other so well.
The stories started coming out about the Sacramento neighborhood and how Gini’s mom, Mama Elizabeth, had nearly adopted them both.
“So you three have known each other for a long time.”
“Since she and I were eight… I guess she was six,” Franco said.
More stories were told. Robert sat back and watched the two reminisce about a much happier time in their lives. He could see the brotherhood and now understood why Gini’s and Ric’s affair had not destroyed their friendship.
“This old guy has really mellowed,” Ric said, putting his hand on Franco’s shoulder and squeezing it.
“What do you mean? I’ve always been a nice guy.”
“Hahahaha. I remember when one of the rival football players picked Gini up and started away with her. You made it quite clear that she was your girl. I’ve never seen such fear in a person’s face; he ran—man, did he run! You chased him until he collapsed on the football field.”
“Good times.” Franco looked at his watch. “I’ve got to be going. I have a plane to catch.”
He took a hundred-dollar bill out of his wallet and put it on the table and picked up the papers. “I’ll get back with you, Doc.” He walked into the hotel lobby to order a taxi.
“Me, too,” Ric said. “I want to spend a little more time with Gins before I go to work tonight.”
Robert sat alone at the table.
“More coffee, Dr. Young?”
“No thanks.” He handed the waitress the money Franco had left.
What a tragedy, he thought. Three normal, happy people now dealing with a life changer. He shook his head.
“Your change.”
“No, it’s your tip. You can thank the man getting in the taxi.” He pointed out the door.
When Ric arrived back at the hospital, Debbie was in the room comforting Gini.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know. I was walking toward her room. You and Mr. Legotti were walking in front of me. The red light went on over Gini’s door. When I walked in, she was upset and coughing from choking on her saliva. I’ve got her calmed down. She’s okay now.”
On his way home, Ric thought about the nursing home in New York. The more he thought about Franco taking her away from him, the angrier he got. He walked into his house, took off his jacket, and threw it at the barstool. What was he going to do if Franco moved her to New York? It wasn’t fair he had all the control. Ric and Gini were so close to being married, so close to being a family. Why was this happening? His anger tightened his throat. He slammed his fist on the kitchen counter. Nothing was fair, nothing. He would fight to keep her in Boston, or if Franco insisted on moving her, he’d move to be with her. Franco could not take care of her physically or emotionally. Ric had to be at her side until she recovered.
A few days later, Debbie had just finished bathing Gini when Lisa walked in the room. “How’s our girl?”
“Sweet as ever.”
“Eee, eee,” Gini said, pulling her left arm away from her body and up.
“Look at you,” Lisa said. “And she knows your name.”
“What?” Debbie asked, confused at the comment.
“Eee… eee; dee… bee.”
Debbie first looked at Lisa and then Gini. “Really? You think so?”
“Debs, can’t you see she’s reaching for you?” Lisa had a sparkle
