Later that day, Debbie told Robert about Ric’s reaction in Gini’s room and what he had said. They both agreed they would keep an eye on him.
Chapter 4—Moving On
When Robert returned to his office after his afternoon rounds, he found Franco sitting in the waiting room.
“Oh, good, you’re here. Please come into my office.”
All the arrangements for Gini had been taken care of; Debbie had signed on to be her nurse.
Franco let out a sigh of relief. “I appreciate all you two have done for her. I really do.” He put his head down and sighed again. “I still can’t believe this is all happening. All I wanted to do was be with my wife and start our family. What awful thing brought on this terrible punishment?” He looked up. “Not that I don’t deserve punishment for neglecting her love, but she certainly doesn’t deserve any of this. It’s so painful to be around her knowing she is lying in that bed because of me.”
“Franco, the accident was not your fault,” Robert said gently.
“She wouldn’t have been walking there if our marriage wasn’t in trouble.” His tone was defensive; he knew this wasn’t rational, but it was how he felt. Robert understood: many people whose spouses or children ended up like Gini felt similarly. There was a terrible burden in being the healthy one, the lucky one. Franco went on, “She doesn’t even look like anyone I would know, let alone my beautiful wife. She’s beautiful, you know that?”
Robert sat quietly and listened.
Franco sat back in his chair, his dark mood lifting abruptly. “Okay, now that we have all the arrangements made, I feel better about extended travel. Doc, is there any way we can video chat while I’m gone? I want to know all about her progress.”
“Yes, we can certainly do that. We’ll talk to my office assistant, and he can get you set up.”
The room was still.
After a minute or so Robert broke the silence. “Do you have any other questions or concerns?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Have you ever considered counseling? I can recommend a good grief counselor.”
Franco half smiled. “Thanks, but I’m working through this on my own. Work keeps my mind going so I don’t dwell too much, but I appreciate your concern. I’ll keep that option in mind.” He stood up, and the two men shook hands.
The next day, Franco went to sign all the final papers. Gini would be moved into the unit in a week. He walked down the hall to her room, hesitating several times, but he wanted to say goodbye to her. His next trip to Peru was in two days, and he would be there for a while starting up the project. He felt good that he and Dr. Young could talk face-to-face about Gini’s therapies. All he wanted was for her to have a life: enjoy her walks through gardens and hear the birds she so much loved, or dress up in her beautiful clothes—smile and laugh with her bright blue eyes dancing. He wanted there to be something she could live for. He wanted her happy.
When he got to her room, she was alone. It appeared she was sleeping, but she wasn’t in the usual awkward position, rather she was lying on her back. When he opened the door, she jumped and opened her eyes. It startled both of them. A rush of love went through him when he saw her blue eyes. What if she did get much better…?
Suddenly, she started thrusting her tongue and moving on the bed. Then she let out a cry.
“Gini, what is it?” He went to the bed.
“No… uff,” she said. “Dee… bee!”
A nurse rushed into the room, and Franco stepped back from the bed.
“No… uff,” she said over and over, kicking her legs and flailing her arms.
Franco slipped out of the room while the nurse calmed her down. His heart pounded. Why was this all happening? How could that brain-damaged person be his precious wife? He stifled the thought. It was Gini; she couldn’t help it. He couldn’t bear it.
He looked through the window; she was calmer but still agitated.
“I love you, babe. I always will.” But our life together is over. He pushed the sorrow down and walked down the hall to leave.
The hospital hired a temp neurosurgery nurse, Beverly Conroy, to take Debbie’s place while she was on leave of absence. Beverly had been out of nursing for a few years while her kids were growing up. After the last one graduated, she went back and got recertified for CCRN, CEN, and ACLS. Debbie worked to train her, although training wasn’t really necessary. Beverly was competent for the job. Debbie mostly walked her through hospital policy, procedures, and locations for needed supplies.
When not with Beverly, Debbie continued her program with Gini and started getting ready to move into the unit. She needed to decide what personal items she wanted to have at the apartment, decipher what supplies were her responsibility and what the hospital provided. The hospital told her to buy what she needed, including food. Anything that wasn’t provided by the hospital, she would be reimbursed for using an expense report.
A week or so before the big move, Debbie and Lisa were together after just getting home. Lisa was clingy, as she always was lately when she was alone with Debbie.
Debbie hugged her. “Leesy, what’s going on?”
“What?”
Debbie hugged her again and then pulled her over to the couch. “You’re just hanging on me. You barely gave me a minute to get my coat
