The door swished open and he walked into the unit. It was about 8:30 p.m. Debbie stood next to Gini’s bed wiping her face with a cloth.
“Dee… bee… lah… uff.”
“Yes, baby, I love you too. You ate a good dinner tonight. I think you’re feeling better about the move.”
“Oh… yes…” Gini opened her eyes and smiled, a real honest-to-goodness smile. It hit Debbie hard emotionally. She had not seen her smile before—her sweet dimples and her stunning blue eyes. She was a real beauty.
“Ock… tor… rob… ber… un… gee.”
Debbie quickly turned. There was a big lump in her throat.
“How are you lovely ladies tonight?” He walked toward Debbie.
She raised her eyebrows, a bit embarrassed he caught her so emotional. He patted her on the shoulder; he understood. He, too, was taken aback by the smile and gleaming eyes.
Debbie cleared her throat. “We’re good. Finally getting settled. Gini had a huge dinner. I think she worked up a big appetite.”
“Oh… yes…” She smiled again, this time with her eyes closed.
Robert took her hand. “Sweetheart, I love your smile. I’m glad you are happy.”
“Oh… yes… dee… bee… lah… uff.”
“Yes,” he said, gently patting her hand.
Debbie had walked out to the living area. Gini thrust her tongue, and he could feel her hand flexing in his. Within a minute, she fell asleep. She rolled to her side, her knees to her chest, her hands bent at the wrists, and her head cocked to the back.
He rubbed gently on her arm. “Sleep well, sweetheart.”
Debbie was standing behind the raised counter of the galley kitchen staring out the glass door and windows to the atrium.
“Everything okay?”
She smiled, lifted a towel, and continued drying her hands. She blew out some air. “What a week.”
“I can stay for a while if you need to do something.”
“Thanks, Robert. A nice hot shower and a bed will be just fine.”
“Are you settled?”
“Yes, I think so, finally. This afternoon Gini finally started feeling comfortable with this whole thing. Last night I sat by her bed all night holding her hand. She was so fretful. But I think she’s good now. Thank God for Lisa; she has helped me out so much this week. I think I have all I need now, so I can get back to our schedule. I don’t need to tell you, brain trauma patients don’t like to be out of a routine.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go to bed. I’ll check in on you in the morning. I hope this isn’t too much for you.”
She let out a breath. “It’s not. I’m just not used to being on twenty-four seven day after day. We’ll get it figured out.”
“You will. I know you will.”
She looked at him. “Her smiling… that was reward enough. Robert, she smiled!”
“I know; I saw.”
The next morning Robert made his way to the corridor from the parking garage. He walked to Unit 4C. All the lights were off, and the curtains pulled, leaving only the glassed door uncovered. They were still sleeping. He’d check on them later.
The only way to enter the unit was with a hospital badge. If Gini had visitors, either Debbie could let them in or the nurses at the floor nurses station could open the door remotely.
He was just turning to leave when the kitchen lights came on, and Debbie walked in fully dressed and ready to work. When she saw him, she motioned for him to come in.
“You look bright and rested,” he said.
“Amazing what a good night’s sleep will do. She slept like a baby. I want to concentrate on getting into a routine today. Aaron’s coming at three. He wants to take her to the therapy gym, but I think I’ll suggest we just go out to the sitting area and atrium. Have you been in the atrium since they finished it?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“It’s wonderful. I went in there several times this last week, just to find some peace. It’s like heaven—the sound of the birds, the fragrance of the flowers, the complete void of other noises. You should check it out.”
“Debbie, just because you are her nurse doesn’t mean you’re handcuffed here. Call the provider company; they can send someone to relieve you. Aren’t you supposed to have a couple days off during the week?”
“Yes, but I can’t leave her until we have this all figured out. It’s too much for her, having changes all the time. She doesn’t know any of these nurses yet. I’m fine. If I get good sleep, I’m good to go.”
“Okay, gotta go; it’s a busy day. The financiers meeting is today via the internet. Could be an all-day affair.”
“Oh, that’s right; you’re on the board now. Robert, are you ever going to slow down?”
“Why?” he asked as he turned to leave.
“So you can have a life.”
“Life? I have a wonderful life.”
The door closed, and he headed toward the corridor leading to the hospital.
The next month Gini showed much improvement. She was finally comfortable sitting and riding in the wheelchair. Both Debbie and Aaron were working together to put new therapies in place to help her learn to walk and try to get her hands to work better. Gini was constantly frustrated that she couldn’t say the words she wanted to say. She would thrust her tongue and flex her hands open and closed as the frustration built up. Debbie would calm her by telling her to deep breathe. Most of the time it calmed her, but if she really got going, she would have to be mildly sedated, which Debbie didn’t
