Debbie smiled. “Dr. Young took her to the atrium. She loved the birds and flowers.”
“She has always loved the gardens. We walked through them together on the waterfront in Boston the whole time she was pregnant.” He paused at the thought. “Why did you ask how she was?”
Debbie told him all about the episode earlier. The more she told him, the angrier she got. Ric echoed her indignation but quickly moved past that.
“Debbie, if Franco is divorcing Gini, that means I can marry her. Yes, we can get married and live the life together we’ve always wanted.”
“Ric, even if they get divorced, Gini isn’t ready for that kind of commitment. Please, don’t put pressure on her.”
“Okay, okay! I’m just happy he will be out of her life and opening the door for me. I won’t rush. I promise, I’ll take your lead. You do know how much I love her?”
Debbie took a deep, slow breath. “Yes, I know. I guess I need to find a lawyer.”
“I’m a lawyer.”
“You still practice?”
“Yes, I’m a member of the bar in Massachusetts and Florida.”
“Good to know.”
Debbie couldn’t sleep. Every time she thought about the men barging in and being so disrespectful, her anger level rose.
The next morning before Gini was up she called social services. She told them she wanted to press charges against Franco Legotti for neglect and abuse toward his disabled wife. The assistant asked Debbie some questions—was Gini in danger? Debbie assured her that Gini was safe. She was then told the case would be assigned to an agent and the agent would contact her.
Lisa agreed to stay with Gini while Debbie went to the meeting with the caseworker, Audrey Pfeiffer. She told how Gini was hurt and had sustained major brain damage and explained the situation that had happened two days prior.
“Do you have an address for Mr. Legotti?” Ms. Pfeiffer asked.
“He has a condo in Boston and an apartment in New York City. I can get you those addresses. But he’s working a lot in South America. He never visits her. She has a bad reaction toward him when he does.”
Ms. Pfeiffer requested a home visit and names of people she could talk to as character witnesses for Gini, Debbie, and Franco. Debbie gave her a list.
A few days later, the caseworker went to the unit for a home visit. Gini sat close to Debbie and was quiet.
“Mrs. Legotti.”
“You need to call her Gini.”
“Okay, Gini, are you happy living here?”
“Dee… bee.”
“It’s okay, baby, you can talk to the nice lady.”
“Dee… bee… lah… uff.”
“She isn’t real comfortable around people she doesn’t know.”
“How long has she lived with you, Ms. Pierce? She seems close to you.”
“We’ve lived in the unit for about five months. I was her neurosurgery nurse for a few months before that. Dr. Young and I were the first people she recognized after the accident.”
“I see. Will Gini need a guardian for the rest of her life?”
“Yes; she will never be able to make critical decisions or properly take care of herself. She’ll need to be in a long-term health-care facility.”
“New… hafe… medy… call… hab… cener… four… c.”
Debbie squeezed Gini. “That’s where you live now, baby, but soon you will be leaving.”
“How soon?” the agent asked.
“We’re just starting the evaluation for release. I’d say a month or so.”
“Okay.” Ms. Pfeiffer stood up. “I think I have what I need for now. It was very nice meeting you, Gini.”
“Oh… yes…”
Robert and Lisa both had meetings and answered the caseworker’s questions. Robert was as honest as he could be about Franco, but realized after Ms. Pfeiffer left that the way the questions were asked, any answer made Franco look bad. He was a good guy and taking care of her needs. Okay, Robert didn’t think a marriage was made by just meeting financial obligations and making decisions, but that didn’t make Franco a bad guy, just someone who didn’t have the fortitude for this kind of challenge. He understood Debbie’s side as well. Ms. Pfeiffer seemed impressed with Debbie and asked if he thought Debbie would be a good candidate for Gini’s guardian. Of course, his answer had to be yes.
Two weeks passed without any further contact by Ms. Pfeiffer.
“Dr. Young, Mr. Legotti is here.”
“Send him in.”
“What the hell is this?” Franco asked, throwing an envelope on Robert’s desk. “Debbie is accusing me of abuse. Just what the hell? I could go to jail!”
“Franco, sit down.”
“No, I’m not going to sit down. I love Gini more than anything in my life. I have not and would never abuse her.”
Robert finally got Franco to calm down and told him about the two men surging into the unit and scaring Gini.
“What? My lawyers served Gini divorce papers. I haven’t even seen the final copy. No, I did not instruct them to serve her the papers. I didn’t, Robert. I was going to come to you first and see what the best way was to handle it. Please, believe me, I never want to hurt Gini. I’m asking for a divorce because I know I’m not good for her. Ric has been by her side from the beginning, and she is comfortable with him. She’s not with me. I love her enough to let her go. I know he loves her. He’ll take good care of her.”
Dr. Young called Tracy and asked her to stay with Gini while Debbie came to his office. Debbie figured they were going to talk further about Gini’s release. She was shocked when she walked in and saw Franco.
“Dr. Young?”
“It’s okay, come in so we can talk.”
Franco apologized for his lawyers’ behavior with Gini and assured her the minute he left that office they were going to be fired. He
