“Debbie, I appreciate all you have done for Gini. In my book, you’re a saint.” He took a deep breath, got up, and took the envelope off Robert’s desk. “I’m going to turn myself in. I’ll take whatever the punishment. Thank you both for talking to me.”
Debbie mulled the conversation in her mind while walking back to the unit. When she got there, she called Ms. Pfeiffer.
“I’d like to drop the charge of abuse from Mr. Legotti’s case.”
“Drop all charges?”
“No, I still want to complain he’s been negligent.”
The next week there was a flurry of meetings. More questions for Robert, two more home visits to talk to Gini. Ms. Pfeiffer was gentle with her, and Gini eventually felt comfortable talking to the agent. When she asked Gini if she knew Franco, Gini said no, then started flexing her hands and thrusting her tongue.
“Gini, you are such a nice lady. I don’t want you to think about it anymore. I see you are very happy living here with Debbie.”
Gini calmed. “Oh… yes…”
The next day there was a meeting with Debbie and Franco. Franco requested Debbie be assigned Gini’s guardian. He also assured the caseworker the divorce would be final within days and he would be out of Gini’s life. He agreed he had been neglectful, not only after the accident, but before losing the love of his wife. Debbie accepted the guardianship, and all charges were dropped against Franco.
Franco invited Ric to dinner. Ric was always taken aback by the full beard shaved neatly and close to Franco’s face, and the long braided hair, either worn in a bun or hanging down his back. Franco had become quite eccentric.
At first, the conversation was strained. Ric wasn’t very happy with Franco taking charge and yet never being there for either Gini or him. And he was especially disappointed in Franco sending his lawyers instead of talking to Dr. Young or Debbie first. It was hard for him to believe that Franco could be so cruel.
After he said this, haltingly, Franco rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Ric, really, you think I could do that to Gini—at any time, but especially now that she can’t think? I thought you knew me better than that. Those guys were just trying to impress me, thinking if they had the divorce all handled, I’d be grateful. Believe me, once I found out, they were gone.”
Ric sat back and took in a slow breath. He did know Franco, and he should have been suspicious. He guessed Debbie taking action against Franco had swayed his opinion. Sometimes it’s good to get both sides of the story.
“I love Gini,” Franco said, putting his head down. “I love her more than anyone could know. I wish I had handled this whole thing so different.” He sniffed quickly and looked at Ric. “I always thought I was so tough.” Tears filled his eyes and then streamed down his face. “I j… just couldn’t bear her being so… so hurt. I… I wah… wanted to hold her and make her better, bu… but I COULDN’T.” He put his head down and wept. “I couldn’t help a person who felt like a stranger. That wasn’t my… my Gini.”
Ric reached over and rubbed his shoulder. He tried hard to hold in his emotions, but it was hard to see his brother suffering so much.
“I… I can see… you love her.” Franco got a hold of himself. “And are so much stronger than me. You always have been. I love her enough to let her go. Let her go into the arms of someone who treasures her no matter what. I love you, Ric. Thank you for being strong. She needs to be with you.”
Ric reached over and hugged him. He couldn’t hold his emotions any longer, and the tears flowed.
If the room had been filled with a million people, neither man would have cared.
Ric pulled back. “I love you too. Please, don’t let this ruin your life. I will always take care of her; you know that. And yes, it is hard to see her so different. I’m not going to pretend I haven’t had the same feelings as you. But I remember how she was, her spirit, her laughter, her sassiness.” He made a small laugh.
Franco wiped his eyes. “Oh yeah, she could be really feisty.” He smiled at Ric. “Sometimes I just had to stop what I was doing and marvel at her determination, her will to be the best she could be. So tiny in stature and yet so big in personality, wisdom, and smarts… so intelligent.”
Ric took in a breath and let it out slowly. “You know what? You saying that… she still is determined. The doctors said she’d be a vegetable the rest of her life.” He leaned closer to Franco. “She’s not going to be. She is living. Go see her.”
“I can’t.”
“Franco, you have to say goodbye to her. You love her.”
Franco sat back and dragged his hands over his head and stopped at the bun. “I want to see her. I… should. She was so beautiful, so full of life. I just can’t bear to see her so weak, so unable to control her body, unable to talk. It’s not fair. It should be me, not her.”
“She’s better, a lot better. She can talk some. I’m encouraging her to try harder. She’s going to be her old self someday. I know she is.”
Franco looked at him. “Remember the good old days when our lives were so simple? We thought in high school we had it so rough. What did we know? Just young, naive kids with no idea what was in store for us. I wish we could go back to those days.”
“Me too. But we
