Debbie and the doctors walked to the bed.
Ric wiped his tears and quietly left after Franco was out of sight.
Maggie brushed down Gini’s cheek. “You’re a strong woman, honey. I don’t think I could have done that so bravely.”
“Oh… yes…” Gini smiled her heartwarming smile. “Ock… tor… ong, bray… car.”
Dr. Young gently laughed and squeezed her hand, then helped her off the bed, and they walked into the living room.
Maggie patted Debbie on the shoulder. “She’s quite a gal.”
Debbie smiled. “Yes, she is.”
Maggie and Dr. Meyer left, and Debbie started reflecting on the meeting. It was obvious she had been much more concerned about him coming than either Gini or Franco. Up until now, he had acted out of place and as if he couldn’t get away from the situation fast enough. But today he walked right to her, calling her “babe”—his gentle voice got to Debbie; and Gini was welcoming. Debbie saw the way he looked into her eyes and the caring way he held her hands. And the kiss, so tender, so loving, Debbie could almost feel it herself. She shivered and felt the goosebumps rise on her arms again. Sure he was somewhat emotional, but for once, completely in control. His love for Gini poured out of him—he did care. He’d given her a lot more money than was required by law. And their condo had to be worth at least a million, probably more, judging by where it was located. Nothing along the water was cheap in the Boston area.
Franco’s job was that of a roughneck, even though he was the company owner and an educated man; he wasn’t afraid of getting his hands dirty. Lisa had always gone on about how gorgeous Ric was, but she had often said Franco was the kind of man every woman would want to protect her and take care of her. His ruddy big muscles, long braided hair, the prominent red-and-black dragon tat, and heavy gold neck chain exuded roughness. Debbie thought that it was the sort of look that on some men would make people fear them. But somehow, when Franco entered a room, he commanded attention and respect. She smiled. That was the furthest from the reaction he wanted, she thought, being the center of attention. He was always clean and walked with a purpose. It saddened her that he had lost everything he held dear in his life. She knew now how much he loved Gini and that he would never do anything to hurt or upset her. He carried the burden of the accident squarely on his shoulders—though it was none of his doing.
“Ween,” Gini declared.
Debbie looked across the room. Robert quickly rubbed Gini’s back. “One more.”
Gini smiled her bright smile.
Debbie knew they would probably never see Franco again. She knew Gini could live without him, but could he live without her? That was his choice.
“Er… guiney… ween… ah… gain!” Gini jumped a bit off the cushion, leaning close to Robert with a touting smile.
“How do you do that every time?” He looked at Debbie.
She raised her eyebrows. “I told you, you’d never beat her.”
Robert shuffled the cards and dealt another hand. “I need redemption.”
Dr. Young was going to miss Gini when she left the unit. They were much more than doctor and patient. She brightened his day just as she did for everyone around her. No one could resist her gleaming face and sweet personality. They were all going to miss her.
Debbie had a difficult decision ahead of her, deciding where Gini would go from there. She had to do it right and get Gini in the right setting, so she could continue to thrive.
“Ah-ha! Twenty-one,” Robert said, rubbing his fingers over the bumps on the cards. “Twenty-one!” He lifted his cards in the air, jubilant.
Chapter 9—Debbie in Charge
Franco just wanted to go to a faraway place and hide in his lonely world. He had nothing to live for; the only person in his life who had ever mattered was gone. He’d seen her beautiful smile and blue eyes once again, but they were in a different woman’s body, not his Gini’s. That woman was broken, disabled, and unable to have a full life. He felt like in some ways it was worse than if she’d died because he could still see her and know some part of her was in there. That tugged at him, made him feel like he’d made a mistake. But it wasn’t his love, the girl he grew up with and married. He had the same dream many times in a row: Gini came to him, just like her old self, beautiful and sexy, and they kissed and started to go to bed. Then as they were lying down together, she turned into a woman who couldn’t talk, whose head was misshapen, who drooled on the pillow. It was a nightmare.
Ric never knew what to expect. Was it going to be a good day with Gini or a day of setbacks? There had been so many. He was waiting for the day when she ran to his arms and buried her head into his chest, then looked up and pressed her sweet lips to his, leading to a world of lovemaking, a world where nothing and nobody mattered except for the two of them. But there was just day after day of disappointment. She couldn’t feed or dress herself; her speech was so broken it was hard to understand. He needed something good.
Debbie woke up every morning looking forward to a new day. Gini had brought such a bright light into her life. Watching her achieve things no one thought she could ever achieve gave Debbie immense satisfaction.
