A week later, Gini discovered a small box on the mantel. Debbie had admired the cloisonné box when they first moved in. Inside was a small ring with a green stone.
Gini used her palm to try to open the box but couldn’t. Debbie opened it, took out the ring, and put it in Gini’s hand. She opened her eyes and put her finger on the ring, then closed her eyes.
“Do you want to wear it?”
Gini shook her head and reached her hand out to Debbie to take it. Then she walked to the couch and sat down.
“Er… guiney… uff… home.”
Debbie sat next to her and hugged her.
“Dee… bee… uff… home.”
“Yes, baby, this is our home now.”
Each day Robert took his commute through the rehab center. It almost seemed normal to turn and go to 4C. But there was no one there. The beautiful blue-eyed woman with the amazing smile was gone. Even Tracy mentioned to him how quiet the floor was without Gini and Debbie.
Robert’s interests were slowly moving to the financial side of the hospital. He wanted to pursue finding new equipment, procedures, and therapies for brain trauma patients. Being with Gini through her recovery had shown him there could be lives for those patients, good lives. He wanted to make sure New Haven Medical Center gave each patient the best opportunity with state-of-the-art resources.
John told him Gini and Debbie were settled and doing well in the city. When he told Robert of their next appointment and that he should be there to see them, Robert told John of his feelings for Gini. It was best he stay away. It was too hard to be with her. When he thought about her, especially when she lived in the unit, he got a warm, happy feeling. So many lessons learned, and not just about brain trauma, but about the human spirit and love.
Everyone around her felt her determination to recover, and all the love and encouragement she received pushed her down a successful path—a path to a new life. She was moving on. He wanted only the best for her. He’d never forget Virginia Anderson—her courage, her drive, her will to live.
Ric went to his house and didn’t leave for days. Carol called him daily to make sure he was all right, and even though he told her he was just working from home, she knew he was in a bad place. He finally decided to go to Florida.
Val could see his friend suffering and tried to find good psychiatric help, but Ric refused to get any therapy. He could get through on his own. He had always been okay in the past; this was no different.
Kat paid special attention to him, constantly offering him sex to ease his pain. He always declined until one night when the memories of Gini had been particularly hard to bear. He’d numbed his feelings so much, refusing to remember how it used to be, that he felt hollow. He needed a warm body next to him. Someone who could take him out of his miserable world, even for only a short time, and remind him that he was still alive.
She knew how to treat a man. Her touch was gentle. She let him take charge if he wanted, and when he hesitated, she continued to caress until he was satisfied. He couldn’t stop, climaxing over and over until he fell exhausted in her arms. She stayed with him all night.
Kat would love to think he had some affection for her, but she knew he loved Gini, no matter what he’d said lately. She was used to being a sex object; that was her training, to satisfy whoever needed her.
The next morning, waking with Kat by his side, shocked him. How could he be with her? She was Val’s mistress and, more importantly, not the woman he loved—Gini. He was more disappointed in himself than he could say. Hopefully, everyone he cared for would someday forgive him.
He was so lost in his thoughts of what to do. Did he truly love Gini? If so, why was he in that bed with Kat—a whore. No, she was a friend, that’s all, a friend wanting to comfort him. But, geesh, he thought, Kat was Val’s girl. What the hell am I doing with another man’s woman? Haven’t I been down this road before? Look how well that worked out.
Even with his guilt and humiliation, he kept sleeping with Kat. He’d found a new life in Florida, and some day he’d be happy there.
His big revelation was he could never go back to Boston—ever. That part of his life was gone forever.
Lisa bought Debbie’s half of their house, and Lenny moved in. She missed seeing Debbie at the hospital; so did the other nurses. They would remain good friends and see each other when they could, but they both had new people and responsibilities in their lives.
Chapter 11—New Life
Gini and Debbie’s lives were back on schedule. The more time that passed, the more Gini came alive. Debbie decided it was time to get her out of the condo. She started taking Gini with her to grocery shop, and then to the beauty shop to get their hair cut. Debbie, not being familiar with Boston, drove to New Haven to her hairdresser and the grocery store she had shopped at for years. Both places allowed her to park right in front with the handicap permit, so Gini was never involved with crowds or a lot of street traffic. She chose times when the grocery store had few people inside. Everyone was kind to Gini, and she liked being out and around.
Ms. Pfeiffer had visited several times in the unit and twice since the move to Boston. She told Debbie that Gini looked well-adjusted and
