On Robert’s night, he arrived right before dinner. He watched as Gini tipped the silverware out of the apron pocket Debbie had put them in, and the utensils fell onto the dining room table. With her fingertips or the sides of her hands, she slowly maneuvered them around. One setting had the fork and spoon together on the left side and the knife was sideways, closer to the middle of the table where it had flipped when all the pieces fell out. He continued observing while she solved the issue of placing each piece of flatware. When she was done, all the places had the three pieces somewhere near the plate, except for the lone knife in the middle of the table.
“Very good, baby,” Debbie said, coming into the room with a water pitcher. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
Gini kept putting her pointed index finger on the knife and then taking it off. Robert marveled at her concentration.
She put her head back and thrust her tongue, then she lowered her head, opened her eyes, and with the left-hand fingers spread wide, she dragged the knife to the plate with her palm, the knife handle touching the edge. She let out a breath and closed her eyes.
He stepped up next to her, put his arm around her and kissed her on the top of her head. She had to work so hard to do simple things, he thought as he squeezed her.
The next morning, Debbie picked up her ringing phone.
“Debbie, it’s Lisa. I have to see you. I have to… I’m on my way.”
“Leesy, what’s wrong?”
“I… I just have to see you.”
“You’re not hurt.”
“No, no… almost there.”
When Debbie opened the door, Lisa fell into her arms. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay, come on in and we’ll talk.”
“Leez… lah… uff.”
“Oh, Debbie, you have to help me.”
Probably anyone else would think Lisa was in some kind of deep trouble, but Debbie knew her well, and she knew Lisa’s emotions sometimes carried her away. She led Lisa to the couch, and they sat down.
Gini made her way to the couch and sat on the other side of Lisa. Lisa took Gini’s hand. The tears were flowing.
“Now, tell us what’s going on.”
“I just don’t know what to do.” She turned and looked at Debbie with desperate eyes. “I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant. That’s wonderful. Lenny’s, I assume.”
“Of course it’s Lenny’s.”
“I’m sure he’s thrilled.”
“I haven’t told him. Debbie, I can’t have his baby.”
“Well, maybe you should have used some protection if you didn’t want to get pregnant.”
Lisa threw her head back on the couch. “Debs, what about us?”
“What about us? Leesy, you’ve been living with Lenny for months. There’s no us.”
“I’m in love with you. We were going to have a family, remember?”
Debbie thought back to the conversation of them getting an embryo. How long ago that seemed. She would have never guessed at that time she’d be where she was now. The thought of having a baby with Lisa had long passed. Gini was her life now. Debbie was hurt when Lisa chose not to be with them, but she had gotten over it.
“You love me, and I love you, but you’re in love with Lenny. It’s okay to be in love with him. You were never meant to be with a woman, and you know that. Lenny’s your guy. And you two are going to have a beautiful family together.”
“He’ll want to get married.”
“So marry him, have his baby, and be happy.”
“Bee… bee… boy.”
“I don’t know. Marrying someone is so scary.” Can I really commit to only Lenny? Even though we’ve lived together for some time, I still have deep feelings for Debbie. Debbie has always worked me through the rough times. Then she thought about how caring and loving Lenny always was to her. It wasn’t scary being with him. I do love him, I do.
“Do you think it’s okay to marry him? Is it okay with you?”
“Of course it’s okay.” Debbie reached over and hugged her. Lisa had had such a bad experience with Curtis. Debbie understood her hesitation. It really had nothing to do with them once being intimate; it had to do with Lisa’s confidence in herself. Realizing she was a worthy person, worthy of a man who truly loved her as Lenny did.
“Leez… bress… uff… meek.”
“Oh, Debbie, I’m so scared. Can I be a good mom?”
“The best!”
Lisa hugged tight to Debbie. “I do love you; you’re always there for me.”
Gini put her hand on her chest. “Bee… bee… uff… meek.”
Lisa turned to her and smiled through her tears. “And I love you, Gini.”
“Lah… uff.”
Lenny did ask Lisa to marry him, and Gini and Debbie went to a small service at the courthouse. Debbie could see the pride in Lenny’s eyes. He’d finally married the woman he loved, and he was going to have a family.
Debbie told Robert on one of his visits, “When Gini and I were walking around in the back, we went into the nursery.”
“Did she have a reaction?”
“No, she just ran her hand on the wall. Then we went to the library area between the two bedrooms.” Debbie got up and took a spiral notebook from under the coffee table. “I found this book of poetry Gini wrote. The poems are quite good.”
Robert took the book and thumbed through the pages.
Gini was quietly calling from the bedroom and Debbie went to get her.
When she came back, Debbie took her to the couch to sit next to Robert.
“Did you
