“You’re very welcome, Doctor. Congratulations, she’s a beautiful woman.”
Debbie cleaned up the champagne glasses and set the vase with the roses on the breakfast bar next to the ring box. Robert and Gini had been gone about thirty minutes. She answered the house phone.
“Mr. Santini is here,” Howard announced.
Debbie hesitated for a moment. “Send him up.”
When she opened the door for him, she had a surprised look on her face. “Ric, I’m sorry, but Gini isn’t here.”
He looked down for a second. “That’s okay, I’m really here to talk to you.” He fidgeted with something in his jacket pocket.
Debbie led him into the living area. The minute they walked in, he saw the flowers and ring box on the bar and the champagne bottle on the kitchen counter. He walked over and put both hands on the back of the bar chair, lowered his head down, and took a slow breath. “I guess I lost the race.”
“Ric.” Her heart was breaking for him. “Robert asked Gini to marry him, and she accepted.”
Ric stood back up. “Well, I guess that answers my question.” He walked to Debbie and hugged her.
“I’m sorry, Ric. Don’t tell Gini I told you. I’m sure she’ll want to tell you herself.”
He turned to leave, reaching in his pocket again. “Oh.” He stopped abruptly and took out his wallet. “Here, I don’t think I will be needing this any longer.” He handed Debbie his key card for the condo.
Once out in the hall, he leaned up against the wall. He reached in his pocket and took out a ring box. He’d had the ring made when they found out Gini was pregnant. He was just waiting for Franco to be out of her life. He put the ring on his little finger. He had come to ask Debbie’s permission to marry Gini. He knew he could take care of her the rest of her life; he was no longer intimidated by her condition. He loved her and had for a long time. The memories flooded his head: them gliding around the dance floor, her football-party ponytail flipping with her excitement, her calling his name for the first time after months of uncertainty. Ric knew Gini was seeing Robert, but she never said anything about him. He didn’t know how often they were together. He had thought Robert didn’t really pose a threat to him. All he knew was he could hardly wait to be with her, to hug her, and talk with her. He choked up and started to cry. He’d lost the love of his life.
When he walked through the lobby, the ring was still on his first knuckle, clutched tightly in his hand.
“Have a great evening, Mr. Santini,” Howard called out.
Ric raised his hand as an acknowledgement, but didn’t look at Howard or speak.
Gini and Robert arrived back at the condo a little after eight. When Robert pushed the buzzer, Howard wasn’t at the desk.
He reached down and pulled Gini’s face up. She smiled a brilliant smile.
“Gini, do you know how I can get in without a key?”
Her expression changed, and she thought hard. “Een?”
“Howard isn’t at the desk and I don’t have a key.” He could see she didn’t know what he was talking about. He’d call Debbie.
“Leest… leest… uff… dee… bee.”
He thought for a second to figure out what she was trying to say. Just then Howard walked through the inner entry and opened the outer door. “Sorry about that. I hope you had a lovely evening out.”
“Oh, yes.” Gini raised her left hand with her fingers spread wide.
“Ms. Anderson, what a beautiful ring.” The three walked into the building. Howard looked at Robert.
“She has agreed to marry me.”
“Oh my, how wonderful. Congratulations, Ms. Anderson, Dr. Young. I’m so happy for you both.”
“Thank you, Howard.”
Debbie was surprised when she heard the door open. Howard had not called her. Robert and Gini walked in together arm in arm. She had to smile. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen two people so happy to be together.
“Did you have a good time?”
“Oh… yes…” Gini slipped away from Robert and went to Debbie, hugging her. “Dee… bee… lah… uff.”
Debbie pulled Gini’s head to her body and ran her fingers through the curls. “I think you’re tired. You’ve had a busy day.”
She took Gini to the bedroom. Robert took off his jacket and loosened his tie and sat on the couch. The braille cards were stacked on the coffee table. He rubbed his finger over the top card—ace of spades. He reached under the table and took out the notebook of poems. Thumbing through the pages, he stopped at one. A lot of the poems were about nature and the water and some about children. This one was about her mom. It read in part:
We don’t live together, she’s many miles away,
But I know her spirit and feel her love every single day.
He put his hand on top of the page. He knew little about her family, about her life, but that would change, he was sure.
“Robert, Gini’s ready for you.”
When he was there, he’d sit on the bed holding Gini’s hands until she went to sleep. Each time she had asked him to sleep in her bed. Tonight was no different. For the first time, he took off his shoes and slipped under the covers, cupped himself next to her body, and held her tight. Her hands slowly flexed. She took two deep breaths and went into a deep sleep. He lay there holding her for a while. He loved her, and he was finally going to be with her always.
On the monitor, Debbie saw him get in the bed. She turned the screen off.
Robert walked into the
