Virginia Anderson has sustained a severe head trauma and was on life support at New Haven Medical Center in New Haven, Massachusetts.
He turned off his tablet and went to bed.
The next morning, he lay in bed until Gini woke up. She cuddled up next to him. He loved how adorable she was when she woke up, each time like the dawning of a new day, everything fresh and cleared.
“I got an email from John.”
“Ock… tor… my.”
“His son and his wife are going to have a baby. John’s going to be a grandfather.”
Gini put her hand on her tummy. “Bee… bee.”
“Yes, a new life coming into the world.”
She rubbed again. “Bee… bee… gill.”
He kissed her on the forehead and got her some juice.
“Guiney… rob… ber… bee… bee… gill.”
“No, sweetheart, we’re not having children. It’s too risky for you.”
“Bee… bee… gill… Rob… ber.” She had insistence in her voice.
For the next few hours, she kept talking about a baby. Finally, Robert, in a harsh tone, made it clear they would never have a child together. John being a grandfather had to have somehow opened Gini’s memory about married couples having children. She remembered more and more each minute, it seemed.
It had never crossed Robert’s mind that they would have a baby. Up until now, Gini had no idea how a fetus was formed, grew, and was born. But she didn’t know about sex, either, or so everyone thought. But it would be way too dangerous for her to carry and deliver a child. Why was she talking about it? Had she figured out the reproduction process?
Gini quietly shrugged back and then stopped talking.
He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. “I love you; I don’t want anything to happen to you. Please understand that.”
On their way back to California, they stopped at the same travel center. Gini once again said Burger King. Robert assured her they’d get a hamburger after they used the restrooms. When they came out, Gini turned the opposite way Robert was headed.
“Gini, we need to go this way.”
“Bur… er… keen.” She lifted her arm in front of her.
There, in big bold letters, was the red-and-blue sign. He slowly shook his head and took her hand.
“Guiney… smeel… bur… er… keen… mile… way.”
He realized there was never going to be a dull moment in his life. He just hoped he had the energy to keep up with her.
They did see all his favorite spots in San Diego before they jumped on their plane and headed home. Gini mentioned, several times, “a man.” Robert kept a watchful eye, but never saw anything that seemed out of place.
Something significant had happened to both of them in Mexico. Robert saw a wonderful independence emerging in Gini. If he ever had any doubt that she was a capable woman, he had no doubts now. He knew he would still have to guide her, and both he and Debbie would have to help her do simple tasks that she wasn’t able to do, but she had her own mind, and she could deal with problems and come up with solutions. He couldn’t be prouder to have her as his wife.
He’d always considered himself levelheaded and down-to-earth, probably boring if it were to be told. He guessed he had become callous—void of feelings. Doctors had to be that way or they couldn’t get through their days, especially neurosurgeons, dealing with life-and-death situations all the time. Perhaps that was why he was so surprised when he became so attached to Gini in the hospital. He’d often wondered if he even did have emotions, or if he ever would have any. But the feeling of their bodies so close, and her beautiful love, brought those intense feelings right to the surface, surging up like an erupting volcano. And it was okay, okay for him to show emotions because now he knew he could handle them.
Robert texted Debbie:
Just pulling into the towers.
Okay good. I’m here. I can’t wait to see you.
When the door opened, Robert swooped Gini up into his arms and carried her through the door.
“Wah… do?”
“It’s a tradition for the groom to carry his bride over the threshold.”
Gini threw her head back and laughed. The happy sound filled the condo. Then she threw her arms around him, and they kissed a long emotional kiss.
Debbie stood watching—feeling out of place.
Robert set Gini down to the floor.
“Dee… bee.”
“Baby, you’re home.” She started to walk toward them. “How was your trip?”
“Goo… be… uff… gur… ate.” Gini put her head back, and Robert kissed her again.
Debbie stopped. Gini was different, obviously happy, but there was something very different about her.
“Debbie, you won’t believe all the things we did. The best honeymoon ever.”
“Pic…” The word seemed to get stuck in Gini’s mouth. She bent her head down. Robert traced his hand down her hair and then kissed her on the top of her head.
She lifted her head back up. “Pic… ture.” After the word came out almost perfect, she smiled her glowing smile.
“Oh, brother, do we have pictures,” Robert said.
They made their way to the breakfast bar. He leaned against the bar chair and pulled Gini between his legs with his arms around her waist.
“And you, how was your trip?”
“Fantastic. Thank you both so much for the tickets. It was so relaxing and fun.”
Gini signed: Did you meet anyone?
“Ha, well, yes, I met a lot of people.”
“Goo…”
Debbie was surprised—maybe a little hurt—that Gini hadn’t hugged her.
“It sounds like we need something to eat and drink so we can tell our stories,” Robert said. “I’ll go get our things out of the car.”
Gini pulled away from him.
