“Yes, I’ll get our pictures.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
Gini turned toward Debbie, then hugged her. “Dee… bee… lah… uff.”
“Oh, baby, I missed you so much. I’m glad you had a good time.”
“Fa… lie… like… bur.”
“Did you like your flight?”
Gini was still hugging Debbie. “Guiney… fly… like… bur.” Debbie squeezed her tighter.
Debbie put some food and drink on the breakfast bar and the stories started flowing. Robert told some, and Gini either spoke or signed.
“Hahaha, you got your toes painted red? Gini, how did you ever talk him into that?”
“Be… uff… red… Boo… tea… full.” She smiled at Robert and opened her eyes wide. He reached over and kissed her.
“She didn’t have to talk me into anything. She got hers polished red and wanted mine to match.” He kissed her again.
“Are they still red?”
He slipped off his loafer and took off his sock.
Debbie put her hand over her mouth to keep in the laughter, but she couldn’t hold it in. “I love it, I absolutely love it.”
“Guiney… fly… like… bur.”
“Oh, my gosh, did we fly like birds. The most liberating thing I’ve ever done.”
“Oh, yes… fee.”
“What’s this about flying like a bird?”
“Oh, dear… Well…” He told her about them parasailing.
“You did what?”
Gini started telling about the beautiful beaches, the colorful houses, and roofs in the villages, how deep blue the water was and that they even saw a school of dolphins swimming.
Robert wrapped his arms around her from the back and put his chin on her shoulder. She did see it all, not missing one glorious moment of the bird’s-eye view. And he loved her excitement, how she went from talking to signing and then saying the words as she signed. He could see the joy in Debbie, as well, listening to the story.
Gini laid her head on his shoulder; she was tired. The day had been long.
“Come on, sweetheart. I think we’d better get you in bed.”
“Dee… bee… lah… uff.” Gini went from Robert’s arms to Debbie.
“Good night, baby.”
Debbie watched them walk into the bedroom arm in arm.
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” he said. “But I’m sure glad I did it.”
“Rob… ber… be… uff… ock… tor. Guiney… be… uff… pay… see… ant.”
He laughed. “Well, yes, I guess that is what I did.”
Debbie smiled at her being so literal.
Robert was different, too. She couldn’t put her finger on what had changed, but he was different.
Robert walked out of the bedroom a little while later. He was dressed down, and his hair was tossed. Debbie was sitting in a chair looking at her computer.
“How about some bourbon?” he asked.
“Sure. So, you had a good time.”
“Debbie…” He let out a long breath. “You just don’t know how wonderful it was. Gini and I know each other now, completely know each other.”
He told her about the man saying something about Gini and how it upset her. His voice quivered at the end of the story.
“Oh, Robert!” Debbie put her hands on her mouth. “How awful! Do you think she would have… that’s awful.”
“Scared the hell out of me. I knew at that moment, I couldn’t live without her in my life. If she had gone over that rail, I would have gone with her.”
Debbie wiped her tears.
“But the next day, she put it all in perspective. She no longer was afraid of the birds, and she didn’t care what people said about her. God, I love that woman.”
There was silence for a moment.
“Oh, the pictures.”
He sat down next to Debbie on the couch and showed her the photos they had bought off the board. “Gini will probably want to tell you all about what’s going on in each one.” Then he handed her an envelope.
She pulled out a five-by-seven picture of Gini with the orange flower in her hair.
“Robert,” she said softly. She looked at him.
“I had this enlarged for you. Isn’t it beautiful? To me, it tells the whole story of our trip, pure beauty.”
“Thank you, I love it.”
“We consummated our marriage.”
“You…” Debbie swallowed. “You made love with her?”
“She made love with me.” He laid his head on the back of the couch. “Beautiful love.”
It took Debbie a few minutes to absorb what he had just told her.
“I guess you’ve seen the word’s out about Gini’s accident.” She finally spoke and broke the silence.
“Oh, yes, I got a bunch of emails from Franco, Ric, and Catherine. John told me the media had been to the hospital.”
“Really, Franco and Ric?” Debbie was surprised. “I guess reporters were here at the building. Howard warned me the minute I walked in the door. How do you feel about that?”
“You knew sooner or later it was going to come out. I just hope they’re kind. She’s really a wonderful woman, whether she’s a celebrity or not.”
Debbie had been looking at the news on her computer before he came out. She picked it up and showed Robert the picture. Ric was with a small woman in a big floppy hat. Arm in arm, they were pushing a double baby stroller along the beach. The caption read:
Ric Santini and Virginia Anderson, renowned Washington lobbyist, were spotted in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, enjoying the day with their son and daughter.
Both Debbie and Robert knew it wasn’t Gini—obviously. Anyone who knew Gini would know the body shape was all wrong, and the woman had long, straight hair. Robert had seen the picture earlier in the day.
“Are you going to go along with the stories that she’s in Florida with her babies?”
Robert gave her a look. “Absolutely not; that’s a lie.”
“So you’re going to throw her right out there for them to
