“Fly, like, bird.”
He kept rocking her and smoothing the back of her head. He wasn’t sure if his explanation made any sense, but they would keep talking to her about seeing until she understood.
That night after Gini was asleep, Robert and Debbie talked about what had happened.
“Robert, I can’t imagine what it must be like for Gini not knowing things and unable to communicate to tell us. My heart was broken for her tonight.”
“I think we have pretty well confirmed there are damaged circuits between the eyes and the brain. Her eyes work, but the vision of what she sees is delayed.”
“I’m not sure I could be so cheerful as she, living in a world of unknowns,” Debbie said.
“We’re here to guide her. She needs to know that she’s different, but that is okay because she is a real miracle, an intelligent woman, a loving person, and well loved by others. Those are the important things.”
Chapter 5—Weddings
Debbie loved hearing Gini giggle and talk when she was chatting online with Catherine. Gini’s speech had gotten so much better the last few months. The long pause before she spoke was getting shorter, telling Debbie that Gini didn’t have to concentrate so much to find the words, and she was doing better with pronunciation.
“Cat… ter… rin, be, on, date?”
“Be on date?” Catherine repeated. “Am I dating?”
“Oh… yes!”
“Ah, funny you should ask. I’ve been seeing a lot of Ric since you got married. We left your wedding together, remember?”
Gini sat quietly for a moment. A vision of a tall man with dark, wavy hair came into her mind. “Han… some,” she said, barely audible.
“Yes, very. And such a gentleman. I’ve never had a man treat me so well. I’ve been to Florida a couple of times, but mostly he comes to DC.”
“Get, mare… reed?”
“No, no. No wedding bells. I know he’s seeing other women. We just have a good time together. Ha, who’d ever guess I’d be dating a man four years younger than me.” Catherine leaned in closer to the screen. “I will have to say he is more mature than most of the bozos I know.”
Gini put her head back and laughed her cute laugh. What a funny word, bozos, she thought. Debbie was just walking to the back bedroom to check on her. She smiled at the happy sounds.
“Okay, honey, stand up and let me see that tummy of yours before I go,” Catherine said.
Gini stood.
“Turn sideways. Wow, your baby bump is really growing.”
“Jess… eeca.”
“You’re sure it’s a girl.”
“Yes,” Debbie said, coming in the room. “Confirmed at her last appointment.” She smoothed Gini’s hair. “Not that any of us doubted Gini.”
“Bay… be, girl.” Gini’s voice rose at the end of the statement.
“Hi, Debbie. Well, I’ve got to get going; I have a meeting to go to. So, until next week, keep laughing, honey. I love you.”
“Love, too.” The call ended.
Gini hugged Debbie. “Be… uff, fren.”
“Yes, she’s a good one.”
They walked out of the bedroom together.
“Baby, you got some mail today. It’s addressed to you and Franco. I think it might be an invitation to something. Do you want me to open it?”
Gini slowly nodded her head. The picture of a strong man with long, wavy, dark hair appeared in her head.
“It’s a wedding invitation. I’ll read it: Laura Ann Perry and Kenneth William Phillips cordially invite you to their wedding…”
The sound of Debbie’s voice faded in Gini’s ears as she thought for a moment, then she saw three kids standing in a football stadium: a boy with dark hair holding the hand of a girl with curly hair and dimpled cheeks, and another taller blonde girl.
“Cheer… led.”
“Laura was a cheerleader with you?”
Gini nodded.
“The wedding is in three weeks in New York City. Do you want to go?”
The first thought Gini had was, would these people want to see her in her condition? When she asked Debbie that, Debbie said she’d write to Laura and tell her about the accident. Then Gini made it clear it was the fact that she was pregnant that concerned her. Should a pregnant woman go to a wedding?
Debbie took her hands. “There will probably be other expecting mothers there. You and your friends are in your childbearing years. You and Robert can talk about if you want to go or not.”
After several conversations, the three of them planned to go to the wedding. Debbie wrote a note to Laura telling her about Gini’s accident and requested three reservations rather than two. Debbie gave Laura her phone number in case she had any questions.
A week later, Debbie got a call.
“Ms. Pierce, this is Laura Ann Perry.”
“How are you and the wedding plans going?”
“I’m well, and the plans are fine. It’s a little stressful working full time and all, but Ken and I are enjoying putting it together and looking forward to the day. I was so sorry to hear about Gini’s accident. I do hope she is doing okay. She was the smartest kid in our class by far.”
“She is doing well. As I told you, she and Franco are no longer married. Gini is married to Dr. Robert Young now.”
“I couldn’t believe that when I read your note. That’s amazing. They were nearly inseparable since, like, the third grade.”
“Franco had a difficult time after Gini’s accident, and well…”
“You don’t happen to know where he is?”
“No, he just kind of vanished after the divorce. In South America somewhere, I believe.”
“Well, I don’t think I’ll go on that search. Anyway, of course, you are welcome. I look forward to meeting you and Dr. Young and seeing Gini again.
