Jessica ran over to Gini and climbed up into her lap. Gini slowly put her arm around the little girl. Jason followed, stopped, and slapped his hands on Gini’s legs. Jessica immediately sat forward and yelled, “No.”
“Oh, no, no, buddy,” his mother said quickly, picking him up.
Jessica cuddled back close to her mama. Gini thrust her tongue and laid her head back.
Her daughter was her protector. The visions of the cute toddlers, playing happily with everyone, brought joy to Gini. She didn’t realize she was seeing them when she opened her eyes.
The men came in and Robert pushed the wheelchair into the great room. The conversation continued from outside.
The doorbell rang. Debbie dried her hands and went to answer it. There stood Micky with a big bouquet of flowers.
“Micky, what are you doing here?” Debbie wasn’t sure if she was upset or embarrassed.
“I just had to see my bunny. Let’s go to your room.”
“No, I can’t, we…”
“Go on, Deb. We’re good,” Robert said, motioning her to leave with Micky.
Debbie took the flowers and Micky to her quarters.
“Bunny, I graduate in two weeks. I want you to come.”
“Oh, Micky, I don’t know.”
“I want you to be proud of me.”
“I am. I’m really proud that you went on and got more education.”
“Then come.”
They sat on the bed.
Micky put her arm around her. She could see Debbie was tired. She pulled her face toward hers, and they kissed. Debbie let out a long breath.
“You need some time off.” Micky pulled her close and laid them back on the bed.
“The job in Providence looks like a go.”
Debbie sat up. “Providence? What happened to the med center here? I told you I’d give you a recommendation.”
“Oh… I don’t know if I could live up to your standards.”
“My standards? Come on, Micky, you’re a good nurse and you know it.”
Micky got up and walked toward the window. “Are you ever going to get some furniture?”
“Someday. Don’t change the subject. Why not New Haven?”
“They’d always be comparing me to you. I know they would.”
Debbie walked up next to her. “I haven’t worked at the hospital for several years. Micky, it’s a great place to work. Once hired, you’d become part owner. I am to this day. I just thought if you worked here we could see more of each other.”
“Maybe move in here with you?”
“Well, I… um, I don’t know.” The suggestion took Debbie by surprise. “This isn’t a very big place, and—”
“I could come and go from your outside door. I’d never know what goes on on the other side of that wall.”
Debbie was still thinking about Micky and her in the tiny space.
Micky lifted Debbie’s head and, seeing her perplexed, said, “Just kidding; it wouldn’t work. I’ve got my eye on a nice place in Rhode Island. You need to come see it.”
She cupped Debbie’s face in her hands and gave her a long passionate kiss. “I miss you, bunny.”
“And I you.”
Debbie took her hand and took her to the bed.
They kissed and caressed each other’s bodies, then kissed some more. Debbie let it all go. She cleared her mind and went to a place with twinkling stars, smells of fragrant flowers, soft white clouds passing by. She didn’t want Micky to stop, just take her, over and over again.
They lay for a long time quietly in each other’s arms. Micky had gone to the med center and applied. She had mentioned she knew Debbie. It was like they all wanted to bow down to Debbie wherever she was. Debbie had a great reputation, and Micky felt it would be too hard to work in her shadow. Besides, was she committed enough to live so close, or even with Debbie? She liked her own space, to do as she pleased when she wanted to.
She looked down. Debbie was in a deep sleep. Micky gently rubbed down Debbie’s face and got out of bed. She left a message:
I’ll call you soon. Love you, M.
When Debbie woke, she was sad that Micky was gone. She looked at her watch. It was almost eight o’clock.
She took in a deep breath. Micky seemed to want to live with her. Was that what she wanted? She truly loved Micky, but could she keep her love while taking care of Gini every day? It would be complicated, but maybe they should give it another try.
She walked into the main house. Gini sat on the couch; Robert was in the kitchen getting a drink of water. Their company had left. Debbie sat next to Gini.
Robert sat in the large chair across the room. “It’s so good to have family here,” he said. “I could tell Gini was enjoying them too, right, sweetheart?”
Gini thrust her tongue.
“If I could just hear that sweet ‘Oh, yes,’” he said, leaning forward. “Just one more time.”
“I know,” Debbie said, brushing her fingers through Gini’s hair. “My sweet baby.”
Jessica came in ready for bed and sat on Robert’s lap. “Daddy, time to read you a story.”
Debbie smiled when she saw the warmth that poured out of Robert’s heart when he was with his daughter.
Jessica could count to one hundred; she knew the alphabet and could read simple sentences. She was never in need of attention with three doting adults always willing to teach her. And she would sit on her mother’s lap for hours if they’d let her. She had
