Debbie gave Gini a small hug. “Well, have fun with that.” She reached away from Gini to pick up the salad bowl from the counter to put on the table.
“Dee… bee, go, sir… cha.”
“No, baby. Church is not for me.”
“Dee… bee, lah… uff.” Gini put her arms around Debbie’s waist.
“Okay, let’s sit and eat,” Alyssa said, upbeat, trying to help Debbie get out of her tight spot since it looked like Gini was going to keep pressing Debbie.
They went through dinner with no further discussion on the matter. That night after Gini and Jessica were in bed, Debbie brought it up.
“I think that’s nice if Gini wants to go to church, but how do you feel about it?”
“If Gini wants to do it, we’ll do it. Debbie, you should have seen her telling me, in all words, no signing. She reached deep down and pulled out all the words. It was so amazing having a real conversation about church and how we wanted our daughter to be around kids her age so she wouldn’t be so shy.” He sat back on the couch. Debbie could see how pleased he was, and she was happy for him.
“I’m not going,” she proclaimed.
“Okay, that’s not an issue. Gini will be fine with me and Jessica.”
Debbie felt guilty. Could he handle taking care of both of them, especially if they both balked when they got there?
“Robert, it’s just that church people don’t look kindly on people like me.”
“And what kind of people is that?”
“Gays and lesbians.”
“Debbie, being gay does not define you. Being Debbie is what describes the person you are: kind, loving, devoted. Not to mention a great caregiver. If being gay is an issue with anybody, then they are going to have a problem with me.”
Robert had known from the first week he knew Debbie that she was gay. It never made a difference to him or, as far as he could tell, to anyone they worked with. It was a non-issue, and he’d be surprised if it would be an issue for people at the church. But he’d have to admit he didn’t know much about religion. One of his foster families went once to an Easter service in a big park, but he’d never been to church church. He’d only been in one for weddings, memorials, or funerals. Since his dominant interest for most of his life was science, and he believed the scientific theories on how the universe formed and people evolved, as well as trusted that science was the greatest force for improving human life, he’d never thought about going to a Sunday service.
“I’m going to call Reverend Gilbert and see if he will take us around his church to see if that’s where Gini wants to go. He married us, if you remember.”
“I remember.” How could she forget the loving ceremony, so happy and touching? “I like the reverend. I used to see him all the time in the hospital talking to families of our patients. I guess I didn’t realize he had his own church.
“I thought for sure you were going to come out of that room and announce Gini was pregnant.”
“Pregnant? Hmm… well, I don’t think that will ever happen again since Linda has told us Gini’s hormones are low, and she’s probably going into early menopause.”
“You’d be okay if she got pregnant again?”
He looked straight at her. “Sure. I love being a father. If we want more children, we can adopt.”
Debbie had to admit she was surprised that he was so calm about Gini getting pregnant again. But he was probably right; the chances of that happening were nearly impossible.
The next day, the reverend and Robert had a talk about attending his house of worship, Gini’s disabilities, Jessica needing to be around other children, and made an appointment to learn about the church and do a walk-through. The time was set for Tuesday at four o’clock, when Robert got home from work.
He had been instructed to pull under the porte-cochere at the front door and park there. The church secretary led them to the reverend’s office. Gini paused for a moment to listen to the music coming from the sanctuary, where the organist was practicing.
“Please, please come in.” Reverend Gilbert stood to shake Robert’s hand. “Dr. Young, Mrs. Young, please have a seat.”
Gini slowly spoke, telling him they had a three-year-old daughter. She spread out three fingers on her left hand when she said it. Robert took her other hand and squeezed it. The reverend was very patient, waiting for the next words from Gini. There were many silent moments.
Gini wanted to tell him that she wanted Jessica to become familiar with God and Jesus and to be around children her age. But the words were stuck, so she started signing.
Robert opened his mouth to translate the words, but before he could start, the reverend said, “We have a wonderful Sunday school program here.”
“You sign?” Robert asked.
“All my life. My grandfather was deaf, and he lived with us when I was a child.”
He went on to tell them about the young youth minister, Pastor Daniel. “I’ll have him come in and talk to you after a while.”
He walked around his desk and took Gini’s hand. “Mrs. Young, I remember your wedding so well. It was one of the sweetest I have ever officiated. I’m glad to see you so well and happy.”
Gini smiled. “Guiney,” she said.
“Yes, please, call her Gini and me Robert.”
“Indeed. Would you like to see the church?”
“Oh… yes.”
Robert took her hand, and they walked into the large open entrance. “This is where we gather for fellowship before each service,” the reverend said.
