“Oh Lordy, honey, we should just join the circus as the two rounded ladies,” Catherine said, finally giving up and hugging Gini from the side.
Gini laughed and laughed.
After a while, Robert motioned for Jose to follow him, and the two men went out back and smoked a couple of Robert’s fine cigars while the ladies talked about baby gear, nutrition, and health.
When they were done eating dinner, Jessica announced they were going to play braille cards.
“Braille cards?” Catherine questioned. “Like read-with-your-fingers braille?”
“Yes,” Jessica said, running around the kitchen table getting everything set up. “Mama always wins, but it’s fun, you’ll see.”
“Jose, do you know braille?” Catherine asked.
“No, Carino.” He kissed her on the cheek.
Catherine pulled Jessica up to her side with her arm around her. “So, here’s the deal, babe; your mama always wins because she’s the only one that can read braille.”
“I can read it. We all can read the braille cards,” Jessica said, standing close to Catherine’s face.
“And what game are we playing?”
“Blackjack.”
“Holy crap, you’re nine and play blackjack?”
Jessica giggled. “Aunt Catherine, I’m almost seven, not nine.”
“Well, that’s even worse.”
Gini had been tickled through the whole conversation. Robert sat next to her with his arm on the back of her chair, quite amused as well.
Debbie dealt two cards to everyone.
Catherine, still holding on to Jessica, said, “Now what?”
Jessica rubbed her finger over the cards. “You have sixteen; you need to hit.”
“Let’s see; you count to twenty, and then jump up, right?”
“No.” Jessica giggled. “Twenty-one and then you yell blackjack if you get a face card and ace.”
Catherine slowly moved her finger over the raised bumps. “This is going to be interesting.” She looked at Debbie.
Debbie picked up one of her cards and turned it so Catherine could see the card name on the other side at the top.
“Okay, then. Let’s take down the queen,” Catherine said, lifting up her cards.
Everyone at the table was laughing. It was always fun to be with Catherine.
They played for over an hour. Finally, Catherine pushed back her chair and stretched. “Uncle, I give up! The queen still stands. I think this fat lady needs to go to bed.”
“Okay, my sweet Corino.” Jose helped her get up.
The two men took their wives to bed, and the house became quiet. Debbie shook her head, still smiling, and cleaned up the kitchen.
It was July second. The days were long, and this day had been extremely hot. After a morning at the country club with Jessica, Debbie noticed how tired Gini looked.
“I think a nice long nap would be perfect right about now,” she said to Gini.
“Oh, yes. Dee… bee, sleep, wiff, Guiney.”
“Sure,” Debbie said.
It took no time for Gini to fall asleep. She was up around four but back to bed shortly after eight.
Robert had been called in on a case and had been in surgery since around three o’clock.
Debbie went in to check on Gini at nine. She was in the middle of the bed with her knees up and head back, in a deep, deep sleep.
Around eleven Robert walked in. Debbie was just getting ready to go to be with Gini.
“Robert.”
“I’m so glad I don’t do this daily anymore,” he said, weary.
“How’s your patient?”
Robert just shook his head.
“Sorry.”
“We tried but just couldn’t get her back.”
Every time Robert lost a patient, it saddened him deeply, for he knew if he could save the person, they’d have a chance to live a meaningful life. Gini had taught him so well.
“Gini sleeping?” He wasn’t really aware of the time.
“For some time. I wish I could sleep like her. To go deep somewhere where there’s no sound, no light, just empty peaceful bliss and wake up to a new and wonderful day every single morning.”
“Yeah, me too. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He walked into the bedroom.
Once in bed, he pulled Gini close to him and wrapped his arms around her from the back. She didn’t react. He could feel the baby actively moving, baby parts jabbing out here and then there. How Gini wasn’t disturbed, he didn’t know. He rubbed gently on her skin until he fell asleep.
Chapter 16—Finding Peace
Suddenly Gini called out; her body, stretched flat on her back, arched. Robert woke with a jolt. When he saw Gini, he reached over; her tummy was tight and hard—her body jerking.
“Debbie!” he screamed.
“Debbie!” he yelled again.
She finally woke enough to hear his cries and she ran into their room.
“Gini’s in labor and having a seizure. Call 911.”
“Oh, God.” She ran back to her room to get her phone.
Gini’s tummy softened, and her body relaxed. He brushed her hair back from her face.
“Rob… ber,” she said quietly.
“I’m right here. You just rest.”
“She’s about thirty weeks,” Debbie was saying when she walked back in the room. “No, I’ll call her doctor. Please just get someone here now.”
“Dee… bee.”
“Oh, baby.” Debbie looked at Robert. “They’re on their way.”
“Stay with her.” He got up and came back with his stethoscope and checked Gini, then the baby. Gini continued to lie comfortably on the bed.
“I’m going to get dressed,” he said, and quickly left the room.
“Ah…” Gini yelled. Her body stiffened, and she started to jerk. Debbie rolled her over on her side. There was nothing she could do but wait for the seizure to pass and make sure Gini didn’t injure herself.
Robert ran back in—dressed—and put his hand on her tummy. “Another contraction.”
Debbie nodded. Then Gini relaxed.
After a few minutes, she opened her eyes. “Rob… ber, no, be… uff, a… lone.”
Debbie got up to go get dressed.
“No, sweetheart, I’m never going to
