Gini still talked with difficulty, the words getting lost between her thinking them and saying them. The condition was called aphasia.
As she aged, she seemed to be more sluggish and had started to experience some slow days with mental confusion.
Lisa sat at a table watching her daughter play just outside the window of the club. They’d finished their Easter brunch. Tim was talking to a group of teenagers. They’d all grown up so fast, already high school juniors. He had finally stretched up, growing to over six foot—losing his pudgy look. The red gel-styled hair on his head distinguished him from the rest of the boys. She was proud of him. In the group was Jessica, tall in her own right, a few inches shorter than Tim. She had the same lanky body as her dad and long light brown hair. And Jason, Dr. Meyer’s grandson, was there as well. The three kids had grown up together. Jason was shorter—thin—with pronounced muscles. Not body-builder muscles, but fit and solid.
Lenny was with a bunch of older men out on the patio. No doubt, they were trying to convince him to finally retire so they could play more golf. And Debbie and Kensy were with the tennis ladies near the coffee area, all laughing and having a good time.
Lisa got up and went over to join Robert, Gini, and the Meyers, who were standing close to the teenagers.
Leeanna ran up to her mom. “Mommy, can we go swimming now? Please, please, please?”
Lisa grabbed her daughter close to her. “Soon.”
Robbie was right behind Leeanna, begging his dad to do the same. He was ten and she eleven. Seemed like just yesterday they were both babies.
“Mama, Jason’s going to ask a girl to prom,” Jessica said, putting her arm around Gini. “Isn’t that just the coolest thing?”
Vicky had been holding out hope that Jason and Jessica would someday be married. But Jason wasn’t Jessica’s type; besides, he was like a brother to her. He was very theatrical, being one of the top actors and an award-winning debate star at his high school. Jessica was more serious, totally focused on becoming a neurologist so she could do further studies and find new treatments for brain trauma patients like her mother.
“That, be, good. Yes, yes, be, good.”
“Yes,” Vicky said. “We are anxious to meet this girl that has stolen our grandson’s heart.”
“Oh, Gram, it’s just a date. No wedding bells.”
Vicky put her arm around him. “How about you, Jessica? You and Tim going to your prom?”
Tim immediately blushed. “No,” he said.
“Now, Tim, any girl would be flattered to be asked to prom by a star football player.”
“Mrs. Meyer, I… I’m not too good at dancing.”
“Oh… Timmy,” Jessica said, making fun of him. “I know Stacy would love for you to ask her.”
“Stop, Jess,” he said, giving her a small shove.
“Jessica, are you going?” Lisa asked.
“I have my eye on a guy.”
“Jessie’s in love,” Tim made fun, and she shoved him back.
Later that day, Jessica, her dad, and Gini were in the great room.
“Daddy, do you think it’s okay for a girl to ask the boy to prom?”
“Gosh, I don’t know, princess. I don’t know what’s acceptable these days with the young folks. Never really did much dating, like none in high school or college.”
“You never went on a date?”
“I dated after starting at the hospital, but not in school. I spent most of my time on my studies so I could be a cool doctor.” He grinned. “And my dad and I fished a lot on the weekends.”
“Fissy,” Gini said. “Fissy, tip.”
Robert put his hand on her head and kissed the side of her face.
“Actually, almost got married once long before I met your mother. Another patient. She had a serious concussion, but when she was well, she didn’t want to be stuck with some old doctor that worked all the time.”
“Did you love her? Were you heartbroken?”
“Oh yeah, completely crushed. But Debbie and Maggie got me through it.”
“Wow, how long have you known Debbie?”
“We started at the hospital about the same time. We were on a neurological team together for years.”
“That’s amazing.”
“I thought I loved… gee, what was her name? Anyway, I didn’t know what love was until your mother showed me.” He kissed Gini again.
“Oh, yes. Har, to…” Gini paused, searching for the words. She looked at him.
He finished her thought. “Hard to get through to me.”
She giggled and nodded. “Yes, yes, har.”
“I was a little hardheaded.”
“You can say that again,” Debbie said, hearing the conversation as she entered the room. “I was glad when he finally figured out that your mother had stolen his heart, as she had all of ours. Right, baby?”
“Oh, yes. Med, cal, ceen… ter, unit, four, c.”
“You remember.” Debbie was surprised Gini remembered the unit number after all the years.
“Well, she was married to someone else, if you recall. I couldn’t just barge right in and take her.”
“Marry, Rob… ber.” Gini smiled sweetly.
“Oh, I love hearing all of this.” Jessica pulled her hands up under her chin.
“So, anyway, who do you want to ask to prom?”
“His name is Yuri Giles. He’s new, moved here over Christmas. He’s so luscious, but really quiet and shy.”
“No, no. No, be, of, boy. Be, of, too, ong, for, boy.”
“Mama, I just want to be his friend. He’s on my chemistry team. He has such nice hands and
