When Jessica came out ready to go, Gini and Robert were just walking from the kitchen.
“Jess… eek, boo… tee…” There was a long pause.
“Beautiful,” Robert finished the word for Gini.
Gini took a step and swayed. Robert put his arm around her to steady her.
“You like my dress?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Thanks, Mama, for talking me into this one. I just love it.”
The doorbell rang.
“I won’t, Mama.” Jessica kissed Gini on the cheek and hugged her dad.
“Jessie, Tim’s here,” Debbie said after answering the door.
Lenny had cleaned up one of his company vans so all eight of the kids could go in the same vehicle.
Robert had no idea what Jessica wasn’t going to do; obviously, Gini had transmitted some kind of concern to Jessica’s brain. The two were always doing that. Even Robbie received communications from his mother the same way.
When Robbie was about eighteen months, they had all gone to church. Gini was still recovering from the effects of her stroke and was in her wheelchair with Robbie on her lap. At that time, she couldn’t control her right arm very well, so it jerked and moved around. Gini finally got her right hand on his lap so he wouldn’t fall off, although he was tied to her with a body wrap. An older woman new to the church said, as she passed by them, “Women like that shouldn’t have children.”
It was communion Sunday. Gini had been in her chair in the past, so Reverend Gilbert had always brought communion to her. But that day Gini insisted she walk up to take the ritual with everyone else. There was no oral communication; Jessica stood and took Robbie’s hand. He looked at his mama and then with no fuss went with Jessica. Robert helped Gini to stand, and they slowly walked up front. Everyone sat quietly, watching the family.
Gini knelt with assistance from Robert, and then he went down on his knees next to her. Robbie came up from behind and put his chubby little hand on Gini’s shoulder. It was a very emotional moment for all their friends in the congregation.
After walking back, Robbie climbed back into Gini’s lap and looked at her—for her approval that he had done well. Satisfied that he had, he lay his head back on her and quietly sat for the rest of the service.
Gini had always taught, disciplined, and praised her children in complete silence.
The woman eventually joined the church and had nothing but admiration for Gini and her family after that day.
Robert thought back on all the times it was obvious Gini was sending mental instructions to her children. It was uncanny.
Chapter 18—Boys
The school year was quickly coming to a close. Robbie was an active, overly energized ten-year-old and was only at the dinner table long enough to eat and then he was gone again.
Jessica and her parents were still sitting as Debbie started clearing the table. Alyssa was trying to keep Robbie in the house to finish his homework.
“Mama, Daddy,” Jessica said sweetly.
Robert recognized that tone; she wanted something.
“Jess… eek, be, of, spee.”
Jessica reached over and put her hand on top of Gini’s. “Mama, I want you and Daddy to meet Yuri.”
Gini sat up straight and put her hands in her lap. “No, be, boy. Jess… eek, too, ong.”
“Mama, I’m almost seventeen. He’s so nice and smart. You’ll like him. I mean really smart.” She looked to her dad for help.
“You going to bring him here?”
“No, be, of, boy,” Gini said with attitude.
“Sweetheart, hear her out.”
“Well…” Jessica drew out the word and sat back in her chair. “I was thinking we could have an end-of-school party and invite all our friends. That way it wouldn’t be a one-on-one meeting, and… his parents could come too.” Jessica made a cringing face when she said his parents, knowing Gini was not going to like that suggestion.
“No, be, of, boy.” Gini stood firm.
“Princess, why don’t you let your mother and me think about it. We’ll talk about it again later. Okay?”
“Thank you, Daddy.” Jessica got up and kissed him on the cheek. Then she knelt next to Gini, who was still sitting rigidly. “You’re going to like him, Mama. He’s a gentleman and intelligent.”
Robert knew there was no sense in talking further to Gini about the idea at that moment. She had made up her mind.
After Gini had gone to bed, Debbie was watching TV while Robert read a medical journal.
Debbie turned down the volume. “Robert, sounds like Jessie is serious about this guy.”
He closed the magazine. “We’ve talked about him some. She knew better than to talk to her mama about him, but yes, she’s attracted to him.”
“Well, I’d say in love. You don’t suggest that the parents meet unless there’s something big going on between them. What’s your thinking? Ready for your baby to be in love?”
“I never worry about Jessica. She’s her own woman, strong and determined like her mother. I know she’ll finish her education and be a great doctor. He’s applied to all the same colleges as she. He wants to be a pathologist. Who knows, Debbie, they are young. It’s puppy love probably, but if she wants us to meet him, we should.”
“Good luck with convincing Gini.”
“I’ll get her to come around.” He winked.
Very reluctantly, Gini agreed to the party. Robert convinced her it was a good time and way to have all their friends over to celebrate their friendships.
Jessica wanted music so the kids could dance, and Robert and John planned to barbeque meats and vegetables, with hopes that the weather would be good so the party could flow from the house to the backyard.
“Aren’t you excited?” Jessica said to
