The whole family was not only happy for Alyssa and Daniel getting back together, but also that he would be their new pastor.
Robert and Alyssa had several long talks. Robert reassured her they didn’t need a live-in nanny any longer. Robbie was eleven and didn’t require constant supervision.
Debbie was excited for Aly. She’d been afraid that Alyssa would wait too long to get married and miss her opportunity to have a family. She was so wonderful with kids, it would be a shame for her not to have her own. And she had wiped the tears from Alyssa’s cheeks many times after Daniel had left. She knew Alyssa was in love with him and had been for a long time.
Daniel would start at the New Haven Christian Church after the new year.
Gini’s health continued to decline. The main issue was keeping her blood sugar level. Debbie had to check it hourly some days; other days, it seemed to stay in check, but the ups and downs were taking their toll on Gini’s strength and clearheadedness, leaving her drained and lethargic.
Chapter 20—Virginia Anderson
Jessica looked forward to the Christmas holidays, being with family and seeing her friends. Jason told her he couldn’t wait to see her. The two families would have their annual Christmas Eve celebration.
That morning, Jessica went to Gini. “Mama, look at this cute hairdo. I think it would look really good on you.” She held a magazine up.
Gini moved close to the page. “Oh, yes.”
“Good, let’s go get you pretty.” Jessica helped Gini out of her recliner, and they slowly walked to the master bedroom. Gini heavily relied on Jessica’s assistance.
Debbie walked up to Robert sitting at the kitchen table flipping his finger down his tablet to read news stories. She put her hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad Jessie’s home. Her mother needs her.”
“Me, too. We have a great daughter. I miss her, but I’m not going to tell her that too often. She needs to start her own life.”
“Do you think she and Yuri will ever get married?”
“I don’t know. Doesn’t seem to be a pressing issue with either at the moment, and that’s good. She has a lot of school ahead of her.”
“Yes, I just wish she was closer, for her mother’s sake.”
He patted her hand. They both knew that Gini’s life expectancy wouldn’t be that of a normal healthy person, but neither was ready to accept that she would go so young.
Everybody had arrived except Jason. Jessica had styled Gini’s hair, dressed her, and put some makeup on her eyes and lips. They walked into the room.
“Sweetheart,” Robert said, walking up to meet them. “What a beauty.”
Gini opened her eyes wide and smiled, both of which she hadn’t done much of lately. “Boo… tea… full.”
“Absolutely.” He kissed her.
The doorbell rang, and Jason walked in with a girl on his arm.
“Hey, everyone, I’d like you to meet Jennifer, my fiancée.”
“Fiancée!” Jessica exclaimed and ran to them, threw her arms around his neck, and then pulled back.
“This is Jessica,” he said to Jennifer.
“I figured. Jase has told me what a great friend you are.”
“Congratulations.” The two girls hugged.
“Did you know about this?” Robert asked John.
“He told us last week, and we had to promise not to tell. She’s a great gal.”
“Gini, this is Jennifer,” Jason said, taking her hand.
“Mrs. Young, I’ve heard so much about you and, I believe, they’re called braille cards.”
Gini giggled. “Oh, yes. Be, of, ween.”
“That’s what I hear, you always win.”
“Yes, yes, ween, yes.”
Everyone was there except Aly, who had gone to be with Daniel in Maine for his last week. Once they got back, they’d start planning their wedding for June.
After church, they decided not to go caroling because it was very windy, snowy, and cold. Jason and Jennifer went home with the Youngs.
“Jason and Jennifer,” Debbie said. “Has a nice ring to it.”
Gini quickly turned to Robert. “Jay… son, Jen… ney… fer, bay… be.” She put her hand on her abdomen. She repeated it over and over.
He wasn’t sure what she was trying to say. “No, they’re not going to have a baby; they aren’t married yet.”
“Yes, yes, yes, Jay… son, Jen… ney… fer, bay… be.”
He hugged her close. She was confused about something.
Jason, Jennifer, and Jessica all went upstairs and talked and played games until late in the night. Jason told Jessica she had made a great impression on him about not getting married until they finished college. They were in for a long engagement, but both were happy with the decision.
The next day was a good day for Gini. She was up walking and very alert. They all sat and played braille cards, including the newly engaged couple. Gini signed some, and Jennifer knew what she said. It took no time before Jennifer was one of the family. She and Gini had an affection for each other from the beginning.
The day soon came when all the college kids had to go back to school.
“Now, Mama, you take care of yourself.”
“Yes, yes.”
Jessica turned back as she went out the door. “We’ll talk next weekend.”
Debbie put her arm around Gini. “Baby, are you hungry?”
Gini put her hand on her abdomen. “Bay… be. Jay… son, Jen… ney… fer, bay… be.”
Debbie hugged her. “Baby, what are you trying to say? You’re not pregnant, and neither are Jason and Jennifer.” It worried Debbie that Gini was confused, possibly remembering her twins with the same names. It had been such a long time ago. Would Gini remember her babies?
Three years later, the winter was gone, and the weather finally warm. Robert wheeled Gini to the pond whenever he could. The birds were singing loudly, and the trees and plants were blooming, putting out luscious aromas. The joy on Gini’s face reminded him of when he took her to the atrium in the rehab area when she lived there.
She almost never walked, and her talking became more slurred and slow. Dr. Griese, a new neurosurgeon, Robert, and John had run many tests, finding abnormal formations in her brain. Dr. Griese concluded Gini was in brain failure and there was little they could do but keep her comfortable. The condition could take her life any day or she could live for many more years. It just depended on how fast her brain deteriorated.
The only thing that kept everyone’s spirits high was she still had good days when she seemed her normal self. As long as she continued to have those days, they felt she would be with them for a long while.
Jessica looked forward to summer break. There were many college graduations: Jason, Jennifer, Tim, Jessica, and Yuri. And the second week of July was Jason and Jennifer’s wedding. Jessica had been asked to be Jason’s best gal. She and Jennifer had become very close friends, and Jennifer loved being with the Young family.
In August, Alyssa and Daniel were expecting twins, a girl and boy. They had tried for a couple of years and finally went to Dr. Linda Nelson for fertility help. Aly was in her forties and wanted to have a family. Linda told her many women had children in their forties using the in vitro process. There was some risk, but Alyssa was healthy, and Linda would keep a close eye on the pregnancy. Alyssa wanted to name their children Jessica and Robert, but it was too confusing for Gini to understand having two other children with her kids’ names. So they decided on Candace Virginia and Charles Robert—Candy and Charlie.
But that’s not where the confusion stopped. Robert and Debbie finally realized Gini was talking about Jason and Jennifer being her babies, the twins killed when she had her accident almost twenty-five years before. No matter how they tried to explain it to her, it appeared Gini thought their friends, Jason and Jennifer, were her children.
Before graduation, Gini insisted they present Jessica with her keys to the condo in Boston. Jessica was going to transfer to
Harvard Medical School so she could be closer to her mother. Gini had not forgotten the decision they had made about the condo when they moved to New Haven. It had been rented the past years and managed by a leasing agent.
A couple of weeks before the wedding, Jessica and Robert were talking about Gini. “You told me Mama was married before you. What was her husband’s name?”
“Franco Legotti.”
“Jason and Jennifer were his kids; so sad. Why did they divorce?”
“It’s a very complicated story.”
He told how Franco and Gini were estranged and Gini lived with another man named Riccardo Santini. Both men thought the babies were theirs. In the end, it didn’t matter since both the twins were killed. And neither of the men could accept Gini with a brain condition.
“Man, what an awful story. But I’m glad she married you.”
“Me too. She wanted to keep the condo for our daughter. Of course, I didn’t think we were going to have kids, let alone a daughter—your mother’s sixth sense, it’s kind of scary sometimes.”
“I know. I can’t ever explain how she talks to me in my head. I thought it was like that with all kids and their mothers. But when I’d tell my friends, they’d look at me like I was nuts. Crazy, we have such a connection. She’s been telling me about her babies for years, but I never understood what it was all about.”
“What do you mean?”
“She said I have a sister. I questioned what she meant, and she said she had babies. It was all kind of muddled together, but she insists to this day that I have a sister.”
“Did she ever say what the babies’ names were?”
“No, I asked her, but she just said she had babies and that I have a sister.”
The wedding day was beautiful weather. Robert drove the Mercedes to Plymouth for the ceremony. Debbie and Gini sat in the back seat. Gini continually ran her hand up and down the tufted door panel. “Cah, of, Reek.”
Debbie reached over and hugged her. Then she remembered Ric taking her to Gini’s condo before Gini left the rehab unit. And yes, his car was like Robert’s new one.
Gini’s eyes glistened, and her dimples went deep in her cheeks when they went into the church. Her white Bible was in a long-strapped bag that Debbie had made so Gini could carry the book with the strap across her body.
“Reek, be, of, wed, ding,” she mumbled.
“Mama.” Jessica hugged her mother. “Look at you walking and so beautiful.”
“Bay… be, mer… rey.”
“I’ve got to go be with Jason. See you after the ceremony.”
Robert rubbed around Gini’s shoulders. “Sweetheart, Jason and Jennifer are not your children. Your babies wouldn’t be marrying themselves.”
She just looked at Robert and smiled. She didn’t understand what he was saying. She knew she’d never see Jessica’s or Robbie’s weddings but was happy she was still alive for this one.
Most things made no sense to her. The colors all seemed to swirl like pinwheels when she opened her eyes, and the sounds were loud then quiet like someone turning the volume up and down. But she could always hear Jessica’s voice in her head and knew Robert was at her side to protect her.
And on this wedding day, she could see that Ric looked so handsome in his three-piece-suit, and Franco’s red dragon neck tattoo showed clearly with his hair pulled neatly back into a long braid down his back. It was a happy day for them all.
At the reception, Robert helped Gini to stand so she could hug the bride and groom.
“Gini, you look beautiful today,” Jennifer said squeezing her gently.
“Nee, see, bay… be, marry. Be, of, goo, day.”
“We are so happy you were able to come. You’d better save a dance for me,” Jason said.
Gini giggled her cute giggle. “No, be, of, dan. Fee, no, wor. Reek, be, goo, of, dan. Yes, yes, goo, of, dan.”
The party went on late into the night. Jessica and Robbie stayed; the rest went home about ten. Robert was surprised Gini was able to stay alert for so long. The energy of the room had pumped her full of happiness.
Two more years passed. Jessica and Yuri saw more of each other again. He too had transferred to Harvard, mostly so he could be with her. The commute to Maryland was a lot for every weekend. It saddened him to see how bad Gini was getting, and he tried to comfort Jessie as much as he could when she let her feelings come to the surface.
Jessica still stood firm that she would not marry until she was out of school. Although he wanted her for his own much sooner, he agreed with her decision.
When they could work it into their schedules, they partied or spent time with Jason and Jennifer. The bond between Jason and Jessica still held tight, and he knew when she struggled to deal with her mother dying. He told her to call whenever she needed to talk. They’d had several late-night conversations.
Robbie was in high school, a real heartthrob. He was somewhat shy but very intelligent and a star basketball player—growing to be six foot four. Both the children adored their mother and wanted to be with her as much as they could.
Gini was wheelchair bound, rarely spoke, and spent most of her time in bed. Robert attended all of Robbie’s games and other activities. If Gini was up for it, he took her as well.
It was hard for Jessica to see her mother slowly leaving them and her dad aging before her eyes, more slumped each year and almost totally white-haired at the age of sixty. He worked around six hours a day and spent the rest of the time with Gini.
On a cool day in late October, Gini asked Debbie to fix a roast for dinner. Debbie was delighted, not only that Gini asked for something to eat, since she didn’t eat much, but by the fact that she had actually spoken the words to her. “Sure, baby. Potatoes, carrots, the whole thing?”
“Oh, yes.” Gini smiled.
When Robert came home from work, Gini was in her recliner listening to an audiobook with earbuds.
“Hmm, it smells good in here,” he said to Debbie.
“Gini asked for roast tonight. Robert, she’s had a very good day, talking and smiling.”
He smiled at her. “Good, we love these days.”
About six o’clock, Robbie walked in the door.
“Rob, I thought your practice was till seven,” Robert said, surprised to see him.
“I left early.” He walked to Gini and kissed her on the cheek. She opened her eyes and smiled. “Rob… bie.”
And fifteen minutes later, Jessica walked through the front door.
“What a great treat,” Robert said hugging her.
“Mama said come to dinner.”
The family ate and talked, and then Gini said she wanted to play braille cards.
Robert sat holding her in his lap, helping her with the cards.
“Mama, I swear you always win,” Robbie said.
“Oh, yes.”
About eight-thirty, Robert took her to bed. Jessica said she would spend the night.
Robert came out of the bedroom. “Jessie, your mama wants to say good night.”
“Jess… eek, be… of… goo… doc… tor.”
There was a big lump in Jessica’s throat. “I hope so someday. I’m going to make you proud, you’ll see.”
“Be… of… proud… all… red.”
Jessica took her hand and kissed it. “I love you, Mama. Always, always.”
“Be… of… love.”
Jessica slowly walked out of the room with her head down. Then she looked up. “Rob, Mama wants you.”
Jessica went over and hugged with her dad. He held her head tight to his chest.
“Mama, thanks for the dinner.” His words were choking up his throat. “I…” He knelt next to the bed and a tear trickled down his cheek.
“Be… of… goo… boy. Love… all… time.”
“Me too, Mama, me too.”
Debbie waited just outside of the door and went in after giving Robbie a hug.
“You need to sleep now, baby.”
“Dee… b
ee, love, Rob… ber. Be… of… care.”
“Yes, I do love him, as I love you.” She put her hand on Gini’s face, down her cheek. “You rest now.”
Later the house was quiet. Debbie had a cup of tea in her hands and stared across the room when Robert came out.
“She’s sleeping, finally.”
Debbie turned and looked at him. They both knew.
After midnight Gini’s breathing became very labored. Robert pulled her tight in his arms.
“Rob… ber… love.”
“I know… I know.”
She drew in one last breath. He held her closer and let out a yelp. A subtle sound that everyone in the house heard.
He lay weeping, rocking her.
After a while, he went into the great room. Debbie, Jessica, and Robbie were all standing facing the door. He went over and hugged them all, and they cried together.
The church sanctuary filled quickly, and chairs were put in the large receiving hall. Both Reverend Gilbert and Pastor Daniel performed the service. Several people got up and talked of Gini’s incredible strength and will to live.
Debbie talked about how Gini had truly been like a daughter to her and told of her sassiness and sense of humor. Both kids proclaimed their love for their mother and how proud they had been of her.
Robert walked up to the pulpit after hugging both of his kids.
“Oh, Gini, where do I start?” He looked up for a moment. His voice was steady and strong. “Little did I know that day they brought the tiny lady into my surgery bay with a huge brain trauma that she would have such a big heart, that she would light up the room and everyone’s lives around her, that she would be the love of my life. We all gave her no hope, thinking she’d no longer have a life. Boy, did she teach us. Man, she taught us; taught us to never give up hope, to keep trying until you get it right, and to love as deeply and purely as you can. She never knew hate or disappointment—frustration, yes, but she never gave up. And then one day, when I was checking her eyes, she put her hand on my chest and took my heart. And I gave it to her willingly. She showed me how to love and care and not be afraid to show my feelings. Yes, she has my heart.” He looked up again. “And it’s yours to keep. I love you, Virginia Anderson, forever.”
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