Families

by Staible, Karleen

  They all walked out of the church before the congregation: Robert with Jessica, Debbie with Robbie. About five pews back, Robert stopped. He shook the hand of a man sitting at the end to his right, and another man sitting at the end to the left. No words were spoken, just the handshake and then the four made their way out of the church.

  Later, Jessica asked who the two men were.

  “The one on the right was Franco Legotti. Ric Santini was on the left.”

  “Was that his daughter sitting next to him?”

  “I don’t know if either man has children. I haven’t seen them for years. You know who they are?”

  “Yes, you told me they were the men in her life when she had her accident.”

  “The three of them were childhood friends, growing up in Sacramento. And even after the affair with Ric, the two men came back together and leaned on each other for strength. I’ve never seen anything like it. They both deeply loved her, and since they were there today, they still do. And I totally understand why. She was a great, great woman.”

  The next eighteen months were very difficult for Robert. After six months, he put the house on the market. Robbie had graduated high school and was attending MIT in engineering.

  “Robert, where will you go?” Debbie asked.

  “I’m going back to the condos I lived in before I married Gini. And Debbie, you need to be with Kensy. After all these years of devotion, it’s time you go live your life.”

  Debbie and Kensy had been a couple all those years. They won many tennis trophies together and enjoyed fine dining and wines. Kensy had made quite a name for herself in interior design, receiving many awards for her originality and style. But she knew when Debbie was with Gini, that was Debbie’s top priority, so they had never lived together.

  Debbie got up, sat down next to Robert and hugged him. “I wouldn’t change a thing. I have lived very happily in this house with you and your family. Thank you, Robert. Thank you for your love and caring. Thank you for being you.”

  “I think you have seen every side of me. And I appreciate you putting up with all my moods.”

  “If anyone had told me the day I went to work with you on the team that I’d end up living with you for twenty-six years, I’d have had them committed to some kind of asylum. Twenty-six great years.”

  “I love you, Debbie. Go have a happy life.”

  “I love you too. You don’t get rid of me that easy. We’ll still be here in New Haven.”

  “Yes.” He hugged her tight.

  Robert died in his sleep from a heart attack six months after the house sold.

  Four months later, Debbie called Jessica. “Jess, I’m sending you a couple of computer links. There was a news report about a prominent Boston businessman dying in a boating accident in Florida. Out of curiosity, I read the story. It was Ric Santini, your mom’s friend from their childhood. That made me wonder, so I looked up Franco Legotti, your mom’s first husband. Sure enough, he’d also died from a disease in Peru. But the really interesting thing is, they both died the same day as your dad. Can you believe that?”

  “Wow. Yes, send me the info.”

  Robert’s death had really affected Jessica. It was a total shock to everyone. She knew he was extremely sad after her mother died. Everyone tried to cheer him up, but he slowly dropped out of society, no longer going to the country club or church. He had retired from the med center shortly after he sold the house. He was lonely with Gini gone and both of his kids off at school. But no one knew how lonely, how much he depended on Gini being there by his side whether she was exciting and alive or quietly dying next to him.

  Fortunately, her full schedule at school kept Jessica busy so she didn’t have to think too much about losing both of her parents in two years. And she was determined to be the best she could be at whatever she did. She wanted to devote her career to helping people like her mother have long healthy lives after sustaining severe head injuries.

  The following Saturday after receiving the internet links Debbie had sent her, she settled on the couch with a cup of tea and read the obituaries.

  Riccardo Anthony Santini was born in Walnut Creek, California, an only child. He and his mother moved to Sacramento after his father was killed in a plane crash. He received a law degree at Harvard, and soon after graduating he bought a company, Greystone Entertainment. He was married twice and is survived by one living daughter out of four children. His surviving daughter, Virginia Elizabeth Santini, is President of Greystone Entertainment.

  There was a picture of him in a business suit. Jessica remembered how handsome he had been at her mother’s funeral: dark hair, clean-shaven, olive skin, smartly dressed.

  Franco Raul Legotti, was born and raised in Sacramento, California, by a single mother. With an engineering degree from MIT, he started his own company providing clean water to underdeveloped countries in South and Central America and China. He was married once, to Virginia Anderson, and is survived by their daughter, Virginia Elizabeth Legotti, 27, who runs Legotti Engineering.

  After reading both obits, Jessica sat thinking how interesting it was that they had both named their daughters after her mother. And Franco’s information indicated his daughter was also Gini’s. But how could that be? She was a year older than Jessica. She knew her mother had been in rehab then, so there was no way she’d had anyone’s baby. And her dad had never mentioned it in all the talks they’d had about her past. He never said anything about her mom having a living daughter.

  She put her computer on the coffee table and picked up the small photo album Debbie had given her. The first picture was of Gini in a navy-blue business suit. Her hair was pulled up and twisted in the back. She looked pretty much the same as Jessica remembered her, but more serious and mature. The picture was her professional photo as a lobbyist.

  The next ones were from her parents’ honeymoon in Mexico. Her three favorites included Gini in a colorful flowered dress with an orange hibiscus tucked in front of her ear. With a smile, her dimples deep in her cheeks, her big blue eyes were open wide with happiness. The one of her dad dancing on the beach in sandals—he had red toenails—made her laugh every time she saw the picture. It was so out of character for him. He’d told her he’d do anything for Gini. She had wanted him to paint his toes to match hers, so he did. The third picture was of the two of them sitting in a fancy restaurant looking into each other’s eyes.

  It was obvious all three men loved her deeply. She took the photo album to her chest and looked up.

  “Watch out, Mama, they’re all wanting to be with you, the wonderful, amazing Virginia Anderson.”

  Chapter 21—Sisters

  Jessica laid the album back on the table and put her hand on top of her mother’s white Bible. She remembered the day so clearly when Reverend Gilbert gave the book to her mama, even though she was only three at the time. Pastor Daniel’s deep voice and beautiful singing seemed to wrap all around her and tell her not to be afraid. She smiled. Little did she know what a big part of her life he would end up being.

  The leather edges of the Bible were frayed and soiled from her mother’s dainty hands. Jessica flipped through the pages—some wrinkled, others slightly torn. Gini often pushed her fingers through the verses to find one important to her. No one ever knew if she could read or even see the letters for that matter, but the pages left open in her lap always had guidance for the issue of the time. And Jessica often found her dad kneeling near the table the Bible rested on, with his hand on top, praying—more so at the end of their lives.

  She put the Bible in her lap and sat back. Church had been such a big part of her growing up, so many great memories, so many great friends.

  Jason and Jennifer, now expecting their first child, were both successful in their careers. Jason went to work for a big IT company in Cambridge, and Jennifer was a speech therapist in Roxbury. They had just moved into their new house in Brookline. Jessica remembered the pride in his face when she went to help them move. He coul
d take good care of his family.

  “Why Brookline,” Jessica asked, “why not Cambridge?”

  “This is about halfway to both our jobs. Besides, it’s close to Gram and Pops in New Haven, and not that much farther to my folks and Jennifer’s family.”

  Jessica let out a sigh. “You’re both so lucky to still have your parents and grandparents.”

  Jason reached over and put his hand on her arm. “Listen, Jess, you know you are welcome to our Sunday dinner any time. And I’m sure Gram would love to see you whenever, just drop in.”

  “I couldn’t do that. You still have dinner at their house every Sunday?”

  “Yep, Gram said as long as she can cook, she wants us there. They’re both in their seventies, but you’d never know it, still healthy and active.

  “You’ll always be considered family in the Meyer house.”

  And Tim, she had to laugh. When they were young she had always told him to just hold the club tight, swing it, and hit the ball—bossy really.

  And his dad, Lenny, had made her a red wood wagon so she could take her dolls and stuffed toys for walks. Rob still had it in the garage.

  Tim was never confident in himself and always so shy, really like a big red- headed teddy bear. And now, he had signed on with the Patriots and was their star defensive end with a huge six-year contract. Colleges started scouting him when he was a sophomore in high school. He finished college—even though he was encouraged to leave early to go pro—with a degree in finance in business management. She was so proud of him, handsome, talented, and confident—always awkward with girls, but no more. There were many pictures of him with a beautiful woman on his arm, and he had just been given an award for all the charity work he had done for the people in New England. He had invited her to be his date for the awards dinner, but she had a big exam so had to say no. His parents would live very well the rest of their lives.

  She missed the days of her youth.

  She and Yuri had parted ways a year or so earlier. Jessica’s grief was just too much, and he had tried too hard to comfort her. Debbie had told her she’d heard through the country club that he was engaged. Jessica was surprised it didn’t bother her that he was. He was a good friend, but she knew now that she had never been in love with him.

  Leaning forward she picked up the cloisonné box and rested it on top of the Bible. Debbie told her she’d found the small box when she went through some of the unpacked boxes put in storage when they all moved to New Haven. Debbie wasn’t sure of the significance of the box or the green stone ring inside but figured it had to do with either Franco or Ric, or maybe both. She just knew when Gini was confused about where she was after the accident, the minute she put her hand on the box, Gini knew she was home.

  Jessica took the ring out and put it on her little finger. And there she sat all alone. She saw Rob occasionally. He’d moved back to New Haven and lived in the condo where their dad had spent his last days. Robbie never seemed interested in girls. He and his buddy Mitch did everything together. Rob was extremely good-looking, his face and hair like their mother’s, and his body and mannerisms like their dad’s—the perfect combination. They both were having a hard time dealing with the loss of their parents, somewhat lost but both focused on getting a good education and helping people with disabilities.

  This Franco and Ric, Jessica thought. She wished she knew more about them. And even her own father… he’d been abandoned somehow when he was six. So many things she didn’t know about her parents.

  Putting the Bible and box back on the table, she picked up her computer, then typed Virginia Santini in the search bar.

  …daughter of Riccardo and Janet Santini. Education: Harvard Law and MBA. President and owner of Greystone Entertainment, taking over the company after her father’s death. Corporate offices are located in Boston, MA…

  Jessica smiled broadly. Virginia lived in Boston, too. There was a picture of her: a true beauty, olive skin, light blue-green eyes, and dark auburn hair.

  Then Jessica looked up Virginia Elizabeth Legotti. There were two pictures. One was the same picture Jessica had just looked at in the photo album, her mother’s business headshot. Jessica was always surprised when she looked at that picture because her mother’s eyes were deep blue in the photo, but Jessica had only known her to have light blue eyes.

  At first, Jessica thought the second picture was also of her mother, but on further examination, she realized it was not Gini. Even though the other lady had dark curly hair, deep dimples, and blue eyes, her skin was darker and her eye shape just a little different than her mother’s. She clicked on the link.

  Virginia Elizabeth Legotti, daughter of Franco and Virginia Anderson Legotti. CEO of Legotti Engineering, NY. Educated at MIT, mechanical engineering, and MBA from Boston College…

  How could it be that Franco and her mother had a child together? Jessica needed to talk to Debbie and find out what was going on.

  “Debbie, it’s Jessica.”

  “How are you doing, Jessie?”

  “Good. Listen, do you think we could have a drink together? I want to talk to you about something.”

  “Sure, when?”

  “Say, four o’clock at the New Haven Hotel bar.”

  “See you then.”

  Jessica took the drive to New Haven and waited at the bar for Debbie. Was it possible that she and Rob had a half-sister? It was almost too much to comprehend. The little voice in her head kept saying, “no way.” But two articles had said Virginia Legotti was the daughter of Franco and Virginia. And her mother had told her for years she had a sister.

  “There you are.” Debbie walked up to Jessica and gave her a hug. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

  “I know, school, but that’s no excuse. How have you been? Where’s Kensy?”

  “I’m good, just packing. Kens is with her realtor this afternoon.”

  “Packing? Where are you going?”

  “Hawaii for three weeks, remember?”

  “Oh, yes, what a fabulous trip. I envy you, Debbie. Have a wonderful time and send pictures.”

  “I will. We are both very excited.”

  “And a realtor, why?”

  “Well…” Debbie stretched out the word. “She’s putting her business on the market.”

  Jessica raised an eyebrow.

  “The cold winters are getting to us. We want to move south. Once she sells the business, we’ll sell the condo and be on our way to Georgia.”

  “Wow.” Jessica sat back and took in a deep breath. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “And I you.” Debbie reached over and put her hand on Jessica’s cheek. “What is it you wanted to talk about? I’ll bet you and Yuri are back together.” Debbie smiled with a sparkle in her eye.

  “No. I thought you said he was engaged.”

  “I just talked to his mother, dear lady. She had more amputations. Diabetes is an awful disease. Anyway, she said Yuri broke it off a couple of months ago. She thinks because he still holds a torch for you.”

  “Sorry to hear about his mom.” Jessica put her head down. She didn’t want him to go through the horror of seeing his mother slowly die. “But I haven’t heard from him for… gosh, I don’t even know how long. Please tell her I’ll pray for her.”

  “I will. So…?”

  “I read those obituaries you sent me.”

  “Crazy, right? All three of those men so in love with your mama.” Debbie chuckled. “Can’t you just see them now all clamoring to be with her up there.” She looked up.

  Jessica laughed. “My thought exactly. Did you notice they both have daughters named Virginia Elizabeth?”

  “Yes. Like I said, they loved her.”

  “Virginia Elizabeth Legotti is supposedly the daughter of Franco and Virginia Anderson Legotti.” Jessica held her phone out in front of Debbie.

  Debbie took it. There was silence while she read the article, then she looked at Jessica. “The embryos. I knew it, I just knew i
t!”

  “The what?”

  “Your mom and Franco had trouble getting pregnant when they were married so went the in vitro route. When they got divorced, Franco insisted he get the embryos. I was dead set against it, but your dad talked me down, saying they’d never be used.”

  “So you think he had a surrogate?”

  “Had to be.” Debbie shook her head.

  Jessica found the picture and showed it to Debbie.

  “Beautiful, just like your mama.”

  “I have to meet these girls, especially now I know it’s a possibility I have a sister.”

  Debbie handed Jessica her phone back and then patted her hand. At first, she was very angry that Franco had done that, but then a peace filled her. That was the only way he could have his precious Gini.

  “I think that would be good for you to know for sure. You should come to church tomorrow. I know everyone would love to see you. I’m often asked about the Young children. And you should see Candy and Charlie; they are busy busy and so adorable. I knew Aly would be a good mother, and she is. Come tomorrow.”

  “I’ll think about it. Debbie, it’s good seeing you.” Jessica got a tear in her eye.

  “Now, now, no tears, you’ll have us both blubbering.”

  “I love you, Debbie.”

  “And I you.”

  The two women sat and talked about Jessica’s school and how much fun Debbie’s and Kensy’s lives were. About an hour later, Debbie left.

  Jessica sat running her finger round and round the top of her glass. She possibly had a half-sister; Yuri wasn’t engaged and probably suffering with his mother’s illness. It was all mind-boggling.

  She got in her car to go see Rob, but on second thought she drove to the old neighborhood. She parked and walked down the path to the pond. Sitting on the bench, she remembered all the times she and her mama had sat there and the joy in Gini’s face listening to the birds singing.