What They Left Behind

The next day, just after she loaded the dirty dinner dishes into the dishwasher, Gennie’s phone rang. It was Ben.

  “You have perfect timing,” she said.

  “Did I interrupt your dinner?”

  “No, we just finished when you called.”

  “How’s Michele?” Ben asked.

  “She’s doing great. She made a little friend.”

  “Oh, at school?”

  “No, it’s the dog of one the guys I work with. She loves him to death. So, how are you and Annie doing?”

  “Great.”

  “How’s your little project coming along?” Gennie couldn’t help but chuckle after she said that.

  “Oh, well that’s the reason I called you…we have a development in Project Babymaking.”

  “Really?” Gennie said, trying to stifle her giggles. “May I ask what it is or is it top secret?”

  “It’s no secret. We got a call a few minutes ago and Annie’s doctor told her that the project was a success.”

  “No way!”

  “Yes way. Next week Annie has to go in and get a sonogram.”

  Michele entered the kitchen. “Who’s that on the phone?” she asked.

  “Hey, did I just hear my favorite niece?” Ben said.

  “Yeah, she wants to know who I’m talking to.”

  “Well, give her the phone. I want to tell her the good news.”

  “It’s Ben,” Gennie told her, handing her the phone. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Michele grabbed the phone out of her hands. Gennie could tell Ben was asking her about school by her answers.

  “You got news?” Michele asked. “Is it about Project Babybaker?”

  Gennie couldn’t help but burst out in laughter. Her daughter could be so hilarious sometimes.

  “You are?” she shouted out, her eyes wide with excitement. “That is sooo cool! What will it be to me? My cousin? Oh, that will be so neat! Will you come down and show me the baby after it’s born? Oh okay.”

  Michele giggled and chatted a little longer with Ben before handing the phone back to Gennie.

  “She’s not excited, is she?” Gennie said.

  “Oh no, not at all,” Ben replied.

  “You know, I’m so happy for you, Ben.”

  “Yeah, I’m happy too. Now, we just have to work on you.”

  Gennie smiled and shook her head.

  “I have no interest in getting married again, ever.”

  “I didn’t say you had to get married. Just go out a little more often. Maybe start dating again.”

  “I don’t want to be in on the dating scene, especially not around here. I’m not ready and god…have you ever seen the men around here? It seems like they all have egos the size of the Golden Gate Bridge. And the primping! It drives me nuts! They spend more money on hairspray than I do.”

  “You don’t spend money on hairspray.”

  “That’s exactly my point. I think it’s abnormal for men to be so focused on their hair. The clothes and jewelry is another thing entirely. Most of them have more gold on their chests than Fort Knox. And the get-ups…I think they all shop at Gigolos Unlimited.”

  Ben chuckled. “There’s got to be someone in that town who’s normal.”

  “No, there isn’t.”

  “You said just about everybody you work with in props department is a guy. There’s nobody you’re interested in?”

  “No, most of them are married or dating. The rest don’t particularly thrill me.”

  “Your friend Page doesn’t have any recommendations? I mean, I heard she’s slept with almost every guy in the state.”

  “Ben!”

  “Okay, I’ll stop. Before I go, I was wondering when’s the next time you’ll be able to come back up to San Francisco.”

  “I don’t know. Not until August, at least, but I’ll definitely be up before the baby is born. And don’t even think of setting me up on a date with anybody!”

  “Did I say anything?”

  “No, but I can read your mind.”

  “Fine. Anyway, I have to get back to the restaurant and make the big announcement, but I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  “Okay,” Gennie said. “Bye.”

  “God,” she said to herself as she went into the living room to join Michele, who was watching TV, “why can’t they just let me be single?”

  Chapter 64: January 1, 1980