Audrey Hepburn's Pearls: Part I

Chapter 70.2: 1968, Georgina

Chapter 70.2: 1968, Georgina

"This is a life doughnut for a baby. Don't ask me how I got it. Well...okay, its from Sylvia. But don't ask me how Sylvia got it. I don't think we really want to know." Genesis stared at the curious white ring for a few seconds with a confused face, but then went on. "Now, I don't know why anybody would make a life doughnut for a baby, though."

"Ah?" I was confused, too. Why was Genesis giving me this, and from Sylvia of all people? We hardly knew each other, and her earlier advice...I couldn't bear to think about it.

He sighed and placed it by my feet on the bed. "When I told Sylvia what happened she went hysteric. Said she had something for you, that you'd need it. She said it was a lifesaver, but I didn't expect it to be literal."

"Um, but why would she give that to me?" I folded my hands across my stomach tentatively. Gone were the belts now, but sitting had been...unwelcome. When I'd tried with Frankie here...my fists clenched. So I was laid here unwillingly, unable to walk, unable to sit. I felt like an invalid, but I'd done it to myself. Frankie was convinced Luciano had coerced me, but the truth... I couldn't bear to tell him the truth.

"She said it was for sitting. You sit on it and 'gentle things don't touch' and then she told me to shut up and just give it to you."

I wanted to laugh at him, but it hurt too much. So I gave him a small smile to show him I appreciated his humor instead.

He paused, then peered at the lifesaver at my feet. "She wanted to know if it helped you, though. But I don't know how we'd do that."

Oh. Sit on it? I wasn't sure. Trying to sit had been hell, even on a pillow, so I didn't see how this would be any different. But seeing the caring look on Genesis' face, knowing he'd never willingly hurt me, I thought maybe...

"Um, okay, we can try...but I don't know how we'd do it either."

"Hmm. Well, you know how it is. Great minds think alike. Do you think your boyfriend could help?"

Right, Frankie was in the hallway taking a nap. He hadn't wanted to leave me, so he'd left me as little as possible this past week. He didn't even go home to sleep, thus the hallway. His devotion to me...I'd never comprehend it but oh how I adored him.

"I passed him on the way in," Genesis went on. "The boy looked absolutely pooped if you ask me. But maybe he'd know."

"Um, yeah...we tried to get me into a sitting position earlier for breakfast," I admitted, my head down. I closed my eyes, thinking about it yet again. I could still hear my screams, see Frankie's wide, scared eyes.

"So maybe the three of us can figure something out then. Sylvia said the lifesaver helps, so. Maybe."

"Yeah, maybe."

"I'll go get him, then."

"Okay..." I was trying to hide the unsureness in my voice. It seemed like he hadn't noticed, but Genesis always had a polite way about him where he pretended to ignore when others were uncomfortable. It seemed like a southern thing. I wasn't sure. But he left the room anyway, leaving me staring at the baby lifesaver at my feet. It did look ridiculous. He was right.

Before I could think much about it, a minute later he was back with Frankie, who was looking bleary eyed. I felt immediately bad for him, because if it hadn't been for me...if I hadn't...maybe he'd have been able to rest.

"What is that?" he immediately asked, indicating at the baby lifesaver. The look on his face...I couldn't help it. I started laughing, all the stress too much. But the rolling vibrations of it...