In Love With An Older Man 1

June 1992

Gary watched as the first baby was delivered. Cindy had received spinal anesthesia, so she was awake, but a drape separated her upper body from her lower abdomen so that she wouldn't see the actual surgical procedure. Gary had winced as the scalpel had opened Cindy's flesh, although he knew that she didn't actually feel any pain. After that, his awe at the miracle of birth took his mind off of everything else.

"Here's your girl!" Dr. Young, the obstetrician, exclaimed. He quickly handed the baby to the nurse, who cleaned her off and weighed and measured her. "Six pounds, five ounces!" she announced.

Dr. Young delivered the other twin. "And here's your boy!"

"Are they both all right?" Cindy asked anxiously.

"They're beautiful, honey," Gary told her.

"Seven pounds even!" The nurse had just weighed their son and was wrapping him in a blanket.

"Thank God." Cindy was incredibly relieved.

"Do you still want to go with Rebecca Grace and Jonathan Seth?" Gary asked her. The babies had been placed near her head, and she kissed first her daughter and then her son on the cheek.

"Yes, those are perfect names," she replied.

October 1989

Gary and Cindy had finished their hot dogs and had a few minutes remaining before it was time to report back to the radio station.

"Jackie was on her way to visit a friend when another driver swerved into her lane and hit her head-on. The guy wasn't wearing a seat belt and was thrown through the windshield and killed instantly. Jackie was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. As soon as I got the call, I left Carly and Jake with the neighbor and hurried to the hospital. She was still conscious, but her vital signs were fading quickly. I was with her, holding her hand, when she passed away."

"Oh, Gary, I can't even begin to imagine how painful that must have been for you."

"It was the worst experience I have ever been through in my entire life. But what hurt the worst was that her death was so senseless and could have been so easily prevented. I'll never forget the phone call I received from one of the police officers investigating the crash some time later. He told me that the toxicology reports were in and that the other driver's blood alcohol level had been twice the limit for legal intoxication."

"How terrible! I don't know how anyone could live with that."

"It's more difficult than you could even imagine. I just have to get through each day one day at a time. I also donate large amounts of radio time to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and similar organizations. I believe that if I can save just one family the heartbreak we've been through, are still going through, it will be worth it. More than worth it."

"What religion is your family, Cindy?" Gary wanted to know.

"Officially, we're Episcopalian, but none of us have been to church in years, except for weddings and funerals."

"How much do you know about Judaism?"

"I know that you have Hanukkah instead of Christmas and Passover instead of Easter."

Gary chuckled. "There's a little bit more to it than that. For instance, do you know what a yarmulke is?"

Cindy frowned. "Isn't that a Japanese motorcycle?"

Shaking with silent laughter, Gary shook his head and removed an object from his pocket. "This is a yarmulke."

"It looks just like a beanie to me."

"It's worn by Jewish males to symbolize our submission to God."

"So, when do you wear it?"

"When I'm attending synagogue or performing religious rituals or ceremonies."

"Does Jake wear one too?"

"Yes, he does."

"What about Carly?"

"No, of course not!"

"Well, shouldn't there be something for girls to wear too?"

This time Gary didn't suppress his laughter. "You do have a lot to learn, Cindy."

"Is it common practice to carry a yarmulke around in your pocket?"

"No. I brought mine to day just to show it to you."

Cindy handed the yarmulke back to Gary, who returned it to his pocket.

"I promise I'll never pressure you to convert, Cindy. Believe me, my people have experienced enough of that kind of thing over the centuries, and still do. But I would like for you to learn about my religion and cultural background."

"I'm all ears! So, when do we start?"

"Let's see, we have...Wilson Phillips, Milli Vanilli, Fine Young Cannibals, New Kids On The Block, and Soul II Soul. So, what's the occasion?" Gary was looking through the stack of CD's Cindy had brought to work with her.

"I thought that perhaps Carly would like to borrow them." Cindy smiled tentatively.

"Oh, Cindy, you try so hard." Gary smiled and patted her shoulder. "The kids will come around. Just give them time. They just have to get used to things being different now."

Cindy had met Carly and Jake for the first time when they had come by the radio station the previous day, and the meeting had ended with both kids rushing out of the station very upset.

"You mean they have to get used to the idea of sharing you with me?"

"Well, yes. Ever since Jackie died they've had me all to themselves. They have to realize that the love I have for you doesn't diminish the love I have for them at all."

Cindy was thoughtful. "I was so young when my biological father died that I hardly remember him at all. That must have been why it was so relatively easy for me to accept Mike Brady as my father. Marcia and Jan were older so they remembered our biological dad better. I guess they didn't really show it, but it must have been harder for them because of that. Jake and Carly are even older now than Marcia and Jan were when our mom married Mike. I can understand it being even harder for them. I know that I could never take the place of their mother, and I would never try to. But I do hope that they can someday think of me as a friend."

"Thanks for being so understanding, Cindy. And I really do think that the situation with the kids is going to be just fine. Just give it some time. 'K?"

The next day Cindy asked Gary if he had shown the CD's to Carly.

"As a matter of fact, I did. She told me to tell you that she enjoyed listening to them and wanted me to ask if you have any Samantha Fox."

Cindy grinned. "Hey! Progress!"

"Mazel tov, Cindy." Gary grinned back and winked at her.