Kenya giggled. Jermaine obviously had no idea what that wasabout between them, but he waved them away and left to talk to the receptionist. He had a grandfatherly way about him that had immediately put Kenya at ease when she first started coming. And she had Solomon to thank for that referral.DoctorSolomon, lest she forget how she enjoyed teasing him.
After a few minutes, Solomon had her nestled quite comfortably in a borrowed wheelchair from the clinic.
“I admit I’m not usually one for romantic walks in the park.”
Solomon coughed.
She pulled folded sunglasses out of her tote, shook them out, and placed them on her face. “You good there, Doctor?”
He pounded his chest and cleared his throat. “Is that what this is?”
Kenya cackled. “No, definitely not my thing.”
Solomon chuckled.
She continued, “I’ve been brainstorming ideas for your parents’ vow renewal. I had a vision of your parents walking toward this gazebo, or maybe the renewal could be on that bridge.”
Solomon followed where she pointed.
“Maybe they want something more.” She jutted her chin toward the hotel across the way.
Solomon pushed the wheelchair forward. “So you’re agreeing to help plan their vow renewal too?”
Kenya shifted her body to look up at him. “Wasn’t that part of the deal, Dr. Anruchi?”
He looked pleased. “Well, yes, it was. I just thought you’d forgotten.”
She turned forward again. “I may get things mixed up from time to time, but I don’t forget.”
“My parents can sometimes be hard to please. They are used to ... um ... extravagant things.”
They followed the rounded path, the curve leading them past a manicured patch of late summer blooms.
“So maybe this is the time to surprise them with somethingsimple. Simple can be elegant and meaningful. Just like these lovely Formosa lilies.” As if reading her intention, he paused so she could gaze at them longer. “You don’t need a lot, just the right creative mind.” She tossed her head back, flashing a smile at Solomon. “And lucky for you, I’m the woman who can pull it off.”
He continued their trek. “Just as soon as you get this ankle better.”
Kenya flicked her wrist as if her injury were an obnoxious insect. “Meh, that’s not going to be an issue.”
“Maybe that’s the mentality that landed you in the hospital in the first place ... and second.”
“Um, excuse me, I signed up for physical therapy, not atherapysession, okay?”
Solomon chuckled. “We made a deal, but I don’t want to make a martyr out of you.”
Kenya crossed her arms. “Deal or no deal, not only is it my pleasure to do the event, consider it my much-needed prescription.”
“You keep on saying things that sound like they need to be unpacked.”
“Don’t read too deep, Doctor. I just like being busy, especially with everything else on pause right now.”
He chuckled. “I’m sorry, I’m not usually the one to get into people’s business, especially so they don’t get into too much of mine.”
“Hmm.”
“But since you have me out here pushing you in a wheelchair, why not?”
She sighed. “Well, I had a meeting with my supervisor a few days ago, and she is making me take time off.”
