“Yes, I am all ears.”
Favour pursed her lips. “What an interesting way to say that. But I will be making you a custom outfit for the wedding.”
“Oh no, no, you don’t have to do that. I was actually scrolling online, and I saw this amazing dress on Amazon I thought would be perfect.”
Favour’s eyes widened. “Oh no, no, my dear. You misunderstand me. I will be making you a gown. I have one already in process.”
Kenya bit her bottom lip.Oh,this isnot an option,is it?“Oh, okay. Well, that sounds amazing.” She pasted on her most charming smile. “Why would I go elsewhere when I can get one made by you? What an honor that you were thinking of me that way.”
Favour waved her hands. “Yes, well, I need you to meet me at a local tailor tomorrow. I will have Solomon send you the address. We will have your measurements taken and finish the dress. Time is already of the essence.” She clasped her hands in front of her. “Now, tell me about the fabulous party you are planning for us.”
An hour later, after they had discussed some of her ideas for the vow renewal and Mrs. Anruchi and other customers had come and gone, Kenya sat at the table, thankful that the restaurant began to fill. She breathed easier in the bustle than in the open air with Solomon’s mother. Her skin itched, the familiar pressure of boxes closing in.
She’d dealt with worse. Busted through limiting expectations many times before.
One of the servers stepped behind the table near her and rolled up the window shade. The sun was high enough to cast less direct light across her table.
She grinned, the box walls retreating as her breath evened out. Mrs. Anruchi didn’t know who she had in Kenya Stewart. Not only was she the best event planner, soon to be creative director, but she and Solomon could be more than the fluke she thought they were. They could have something deeper than this fake relationship they tried to be in. And she’d make sure no sliver of a doubt remained.
22
KENYA HIREDan Uber to drop her off at the Hope Springs Community Center. She needed to process yesterday’s meeting with someone else who wasn’t Solomon.
Adanne ushered her inside when she hobbled up to the propped open doors, and within minutes she had produced two cups and a twenty-ounce bottle of soda from the break-room fridge.
Kenya held the cup, looking around at the community center that had changed so much over the years. A couple college students hovered over computers in the corner. A toddler fiddled with the play set on the far side of the room while his mother completed some paperwork.
Adanne motioned for Kenya to sit on one of the padded stools lining the raised front desk, then took a seat behind it. “We missed you at our community brunch last Saturday. Salome showed up to help.” She winked.
Kenya pressed her palm to her forehead. “How did I miss that? I don’t forget things.”
Adanne laughed. “Cousin, it’s okay. I was mostly joking. We did miss you, but you obviously had a good reason not to be there. I hope that means you are letting your foot rest and recover.”
Kenya rolled her eyes. “Not exactly. I was so bored that morning, I started organizing my closet.”
Adanne took a sip. “That doesn’t seem out of the ordinary. I consider you to be an organized person.”
“Because I have alarms and lists and reminders.” She looked through the open door into the gym, itching to get out on the basketball court where a group of teens were practicing. “I was about to start color coding.”
Adanne gasped. “Now, that is not you. You like things to be a little wild.”
“Exactly.”
Kenya kept her eyes on the court. The sound of sneakers hitting the wood made her want to slip her own sneakers on and run up the bleachers, down the street, up a mountain,something.
She turned back, releasing a breath in frustration.
“You’re ready to be done, aren’t you?”
Kenya ran a hand down her pants. “Yes, and then no. I mean, this time of slowing down has been good in some ways. But the less I’ve done on the outside, the more I want to explode in here.” She pressed a hand to her chest.
“Is that why you called to meet me?” Adanne hopped off her stool and made her way around the desk to help Kenya down.
Kenya followed Adanne into the gym. “If I had actually made an appointment with you, I would’ve had to wait through one million calendar conflicts and a thousand of your community commitments just to sit down for coffee.”
Adanne shook her head. “The level of your exaggeration knows no end.”
“Don’t tell me that what I’m saying is not true.”
