Page 77 of Big Island Horizons
Lani
After dropping Rory off at New Horizons, Lani went to Tenn’s house and scrubbed the place from top to bottom.
The place didn’t particularly need it, but it gave her a way to vent her nervous energy while she waited for visiting hours to start at the hospital. She tossed the food in the fridge that had gone off and put fresh sheets on all of the beds. Then, finally, she went to get Tenn.
They were finally sending him home. His second surgery had gone well. It would take time for him to heal, and there would be a whole lot of physical therapy required if he ever hoped to regain full range of motion in his left shoulder, but at least he could sleep in his own bed again.
Sonya had classes to teach, so it was just Ken at the hospital when Lani arrived.
“Are you good to go?” she asked after kissing Tenn hello. “Can we bust you out of this joint?”
“Yes please,” he said.
“We’re waiting on more paperwork,” Ken told them.
When that was finally sorted, they put Tenn into a wheelchair – hospital policy, but it still tore her heart up to see it – and got him out of there.
He transferred easily to the passenger seat of his Jeep – Lani had brought that instead of her truck, which was much higher off the ground – and she drove him home. Ken followed in his car.
When they parked in front of Tenn’s house, his dad hurried across the lawn to help him to the front door.
“Dad,” Tenn said in exasperation, “I can walk just fine. I didn’t get shot in the leg.”
Ken’s face was set in a stubborn frown. “You’re still weak.”
Lani ducked under his good arm, and Tenn didn’t protest.
Ken watched them for a moment, then gave a sharp nod and turned his attention elsewhere.
“The grass is getting long. You get him settled. I’ll get the lawnmower out.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Lani said, but Ken was already walking away.
“It’s okay.” Tenn squeezed her shoulder and shook his head. “It’s just how he is.”
“An acts of service kind of guy?”
“Sure, something like that.”
They made their way slowly up the front walk and into the house.
“Bed or couch?” she asked.
“Couch,” he said firmly. “I’ve had enough lying in bed for a while.”
She walked him to his favorite spot, then grabbed a cozy blanket and threw it over his legs.
“Are you comfortable?” she asked. “Do you need another pillow for your back?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I’m not hungry.”
“How about some tea?”
“Lani, enough.” He put his head back against the sofa, exhausted. “You’ve been hovering over me since I got shot.”
