Page 28 of Taste The Smoke
“What?”
“I won the spelling bee at my school.”
“Congratulations, baby girl. I heard about that.” He attributed her win partially to her love of reading. “I brought you a little present to celebrate.”
She accepted the bag as her father appeared in the door. “Daddy, Uncle Lonzo got me a present.”
“Man, quit spoiling my daughter,” Deon said with a mock pout. I can’t do anything with her after you leave.”
The two men shared a one-arm hug, and Alonzo said, “I keep telling you, don’t hate.”
“Yesssss, books!” Kamryn squealed when she opened the bag. “Thank you, thank you, Uncle Lonzo. I love you.” She wrapped her thin arms around his waist and hugged him tight. “You’re the best godfather ever.”
“You’re welcome.” What he wouldn’t do to have this every day.
“I have to go show Mom.” She ran off down the hallway, her steps echoing throughout the house.
“She’s amazing.”
“That she is,” Deon said. “But she’s got more energy than this old body can handle some days. Speaking of energy and babies, you’d better get started, my friend.”
“Why do you think I’m here?”
“Wait. I thought you were going to the B&B alone, like always. You’re taking someone?”
“I am, and I’m hoping she’ll agree to be my wife,” he said with a huge grin.
“Oh, my goodness. I’m so happy for you, Alonzo,” Yolanda, Deon’s wife said, coming to join them. She reached out and hugged Alonzo. “You’ll have to bring her by and introduce her.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Oooh, can I be the flower girl?” Kamryn asked.
“If Kenya says yes, then absolutely.”
“Well, she has to say yes because you’re the best,” she declared with all the confidence of a child.
Alonzo prayed she was right. He didn’t know what he’d do if she rejected his proposal.
“Here’s the key, Zo. I already called Doris and told her to roll out the red carpet for you. Let me know the date, so I can dust off my tux.”
“Thanks, D.” They’d made a pact to be each other’s best man. Alonzo had fulfilled his duty, but had almost given up hope that his own day would come. Finally, it would be his turn. He said his goodbyes and left to pick up Kenya. Anxious to get the weekend started, the Friday evening traffic seemed to be conspiring against him. It took a good twenty-five minutes to go eight miles. But the kiss she greeted him with and the smile on her face, erased all of his tension. “You ready to get this party started?”
“You’d better believe it,” Kenya said, gesturing to the small suitcase. “I figured you’d fuss if I tried to carry it myself, so…” She shrugged.
“You know me well.” Between her ongoing therapy and the stretches and exercises he’d shown her, along with the occasional use of CBD gummies, her overall mental and physical health had improved dramatically. And while she still had a low level of pain sometimes, she hadn’t needed her cane since the day they’d met. For that, he was grateful.
Once in the car, she asked, “So, you’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“A friend of mine is letting us use his place nearby.” The bed and breakfast was located two blocks from the beach, which made it a perfect choice because his baby loved being near the water.
“Okay, I want you to write this down, so you can tell my sister. I’m going to go with the flow this weekend and not worry about the details.”
His laughter filled the car. “Yeah, she mentioned you typically were a planner and not too spontaneous.”
“Can’t trust family with nothing,” she muttered.
“I’m sure my mom told you all my secrets, too.” His parents had been ecstatic when he’d brought Kenya to the last family dinner, and his mother hadn’t stopped talking about her being a lovely young woman and the perfect one for him. He agreed.
