Let's Get It On (29 page)

Angela cleared her throat. “Maybe you should leave, Maurice.”

“No,” Maurice said forcefully. “I need to hear what's going on with my
future wife.
”

Kenya nodded. “I want him to stay,” she said.

Angela rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Fine.”

“Well,” the doctor said, “as I was saying, the swelling of the spinal cord has decreased significantly. However, Ms. Taylor doesn't have any movement below her waist right now. Once the bullet is removed and with extensive rehabilitation, there's no reason why she won't regain full mobility.”

“When will you know for sure?” Maurice asked.

“If the decrease in swelling continues and the drugs that we've given Ms. Taylor work, then we should be able to operate in a few days. Provided that there are no other complications,” explained the doctor.

Angela clutched her chest. “What kind of complications?”

Maurice stroked the back of Kenya's hand, silently reassuring her that everything was going to be just fine.

“Infections and things of that nature. I don't anticipate that, but you never can be too careful,” said the doctor.

“I want the best neurosurgeons working on this case,” Maurice said. “Money is no object.”

Angela rolled her eyes. “Money can't buy everything,” she mumbled.

Maurice ignored her. “Because I'm going to need my bride ready for a December wedding.”

Kenya smiled up at him. “I love you so much,” she whispered.

Maurice kissed the back of her hand gently and said, “I love you more than you'll ever know.”

“And the Carolina Panthers are headed back to the NFC championship game,” the announcer said. “Bring on the Dallas Cowboys!”

Kenya, who was sitting in the luxury box with the other team wives and girlfriends, leapt to her feet and cheered wildly. The fact that she could stand was nothing short of miraculous. It had taken one six-hour surgery to remove the bullet from her spine, six months of rehabilitation to learn to walk again, and physical therapy to rebuild lost muscle. And at her side the entire time had been her soon-to-be-husband. Kenya had no idea how he'd been able to stay by her side with the grueling schedule of training camp in Spartanburg. But every night, he'd been right by her side, helping her with her exercises and giving her encouragement when she wanted to give up.

Kenya had even told him to leave her alone. One night, after she'd had a rough day, she'd refused to see Maurice when he arrived at the rehabilitation center. But Maurice wouldn't be deterred. He'd forced his way into her room. “What's going on?” he'd asked.

“I said I didn't want to see you,” she'd snapped, then turned her back to him.

“I know what the nurse said, but I'm here and I'm not leaving,” he'd replied.

“Will you stop treating me like a charity case? What if I never walk again?”

He'd sat on the edge of the bed and placed his hand on her back. “That's the pain talking. I know this is hard . . .”

“You don't know a damned thing. You're walking. You didn't get shot in the back. I did. What happens when you want a woman who can walk, dance, and make love to you without pain? I'm not going to wait for you to—”

“You think I'm going to leave you? Kenya, you can't believe that. You can't think that I'm going to leave you when you need me the most.”

She'd gingerly turned on her side and looked at him. Tears had shone in her eyes and had threatened to spill over. “There's no way you can say that. We don't know the future, and if I'm in a wheelchair for the rest of my life, you're going to tire of me having to depend on you. You're going to grow to resent me.”

“Stop pitying yourself. You're going to walk again, and I'll never resent you. Damn it, I love you, and nothing can change that.” Maurice had lifted Kenya from the bed, gently placing her on the floor. “You can do this, babe. You can and will walk again.”

He'd held her hands, and they'd taken baby steps. “You'll be dancing in my arms in December.”

Kenya hadn't believed it at the time, but now she was standing and ready to dance at her wedding, which was just one week away.

After the game, Kenya stood outside of Bank of America Stadium, among the fans waiting for Maurice. It had taken her awhile to be able to stand in a crowd without looking over her shoulder. Lauryn was locked away in the Mecklenburg County Detention Center, having been charged with aggravated assault and attempted murder. Kenya and Maurice had pleaded with the judge to deny Lauryn's bail, and their wish had been granted. The trial was scheduled for early next year, but Kenya wasn't worried about that. Right now all she could think about was her New Year's Eve nuptials.

The crowd roared as Maurice was the first man through the tunnel. He pumped his fist in the air and scanned the fans for Kenya's smiling face. Finding her, he hopped the barrier and pulled her into his arms.

“You were so good, baby!” she exclaimed.

“I know. But all I could think about was doing this,” he said, then kissed Kenya with a fiery passion that made both of them shudder.

The fans around the couple cheered and whistled at them.

“Ready to go?” Maurice asked when their lips parted.

“Oh yes. I'm ready to go and ready to be yours forever,” said Kenya.

He scooped Kenya up as if she were a bride to be carried over the threshold. “I like the sound of that.”

And then they were off to begin their lives together, putting the past where it belonged—behind them.

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Copyright © 2008 by Cheris Hodges

 

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