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to go there.
    I realize my mind has wandered. “Where’s Mr. Kapur today?”
    “He had to fly back to see his mother. She’s not well.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “My son brought me today. He’s parking the car.”
    “Okay.” I hold out my hands to her to help her back up, not that she really needs it. “Let’s get Teresa to start you on your warm-up exercises, and then I’ll meet you at one of the tables. You look well. How’s the hip?”
    “Good,” she says, linking her arm in mine. “Getting stronger every day. No pain at all since the surgery. Best thing I’ve ever done.”
    “Excellent. That’s generally what I hear from patients.” Geena has only been coming to me for three weeks and has already progressed from a walker to a cane.
    My receptionist is on her break, so I return to the counter to check Geena in after she joins Teresa. My eyes are on the computer monitor when someone speaks.
    “Anna?”
    Immediately, I recognize his voice and whip my head around to confirm.
    “Kiran!”
    I walk over to him and he rises from his seat. “How serendipitous!” I’m not sure I’ve ever heard someone use that word before in real life. When we shake hands he encloses mine in both of his. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”
    “You, too. I’ve been seeing your mother for a couple weeks now. She told me she had a son, but who would have thought?”
    “Yes, well, I don’t know if she told you, but I’ll be bringing her for her visits while my father is away.”
    “She said that your grandmother is sick. I’m sorry.”
    “Thank you.”
    We stand there for a few moments, Kiran with his hands in his pockets and me sort of bobbing my head like a doofus. “Well!” I snap out of my stupor. “Why don’t you come back?” I motion to the open therapy area, where Geena and three other patients are doing their exercises in various parts of the room.
    “Are you sure? I don’t want to get in the way.”
    “You won’t. It’ll be fine.”
    Over in the corner, Geena is doing her lateral stretches with the elastic band around her ankles.
    “It’s a small, small world,” I say as I approach Geena with Kiran alongside me.
    “And why is that?” she asks.
    Kiran fills her in about how we went to school together and recently met each other at the wedding.
    “My goodness!” she says. I hold her arm to stabilize her while she changes position for her next set. “This is who you were telling me about, the woman you spoke with at the reception?”
    Kiran reddens and clears his throat. “Yes.”
    I don’t get why he appears embarrassed. I guess I just assume someone with his looks interacts with women all the time and wouldn’t feel awkward at our age.
    “Oh, and Kiran told me how awful that Miranda girl was. I feel bad for putting him in that position.”
    “I’m sure Anna doesn’t need to know about every single conversation we’ve had.” He rubs the back of his neck.
    “Well, she wasn’t very nice,” I agree. “She was beautiful, for sure, but your son could do much better.” I give him a friendly smile.
    “Isn’t he handsome, though?” she asks as we walk to one of the treatment tables. “I’m so proud of him. He lost a lot of weight three years ago. Seventy pounds.”
    Before I have the chance to stop myself, my eyes bulge. “You’re kidding!”
    “I’m going to go wait in the car now.” Kiran sounds like he’s joking, but I think he might be ready to bolt for the door.
    “Maybe we should change the subject, Geena. I think we’re making Kiran uncomfortable.” I stand next to her as she slowly hoists herself onto the table. Then I turn to Kiran. “But in all seriousness, that is quite an accomplishment. You should be very proud.”
    “Thank you.”
    If Kiran has been overweight nearly his whole life, I’m beginning to understand why he’s so reserved. Maybe he’s not used to the attention he surely attracts on a constant basis.
    “Okay, Geena, just relax while