And so, his habitual meandering, post-workout walks that always ended with his arrival at Mario’s in time to start his shift, began to become longer and more purposeful.
It was early summer now, and the city was at its most beautiful; flowers were everywhere. Of these, it was magnolias that stood out for Garner. Although they lacked the exquisite scent of the earlier spring lilacs, magnolia flowers, with their subtle shading, from white to pink to rich magenta, were to him the most visually beautiful. And then, of course, there were the profusions of roses.
Gradually, his walks began to take him to such distant parts of the city that he found it expedient to return on transit. Several times Vera accompanied him. They would talk about various things, but in particular about his abilities,
