Page 44 of Prospect Year

“My place. Like I said, four hours. Your costume is right here.” He walked out, leaving Lola staring at the pile of white fur next to his door.

***

After three hours of sleep, Lola forced himself from his bed. A quick dash through the shower provided some energy, but a strong cup of coffee would top it off. He laughed inside as he jogged down the stairs. A cup was nothing. He needed the whole damn bag brewed and funneled into him.

The aroma hit him before he entered the kitchen. Coffee. Mia was awake. Already? Inhaling deeply, he realized she had made more than coffee. Bacon. And was that apples? Stepping into the kitchen, he was greeted by a table filled with food.

“What’s this?”

Mia closed the refrigerator and turned with a glass of juice. She smiled and pointed to the ceramic rabbit on the island.

“Yes, it is. Happy Easter,” he told her.

She settled into the seat across from him with her orange juice.

“You really enjoy holidays, don’t you?”

The sparkle in her eye was the only answer he needed. It was true, he knew it. He also knew she could take any day or event and turn it into something special. Her love of life was overflowing and at times contagious.

“A bit early for our normal breakfast. How long have you been up?”

She tapped her ear, then her wrist.

“Yeah, I did set my alarm loud. I was afraid I’d sleep right through it.”

Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she placed her palms together next to her cheek. Then, shaking her head, she touched her thumb to her fingers, opening and closing them.

He laughed. “You’re a hundred percent right. I should have been sleeping instead of keeping company. Did we keep you awake?”

She shook her head, touched her ear, and held her fingers slightly apart.

After several attempts at signing when they met, she eventually stopped trying and began using any gestures that she thought he may understand. It worked for them, and they communicated perfectly. Although Lola would never admit it, he liked to see what she would come up with to get her thoughts across.

“Only voices. No conversation,” he guessed. At her confirming nod, he said, “Then you didn’t hear my job for the day.”

Her eyes widened on him as she lifted her glass to her lips.

“You’re looking at the Voodoo Troops Easter bunny.”

Her glass slammed to the table, and she jerked her napkin to her mouth, fighting back the choking cough.

“My thoughts too.”

It only took a moment for her surprise to twist into silent laughter.

“Not funny,” he told her, finishing the last of his apple pancakes.

Biting her lips together, she nodded but in no way controlled the huge grin taking over.

“You want to drive a white rabbit around town?”

***

Mia froze. Drive? No, no, no. Her heart felt like it would leap from her chest. She couldn’t do it. She dropped her gaze back to her plate. She poked the food with her fork. She wanted to tell him something. Needed to tell him. But she couldn’t. One more stab at the pancake then she stood and gathered her dishes.

“Hey.” His voice had changed. Serious but gentle.

Quickly, she scraped the food into the trash can and placed the dish into the dish washer. Closing the door to the appliance, she turned and stood face to face with Lola.

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