Chapter 14
“Something smells good,” Lola commented as he walked into the kitchen.
“Mia has been cooking before the sun came up,” Amber told him. “Have a seat. I’ll get you some coffee.”
Lola pulled back a chair and dropped into it.
“I can’t believe you slept this late,” Amber said as she placed a mug in front of him.
Lola chuckled. “I can’t either. But I took full advantage of this rare opportunity.”
“I hear that.”
Lola savored the coffee. Nothing better than a rich brew unless it had bourbon in it. And that was another rare commodity these days. He had to be ready to roll at a moment’s notice. “You two ready for the day?”
“I’m spending the day here. Mostly because I’m curious.”
“Curious? It’s Thanksgiving. Food, fun, and football. Just like anyone else’s Thanksgiving.”
Amber rolled her eyes. “Duh.”
“So how did you usually spend the holiday?”
“As a kid, I guess like everyone else. At the clubhouse? The guys would show up to watch the game and I’d clean up when they left. That’s it.”
Lola watched Mia take a dish from the oven. “Mia?”
She slid the hot dish onto a trivet on the island and looked up.
“You always cook this much for Thanksgiving?”
She shook her head and patted her chest. Then held up a finger.
“What? You spend the day alone?” Amber asked.
She nodded.
“What about your parents?” Lola asked.
Mia twisted her lips and pretended to drive a car.
“They traveled?”
She nodded.
“Husband? Boyfriend?” Amber questioned.
Mia once again shook her head.
Amber laughed. “Smart girl. Men are asses.”
“Thanks for the encouragement,” Lola joked.
Amber laughed louder. “Oops.”
He glanced toward Mia and the sparkle in her eyes. “Mia, do you think I’m an ass?”
She bit her lips and looked away.
“Awe, come on.”
She turned back with her silent laugh he had come to enjoy.
She signed a few words then pointed to the food, to herself, and up.
“You can’t run out after you cook.”
She nodded.
He understood she was still uncomfortable around many people with her limited communication. As the months passed, she became a pro at signing. The women had picked up some of it also, but the men were still clueless.
“Someone has been busy,” London spoke as she entered the kitchen. She turned toward Rash when he appeared. “Set it right here. I’ll get everything sorted.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m here to serve.”
London only rolled her eyes at him and turned toward Mia.
Mia began signing and London leaned a hip against the counter watching.
“I don’t mind at all,” London replied. “I just didn’t plan for you to do it all alone. You’re not here to be a cook or housekeeper. You’re here to relax and prepare for your surgery.” London began to gather place settings to carry to the dining room when Mia stepped next to her, touching her arm.
London twisted and read her signs aloud. “I been thinking. I move out. Someone needs this more move in.”
“Absolutely not,” London snapped. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. There’re plenty of rooms when someone else comes in. I understand you want to be independent. And there is no problem for you to be on your own. Why rent a place when you have this? When you head back to Texas, then you can find a place and pull your things from storage.”
What? Surely, London had misunderstood Mia. Lola stood and walked toward the coffee maker.
“Who’s moving?” Lola asked, strolling past them.
London narrowed her eyes on Lola, popping her fists on her hips. “Are you harassing my friends?”
“Whoa now,” Lola threw his hands in the air, “I did nothing.”
Mia shook her head.
“See, I’m innocent.” Lola grinned and returned to refilling his mug. “Need help moving something?”
“Mia is just thinking ahead to when she returns to Texas,” London informed him, not going into detail.
Lola moved around the island to stand near Mia and London. His eyes widened and he held his chest. “I know you’re not leaving me.” He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind Mia’s ear. “Nobody makes me midnight tea and sits with me like you do. Not to mention all those indecent thoughts we’ve talked about.”
Before his last word left his mouth, her hands began moving so fast, London narrowed her focus on her hands. Lola stepped back and also focused on the message Mia was relaying to London as if he were not there. He raised his mug smiling behind the rim.
“Aw,” escaped London quietly as she “listened” to Mia. Then she turned toward Lola. “This is private.”
“I gathered that when she began all this stuff.” He wiggled his fingers in the air, playfully mocking her sign language.
London crossed her arms. “Then how do you two communicate?”
“I’m a perfect prospect. I leave the women alone, focusing on the club only.”
“Oh, please,” London huffed.
“But, when we do cross paths,” Lola teased, glancing toward Mia as he finished his thought, “when we do, I just read her mind.” Noting the color begin to rise above the high collar she was tugging on, he winked.
“Get out,” London demanded.
“Problem?” Rash asked, stepping back into the room.
“Take him with you,” London told Rash without looking away from Lola’s smug grin.
“Are you harassing my prospect?” Rash accused London, hands on his hips.
“He”s harassing my friend,” she corrected, now standing face to face with her husband.
Without taking his gaze from his wife, he asked, “Lola, what did you do?”
“Once again,” Lola began, “I’m a perfect prospect. I leave the women alone focusing on the club only. Not my fault she has indecent thoughts of me.”
Mia’s mouth dropped open, and London crossed her arms again.
“You having indecent thoughts about my prospect, woman?” Rash asked London, keeping his features serious.
“Not me!”
“Oh, so, you’re encouraging this young lady to be indecent and corrupting her? I may just have to take you over my knee,” Rash informed London with a tilt of his head and a glint in his eye.
London laughed shaking her head. “Get out of the kitchen and take your side kick with you. We need to finish cooking.”
Grabbing a plate of cookies that London had just taken from the box, Rash flashed a grin toward her. “You gals know where we are when that image isn’t enough.” London shoved Rash toward the door, where Lola followed him.
***
It had been an entertaining day, but Lola was glad the house was quiet again. Everyone had left to go home. Amber had disappeared into her room. She explained she had phone calls to make and studying to do. Mia had disappeared earlier, too. Lola smiled to himself. Probably happy to get away from the chaos.
He checked the house and assured that everything was back in order, then out of habit, or why, he wasn’t sure, he headed back toward the kitchen. It had become routine for him and Mia to have some sort of drink together before retiring. No matter how late, she was usually there waiting for him. He still had not figured out if that routine was for his benefit or hers.
He strolled through the empty kitchen without flipping on the light and walked straight to the fridge and pulled out a beer. Turning back to head upstairs, he caught sight of a glow of light in the yard. He twisted the top of the bottle, flipping the lid in the garbage as he stood in front of the sink, peering through the window. Two days before, he had wrapped the A-frame that held Mia’s macramé chairs in string lights. The glow was faint enough to sit under comfortably, but bright enough to be seen from the house. He returned to the fridge and grabbed a small bottle of juice, placing it on the island. He ran upstairs to his room to retrieve the box Lorelei had brought to him. Returning to the kitchen, he grabbed the last of a chess pie, dividing it onto two plates and grabbed two forks. Tucking the two bottles along with the package under his arm, he lifted the plates and headed outside and across the lawn to sit with Mia.
“Late night. Didn’t expect you to be out here.” He handed her a plate and the juice bottle. She happily accepted and raised the juice to her lips, savoring the taste. He placed his beer on the ground and his plate on the seat of the other swing then pulled the package from his side. Without a word, he slid a roll of material from the bag and spread it over her. Watching her face light up, he smiled, dropped the bag, and grabbed up his plate as he settled into the swing beside her.
She mouthed and signed, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I thought of you when I saw it. It can be worn around your neck how you like, or you can cover up and stay warm. And the color matches your eyes.”
Her eyes widened, looking toward him and patting her chest.
“Yes,” he chuckled, “that’s yours.” He leaned back and together, in silence, they studied the stars and savored their dessert. At the first shiver from Mia, Lola stood and gathered the dishes and bottles and empty gift bag from the ground then switched off the lights sending the swings into darkness. Holding out his hand, he tugged Mia to her feet.
She paused in the kitchen as he placed the dishes in the sink and the bottles in the trash. He turned off the lights and walked with her to her room.
He tugged the shawl over her shoulders and pressed his lips to her head. “Night, Sunshine.”