Chapter 3 #2
“He’ll never really be gone.” Talula set the cocoa in front of Dahlia. “If you keep your eyes open, you’ll find more of him. In little ways.”
Dahlia’s gaze traced every inch of the café. “I’m starting to see that.”
Talula stared, an aching warmth filling her chest. The more she learned about Dahlia, the more Talula wanted to be around her, to make her cocoa and listen to her talk about everything and anything.
She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of hearing what went on in Dahlia’s wonderful head.
She shook herself, turning away before Dahlia could catch her in an infatuated stupor.
Talula started to clean up, then saw that the Employees Only door was slightly ajar.
She heard the horrifyingly familiar thump thump of fluffy feet against the floor.
“What the hell was that?” Dahlia asked.
A jackalope that can’t follow instructions! Talula thought, panicked. But out loud, she asked, “What was what?”
Thump thump.
“That!” Dahlia looked around, swiveling on her counter stool.
Talula quickly looked behind the counter area for the source of the sound. “It might be a rat?”
Thump thump, thump thump.
“Sounds like a big-ass rat,” Dahlia said.
“I’ll go check.” Talula zipped into the back area. The door to the basement was slightly open, where several pairs of black, curious eyes peered out at her. She got the distinct sense that the jackalopes had been eavesdropping.
“Go back!” Talula hissed with a shooing motion. “There’s a human here.”
Some of the jackalopes tilted their antlered heads. Talula groaned.
Dahlia called out, “I think it’s here! By the shelves!”
Talula rushed to her Voltlette and snatched up a head of lettuce. She addressed the jackalopes. “Do you want this?”
The jackalopes nodded.
Talula chucked the head of lettuce down the basement stairs.
Eagerly, the jackalopes hopped to it. Talula closed the basement door behind them.
Her mind whirred. There was a decent chance that the jackalope in the café didn’t have antlers.
But if it did, Talula was screwed. She would have to call her mom to do a memory spell on Dahlia.
Or worse, she’d have to remove all memories of the café from Dahlia’s mind. Including memories of Talula.
That thought sent icy fear through her heart. But determination set in. Talula wasn’t going to let that happen. Even if it meant more lying. She opened the Employees Only door. Dahlia was on the floor, peering beneath the crystals display by the front of the shop.
“Honestly,” Talula said—because the best lies were a little true—“I know what it is.”
Dahlia looked up. “What do you mean?”
“It’s a rabbit.” Talula crossed her fingers under her apron. “I found it in the basement earlier, and it must have found a way up here.”
Technically only a little not true.
“A bunny? Cute!” Dahlia cocked her head at Talula. “But why didn’t you just tell me that?”
“Because…” Talula scrambled. “It’s a huge health code violation, and I didn’t want you to have to lie for me. In case the health inspector puts you on the spot.”
“You thought a rabbit in your café would force me to perjure myself?”
“I watch too much Law this place is a creative gold mine.”
“Happy to help,” Talula said, a little dazed.
Dahlia began shoving all her random objects back into her satchel.
The cover of the mysterious book, with its strange-yet-familiar script, seemed to gleam at Talula.
But before she could say anything, the jackalope in her arms gave a furtive squirm, and Talula had to fight to keep him wrapped up in her apron.
A moment later, Dahlia waved goodbye and disappeared through the café door. The sound of the golden bell followed her out into the dwindling September light.
Talula was relieved, and somehow a little disappointed. She looked down at the jackalope in her arms. He twitched his nose at her as if to say, You’re a mess—you know that, right?
“Oh yeah. I know.” Talula sighed. “Come on. Let’s get you back home.”