Page 83 of Leo and His Love Bunny
Miss Phyllis
“I think we’ve given them long enough. We need to try Trixie on someone else.” Carrie’s neon green hair glows in the overhead lights.
Leslie, Tammy, Carrie and I have convened an emergency meeting. Not like we weren’t together all day. But we are not doing any kind of furniture upholstery right now. We’re standing in the area where we usually sit, and Carrie is insisting that we need to get Trixie and try our matchmaking parakeet with a different couple. It seems like Trixie hasn’t worked with Leo and Nora and while we were all hopeful on July Fourth, nothing seems to have come from it.
“I think Carrie might be right. If Trixie is a dud, we need to figure that out. If he’s not, then we need to stop wasting our time on Nora and Leo when there are so many other unmarried people in this apartment building. We need to get moving on this. How are we supposed to be matchmakers when we can’t even match up one couple?” Leslie says, and I have a tendency to give her word a little bit more weight than I do Carrie’s.
“It doesn’t matter what we do. Nothing’s going to work. I don’t know why we’re even talking about it. We’ve talked about it everyday for the last six weeks, and nothing has changed. We need to stick to furniture. That’s what we’re good at.” Tammy, always negative, hasn’t changed a bit.
“All right. That’s what everyone wants. Next time I see them, I’ll ask Nora for Trixie back. We’ll see what we can do with a different couple.”
“If you’re taking votes for the next couple, I have someone in mind. In fact, I think all they need is a little nudge in the right direction and it will be super easy.”
“Nothing is easy,” Tammy says, with a snort that sounds more like a snarl. I really need to help Tammy. Her negative attitude is going to affect her health.
I open my mouth to ask her who she thinks we should give the parakeet to, when the door opens and a gust of wind blows in.
It’s dark outside, but as soon as they step in, I recognize Leo and Nora, and I see immediately that they're holding hands. Both of them are smiling, and I don’t think it’s my imagination that Nora’s lips are slightly swollen. Interesting.
“Good evening,” I call out, knowing that it’s rather odd that the four of us ladies are down here in the upholstery room so late.
“Wow. You guys are up late,” Nora says cheerfully, and the glow on her face is unmistakable.
I look over at Carrie, who nods her head and looks smug. Like she wasn’t just saying that we needed to take Trixie back.
Leslie is grinning from ear to ear, and I am half afraid she’s going to go over and kiss them both.
Tammy looks like she just sucked a lemon. But, she usually looks like she just took a swig from a bottle of vinegar, so I think it’s an improvement.
“Is there anything you ladies need help with?” Leo asks as they get closer to us on their way to the elevator.
“Not really,” I answer pleasantly, still pretending that everything is completely normal. “Except, if you don’t mind, I’m ready to take Trixie back.”
Nora’s brows shot up, and I think she might look a little disappointed. Has she grown fond of the parakeet in the last few months?
“Of course. I’m happy to give him back to you. Tonight?”
“Yes. Tonight if possible,” I say, figuring that there’s no time like the present.
“I hope it’s okay if I bring my cat down to visit him. She seems to be enamored with him.” Leo has concern in his gaze as he glances at Nora.
Yeah. So itisworking. I fight back my triumphant smile, and I do not look at my friends, although I want to. We are in business.
Chapter 37
Nora
It’s the first game of the season, and I’m here with Leo’s stepmother, and his two stepbrothers.
His dad started treatment, and is not doing well. He’s at home with a hired nurse. But the boys wanted to see the game, and his dad insisted that they go. He’ll be watching on TV. Carson and Briggs were thrilled to be able to come.
Addison looks ten years older than she did at the beginning of the summer, and her eyes are weary, her face sad, although she smiles at the boys as we step into the foyer and show our passes to Pete, who is working security for the game.
“Hey there,” he says, as he recognizes me, and scans my pass.
“Hey. I haven’t seen you much around the apartment lately.”
“I’ve been working some double shifts, and catching up on some security work on the side. I haven’t been around much.”
