A Taste of Spring

Dez ordered the meaty omelet, pancakes, and coffee while Tabitha ordered fruit crepes and orange juice. The waitress grunted then turned without speaking a word. Dez found it amusing and actually laughed as the portly woman sashayed away to place the order.

"She's a sweetheart once you've tipped her," Tabitha said then shrugged.

"I bet," Dez said, as he continued to watch their waitress. He turned back to face Tabitha. "You come here often then."

"Not as much as I'd like." Tabitha moved her arm that was lying across the table to let the waitress sit a glass down.

Dez read the name tag on the silent waitress's shirt as she placed his coffee in front of him. Gene, their waitress, rolled her eyes then left. Again, without saying a word. Dez shook his head as he reached for the sugar and cream.

"Is it the friendly conversation from the staff that has you wanting more?"

"Gene didn't speak to me until after I ate at one of her tables at least half a dozen times," Tabitha smiled.

When he had his coffee just right, he took a long sip then sighed. "Well," he said, as he placed the mug back on the table, "the coffee is amazing."

the stuff." She rolled her straw paper with her fingers.

refer to Anna as an Angel? "No," he said, with a tone of finality.

up," Tabitha grinned, "besides, you've already told

rubbed his hand over his head and sighed,

was 'the tearing apart and the piecing together of my very soul,'" Tabitha said before

drank his coffee. He was certain he would need another two cups before breakfast ended. As soon as he finished his cup, the waitress returned with their

crepes, "do you think she

toast slices and proceeded to cut them. "I guess Anna wasn't that into me." He playfully raised

"From what you've described of...her reactions,

Her long red hair was the perfect accent to her porcelain tone. She was absolutely beautiful, had a sense of humor, and didn't seem stuck on herself. Tabitha was totally his type

you need a

women loved. "Are you volunteering to be that

my civic duty. Can't have the great Dezmond Rey in a funk," Tabitha said as she winked. "Your

looked into each other's eyes for a moment. Her expression was one of understanding, and it