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."

with her fingers. "So, you want to

Anna as an Angel? "No," he said, with a tone of finality. He heard Tabitha's

Tabitha grinned, "besides,

his hand over his head and

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

would need another two cups before breakfast ended. As soon as he finished his cup, the waitress returned with their food. He motioned to his cup but she said

"do

He buttered his French toast slices and proceeded to cut them. "I guess Anna wasn't that into me."

you've described of...her reactions, I think

She was absolutely beautiful, had a sense of humor, and didn't seem stuck on herself. Tabitha was totally

think you need a bit of

"Are you volunteering to be that distraction

the great Dezmond Rey in a funk," Tabitha said as she

into each other's eyes for a moment. Her expression was one of understanding, and it was something he found he could accept without feeling placated. "No."