Page 39 of Leo and His Love Bunny

“I wondered if you might like to take a walk with me down by the river.”

I manage to get the words out, but she looks like she’s about to say no, and I really, really just want to spend a few minutes with her, so I push more words out.

“Just a short walk. I know you’ve worked all day, but I had a couple of things I wanted to say to you. And some info to share.” I say this last part knowing I could have just texted it to her, but when the reply for my request came in right around five this afternoon, I didn’t tell Nora right away because I wanted to see her and talk to her.

“Okay. Just a short one.” She smiles and her words don’t sting, but they do make me wonder if she’s deliberately puttingspace between us. I realize I have been meaning to do that very thing, but it bothers me that she might feel the need, and I wonder why. I’m going to ask. Why not? Other than I probably should know what I want before I start trying to demand things from her. Request. I’m not going to demand anything.

“I won’t keep you long,” I say as she glances over her shoulder at Trixie.

“Love bunny. Love bunny.”

Nora laughs and steps out, closing and locking the door behind her. “He must think Goalie is with you.”

“That was my first thought.” My second thought is that maybe the parakeet is more astute than I gave him credit for. But I don’t say this.

“Thanks for taking the time to walk with me.” It’s late enough that the ladies have left the common room for the day, and we don’t meet anyone as we go down the elevator and walk out the back door onto the patio.

We move around some chairs and tables as we navigate to the steps and the trail that goes down to the river. “Watch your step,” I say as I step off the one stone that is loose and hold my hand out for hers.

She places her hand in mine with her eyes on the ground. I assume she knows about the loose stone, because she steps on it just right and doesn’t need my help at all. I kind of want to be helpful. I want her to need me. Or maybe I just want to hold her hand. That must be it since I don’t let go, but simply turn and hold it firmly as we continue to walk to the river.

It’s beautiful down here with the water sounds and the two big weeping willows, the green grass, and a little bit of privacy. It’s like an outdoor oasis, and it’s one of my favorite spots in Whisker Hollow. It might be one of the reasons I’m still here in this apartment building.

“This is one of my favorite spots ever,” Nora says, like she could read my mind or something.

“Same,” I say simply, enjoying the fact that we both love something and enjoying her company as well. There’s something about her that makes me feel content and relaxed, clear down to my toes. I’m still thinking about that when she says, “Was there something you needed to talk to me about?”

I come out of my contemplation, unwillingly. “Uh, yeah. Yes.” What was it? I can’t even remember. I just want to be with her. “Oh. First of all, I heard back from the Bunny County Chamber of Commerce where I’m speaking next weekend. They will love having you. And using the price list you sent, they’re fine with what you’re charging.” I told them I would pay her, and I also told them to not allow that to get out. At all. “So, we’re all set. They have a tentative number of attendees. I’ll text that to you.” I just want to make things as easy on her as possible.

We stand by the bank, her hand in mine. I never let go, and she didn’t pull away. I suppose I should. There are a million reasons why right now is a terrible time for me to try to have a relationship with anyone. Especially someone I admire as much as I admire Nora.

I turn and start to mosey along the bank of the river, on the faint trail that has been worn there. She follows my lead like she was born doing it. Again, the sense of peace and contentment that I feel in her presence surrounds me.

“I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with what you did with that girl in your shop today.”

“Sophia? The one who is going to open a shop across the road from mine?”

“Yeah. She wasn’t very nice, and you were gracious and kind. It...showed me how much better I should be doing, but am not.”

I think I’ve embarrassed her because she looks down and doesn’t say anything for about five steps.

“I didn’t want to be kind. But I kept remembering that verse, ‘on her tongue is the law of kindness.’”

“That’s a good reason to memorize Bible verses.” I don’t do that nearly like I should.

“Yeah. Being kind is always right. I just didn’t want you to think it was natural or that I didn’t struggle.”

“It is that much better if it’s a struggle and right wins.”

She grunts a laugh, and I work to keep my fingers from tightening around hers. I don’t know why I want to hold onto her so tightly.

“I was so convicted, in fact, that when my stepmother called and asked me to watch her boys, I said yes.”

She looks up at me with a happy smile. She doesn’t even look surprised. I still can’t believe I did it, but she had that much faith in me.

I want to ask her if she might be able to skate with us, but my words leave me as our eyes meet. This happens every time when we’re together, and I should be used to it by now. I’m not, though, and it takes me a few minutes to pull myself away from her magnetism and get my thoughts in order.

“She’s dropping them off at 7:30 tomorrow morning, and I was going to take them to the rink for a bit. I... Would you like to come with us?” I can’t believe how hard that was to say, and I hold my breath waiting for her answer.

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