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At breakfast, Zoe chattered to Lauren and Annie about her date with Chris.
“Since you and Mitch are having lunch here, Chris is taking me out for our own date,” she stated, crunching buttery toast as she spoke.
“Where are you going?” Lauren asked, glad that Chris had a day off and was spending it with her cousin.
“We haven’t decided yet,” Zoe admitted. “But I get to choose. I’m thinking about that ice cream place in Sacramento but I don’t know whether I want to drive for an hour just to get some ice cream, even if it is amazing.”
“I hear you.” Lauren nodded. Even though it was winter, she still enjoyed the frozen treat – and knew Zoe did, too.
“Maybe somewhere more local,” her cousin mused. “Or maybe I’ll just make some sandwiches and we can go hiking in the forest. It’s not too cold to do that, and if the temperature drops, Chris can keep me warm.” She winked at Lauren and Annie.
“Brrt?” Annie asked, bunting Lauren’s arm. She hadn’t woken when Lauren had gently placed her on her bed, and had slept all night. Now, however, she seemed her usual energetic self.
“We’ve both got dates today, Annie,” Zoe told her. “Mitch is coming over here and spending time with Lauren.”
“I thought you’d like a relaxing day at home,” Lauren added. “You’ve been very busy with the play.”
“Brrp.”
“You’re welcome to join me and Mitch,” Lauren offered. “I don’t know what he’s got planned, though.”
“What about a video play date with AJ?” Zoe suggested. “You could tell her all about last night!”
“Brrt!” Annie’s eyes lit up.
“Why don’t I set that up now?” Lauren hurried into the living room to grab her phone.
“Do you think Ed is up yet?” Zoe asked.
“I hope so.” Lauren checked her watch as she re-entered the kitchen. “It’s nine o’clock.”
“Yeah, he should be awake.”
Ed came into the café even earlier than they did some days, to get a jump start on his pastries.
“Maybe you can have a video play date with Toby later today,” Zoe said.
“Brrt!” Yes! Annie placed her paw on the phone, and pressed a button.
The screen flickered, then came to life.
“Brrp.” Annie pressed another button and they heard a buzz.
She’d called AJ all by herself previously, something Lauren still marveled at.
“Meow?” A brown furry face peered at them from the screen, a darker brown M on her forehead.
“Hi, AJ,” Lauren spoke to the Maine Coon tabby.
“Brrt!” Annie greeted her friend.
“Hi Ed,” Zoe called out.
“Hi,” Ed’s gruff voice sounded. “Is Annie calling AJ?”
“Yes. Is this a good time?” Lauren asked.
“Sure. Do you want to play with Annie?” she heard him ask AJ.
“Meow!”
“I’ll set AJ up in the living room. Hang on.”
“Brrt!” Annie ran to their living room, looking back over her shoulder at Lauren.
“I’m coming.” Lauren jogged after her, carrying the phone. Annie would have more room for her play date in that room, and easy access to her toys. Sometimes she and AJ showed each other their playthings over the phone.
“Brrt!” Lauren heard her fur baby speak to AJ as she headed back to the kitchen.
“I wonder if Mrs. Snuggle will ever want to do a play date like that,” Zoe mused as she finished eating her toast.
“Or any play date at all,” Lauren added. The Persian hadn’t seemed interested in making friends with Annie a couple of months ago, but now she was living with Father Mike, perhaps she would want to, one day.
“We should go and visit her,” Zoe suggested. “See how she’s getting on with Father Mike.”
“Good idea,” Lauren replied. “We could take her a little Christmas gift.”
“Something else for her stocking.” Zoe grinned.
They spent the rest of the morning doing light housework and getting ready for their dates.
Lauren stood in front of her bedroom mirror, wondering what to wear. Mitch said he would organize something, but she wasn’t sure what he had in mind. Should she wear a casual outfit or something a little dressier?
“What do you think, Annie?” Her fur baby had finished playing with AJ over the phone, and had jumped up on the bed, looking at her inquiringly.
“This or this?”
Lauren held out the two outfits. One featured fawn slacks with a plum sweater. The other consisted of jeans with a navy wrap top.
Zoe was getting dressed for her own date with Chris, otherwise Lauren would have asked for her opinion as well.
“Brrt!” Annie lifted her left paw.
“This one?” Lauren indicated the fawn and plum combination.
“Brrt!” Yes.
“I think you’re right.” Lauren smiled. Zoe had told her a while ago that plum looked good with her light brown hair with hints of natural gold, and the sweater skimmed her curves nicely. The outfit wasn’t too dressy but not too casual, either.
“What do you think?” Zoe barged into the bedroom and twirled.
“Zoe!” Lauren didn’t know whether to laugh.
Her cousin wore jeans, and a green and purple sweater.
“I decided we should go hiking.” Zoe’s brown eyes sparkled. “After we have burgers at Gary’s.”
“Good choice.” Lauren nodded.
“I think Mitch should have told you what he had in mind for today, so you could dress appropriately.”
“I think this outfit covers most options.” She pointed at the fawn slacks and plum sweater. “Annie seems to think it’s what I should wear.”
“Good eye, Annie.” Zoe winked at the silver-gray tabby. “Hey, if you and Mitch go out, you could set up Annie’s play date with Toby before you leave.”
“Just what I was thinking.” Lauren smiled. “Would you like that, Annie?”
“Brrt!” Yes!
Lauren finished getting ready, half listening to Zoe muse about which part of the Tahoe National Park she wanted to explore, and wondering what Mitch had in mind for today. She didn’t really care, as long as they spent some time together. Did he feel the same way?
The doorbell rang.
“I wonder if that’s Chris – or Mitch?” Zoe zoomed to the front door.
“Hi, Chris.”
Lauren smiled as she heard the pleasure in her cousin’s voice.
“Yes, I’m ready,” she heard Zoe say.
Zoe poked her head back in Lauren’s bedroom. “I’m going now. You two have fun!”
“You too.”
“Brrt!”
Lauren heard the front door slam.
“Mitch should be here soon,” she told Annie, wondering why he hadn’t arrived with Chris, since they were currently roommates.
Lauren sat on the bed and gathered Annie in her arms. They just cuddled together, enjoying the closeness and the silence of the house for a few minutes.
The doorbell rang.
“That must be Mitch.” Lauren gently placed Annie on the bed.
Annie hopped down and followed Lauren.
“Hi.” Lauren opened the front door.
“Hi.” Mitch smiled at her. Dressed in jeans and a blue sweater, his good looks made her heart flutter.
He held out a large bag. “I thought we could have lunch here. I brought everything we need, including that Zinfandel you liked from the local winery.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“Brrt!” Annie agreed.