she said.
“I’ll get right on that. I’ll make you a tray and bring it to you,” said the small person as she leaped out of the fireplace and onto the floor.
“You live in the fireplace?” she asked.
“Yes, the hearth is the heart of the home. Kobold always live in the hearth,” she said in a deeper voice than Laura had expected in such a small being.
“Thank you for all your hard work on the house. It truly is beautiful. I’m thrilled that you decided to stay,” said Laura, wanting to make sure Lola knew she was wanted and appreciated. At least she thought this must be Lola. She was only about three and a half feet tall and very thin. She seemed to appreciate the wheelchair height counters. All of the tools that made working around a kitchen easier for a handicapped person also helped the diminutive Lola. Her Kobold heritage was obvious with her pale skin, dark blonde hair, and slim childlike features. Her blue eyes stood out and were very pretty. The clothing she wore was plain and serviceable.
Happy that Lola was happy she turned to leave. “I’ll be in the office with Mara,” she said.
Lola smiled, “I’ll have your snack in two shakes,” she said as she bustled back and forth.
Laura thanked her and sped off down the hall. She hoped Mara agreed with her own choice for a therapist. When she got to the office, Mara was already there hanging up her cell phone.
“Where did you go? I thought for sure you’d get here before me?” she said.
“I stopped in the kitchen for a snack.”
Mara didn’t see a snack; she assumed Laura had eaten it in the kitchen. “That was Marshall; Alexander Marasov is coming in a couple of days to meet you. He’ll probably be here Saturday or Sunday.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Laura wanted to know.
“It could go either way. In this instance I think it’s a good thing. Don’t worry, there’s time,” she said.
“Time for what?” Laura wanted to know.
“Time before the council will be forced to decide your fate. Let’s not worry about that now. Show me the files on the physical therapists. I think I know someone who would be perfect for you, I want to see if she’s on your list,” Mara said, changing the subject. She didn’t want Laura to dwell on the possibility that her days could be numbered—in single digits.
Laura turned on the computer and put up the information on each therapist on the monitor. The two of them had read through two files and were halfway through the third when Lola entered the office carrying a tray. There was a pitcher of milk and two glasses. Cored, peeled, and sliced apples, just as she’d asked. And then there were also slices of cheddar cheese, a bowl of shelled peanuts and a small dish of cubed and salted avocado. Putting the tray down on the desk, she pulled a box of toothpicks out of her pocket and placed them next to the two small plates beside the dish of avocado.
Laura was impressed. “This is great! Thank you, Lola!” she said. Lola smiled and quickly left the room.
Turning to Mara, she was surprised to see her grinning. Then she started laughing. Laura just stared at her, she didn’t know what had happened to make Mara so happy all of a sudden.
“What?” Laura asked, smiling back at her friend, she couldn’t help it; Mara’s happiness was so contagious. She absently picked up an apple slice and a piece of cheese, popping them into her mouth.
“You saw, Lola,” she said.
“Of course I saw, Lola, she was right there,” Laura said after she swallowed. She picked up a glass and poured herself some milk, she really was hungry again, it was unusual.
“You didn’t see her last night. Don’t you see what this means? You have magic in you! You wouldn’t have been able to see her if you were all human. It means we can keep you!” Mara said even as she wondered to herself what had changed. How did Laura suddenly get magic?
It finally clicked with Laura and she understood what Mara was
“I’ll get right on that. I’ll make you a tray and bring it to you,” said the small person as she leaped out of the fireplace and onto the floor.
“You live in the fireplace?” she asked.
“Yes, the hearth is the heart of the home. Kobold always live in the hearth,” she said in a deeper voice than Laura had expected in such a small being.
“Thank you for all your hard work on the house. It truly is beautiful. I’m thrilled that you decided to stay,” said Laura, wanting to make sure Lola knew she was wanted and appreciated. At least she thought this must be Lola. She was only about three and a half feet tall and very thin. She seemed to appreciate the wheelchair height counters. All of the tools that made working around a kitchen easier for a handicapped person also helped the diminutive Lola. Her Kobold heritage was obvious with her pale skin, dark blonde hair, and slim childlike features. Her blue eyes stood out and were very pretty. The clothing she wore was plain and serviceable.
Happy that Lola was happy she turned to leave. “I’ll be in the office with Mara,” she said.
Lola smiled, “I’ll have your snack in two shakes,” she said as she bustled back and forth.
Laura thanked her and sped off down the hall. She hoped Mara agreed with her own choice for a therapist. When she got to the office, Mara was already there hanging up her cell phone.
“Where did you go? I thought for sure you’d get here before me?” she said.
“I stopped in the kitchen for a snack.”
Mara didn’t see a snack; she assumed Laura had eaten it in the kitchen. “That was Marshall; Alexander Marasov is coming in a couple of days to meet you. He’ll probably be here Saturday or Sunday.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Laura wanted to know.
“It could go either way. In this instance I think it’s a good thing. Don’t worry, there’s time,” she said.
“Time for what?” Laura wanted to know.
“Time before the council will be forced to decide your fate. Let’s not worry about that now. Show me the files on the physical therapists. I think I know someone who would be perfect for you, I want to see if she’s on your list,” Mara said, changing the subject. She didn’t want Laura to dwell on the possibility that her days could be numbered—in single digits.
Laura turned on the computer and put up the information on each therapist on the monitor. The two of them had read through two files and were halfway through the third when Lola entered the office carrying a tray. There was a pitcher of milk and two glasses. Cored, peeled, and sliced apples, just as she’d asked. And then there were also slices of cheddar cheese, a bowl of shelled peanuts and a small dish of cubed and salted avocado. Putting the tray down on the desk, she pulled a box of toothpicks out of her pocket and placed them next to the two small plates beside the dish of avocado.
Laura was impressed. “This is great! Thank you, Lola!” she said. Lola smiled and quickly left the room.
Turning to Mara, she was surprised to see her grinning. Then she started laughing. Laura just stared at her, she didn’t know what had happened to make Mara so happy all of a sudden.
“What?” Laura asked, smiling back at her friend, she couldn’t help it; Mara’s happiness was so contagious. She absently picked up an apple slice and a piece of cheese, popping them into her mouth.
“You saw, Lola,” she said.
“Of course I saw, Lola, she was right there,” Laura said after she swallowed. She picked up a glass and poured herself some milk, she really was hungry again, it was unusual.
“You didn’t see her last night. Don’t you see what this means? You have magic in you! You wouldn’t have been able to see her if you were all human. It means we can keep you!” Mara said even as she wondered to herself what had changed. How did Laura suddenly get magic?
It finally clicked with Laura and she understood what Mara was
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