Baked Goods

17. lord of the land

1 7

It was already August. To me, it seemed like summer was flying by. Nana, however, couldn't wait for colder days. The only winter month I liked was December but even that up until Christmas. Since the sunny day put me in the better mood, I got up and decided to make breakfast.

Nana was still in bed because Mr Darlington had accidentally pushed her too hard in their self-defense class. She wasn't harmed or anything but she liked to milk it for as long as possible. The Darlington's were the kind of people who had wealth and used it for good. Last year, they'd donated about a hundred thousand quid to build a bridge next to the Lemonberry pond. Now, Mr Darlington had sent flower bouquets, food hampers and cute 'I'm sorry [insert funny joke here]!" cards to Nana for the past few days.

I reckoned I'd been giving Nana a hard time as well with the sulking and not doing my chores properly. So, after making my bed and opening the back door to let in fresh air, I decided to make her the proper English breakfast with bacon, sausages, eggs, baked beans, tomatoes and mushrooms, toast, and tea.

We did not have black pudding but that was okay.

She was just about to get out of bed when I burst in, tray in one hand. Nana looked a little cross as she stared at her phone in disdain before putting it away. I suppose one of her classes must have been cancelled. Or maybe someone had died yet again. Still, it did not deter me and I continued forward until she noticed.

"Oh, dear."

Oh dear indeed.

"This looks lovely," she smiled, taking the tray and putting it on the bed before she smothered me with hugs and kisses.

I liked it very much but the breakfast was getting cold.

"Eat it all, Nana."

"I will," she promised.

I watched her just in case.

"So," she began once the breakfast was finished. "I got a call this morning."

My heart dropped to my bum and I tried to think of all the people I loved who could have died. There were too many to count but David Attenborough came on top. I teared up immediately.

No.

Please no.

"David Attenborough is well and alive," Nana hastily added.

I breathed a sigh of relief before looking at her expectantly.

"Amanda is coming over today."

Oh.

Oh.

"Mum is visiting?" I asked excitedly. "Is it because it's my birthday next week? Oh my—"

"Dear," Nana looked at me seriously, widening her eyes, "you still haven't told me what you'd like!"

"I have thought about it really hard," I told her solemnly before taking a deep breath, "and I'd like a gumball machine."

We shook hands and got up from the bed. Visits from mum always left Nana in a terribly sour mood so although I knew she'd deliberately changed the subject, I didn't call her out on it. Even I was a bit skeptical as to why mum was suddenly paying a visit. The last time she'd come was when grandpa had passed away. Nana and my mum had a big fight that night and mum had gone back to London in tears.

Nana had said to her that grandpa had been disappointed in her life choices up until his very last breath. Ellis and I were eavesdropping and we were both so horrified, we'd forgotten how to breathe for a good few moments.