The End of the Littlest One [Completed]

3. From Nicoletta to Olivia

My dearest Liv,

You're right, it was my mom! I genuinely thought it was my dad, my fault. She got so mad when we stole all that candy from the kitchen. The weird thing is, I can't believe we ever did such a thing. Or at least that I did such a thing. I've become way less courageous as time has passed.

We've changed so much over the years when I think about it, don't you think? You've become so much more mature. You have a job, a home, and a personality outside of being a part of your family. I'm so incredibly proud of you. I genuinely am.

I might be a little jealous. You didn't hear that from me, though.

On another note, I loved the music you sent with your last letter. I played all three on the piano and already memorized one! The maids enjoyed listening while I was playing. They weren't surprised when I told them you were the one to send me the sheet music. I wonder, where did you get your fine taste in music?

I remember you having an interest in music for as long as I can remember. However, your mom isn't really musical, is she? How about your dad?

Wherever, or from whoever, you got it from, I'm glad you did. Have you ever considered learning an instrument yourself? You keep sending me all kinds of marvelous sheet music; however, you can't play yourself. How do you know whether it's good music or not? Do you just imagine what it would sound like?

If so, that's quite impressive. It would be a talent on his own.

I'm sure the inn has a piano or a violin available. Maybe play around with it someday. I wonder if you like it. Tell me if you do.

Because you sent me something extra, I decided to send you something extra as well. With this letter you will find some recipes. We recently got a new cook, and he is absolutely amazing. I swear, his desserts are made by some sort of god. Combine those skills with freshly harvested fruit... chef's kiss.

Not his actual kiss, of course. That would result into some rather unhygienic desserts. Father wouldn't approve of that. Not even as a joke.

I asked him if he would mind sharing his secrets, and he agreed to share some of them. The chef, not father. I included his best dishes (according to him) in the envelope. Maybe you could try them out and perhaps even put some on the menu at the inn? I'd love to hear what you did with them.

I would have loved for the new cook to cook the cake for my birthday some weeks ago. Sadly, he wasn't at our service yet. It's a shame. Hopefully, he'll still work here next year.

Speaking of my birthday, thank you for the gift you sent! I was so confused when you asked about it in your last letter. You asked me what I thought about it, and whether I liked it. I was so confused at first, because I had received nothing but that letter.

But then, a couple of days ago when writing this, a packet arrived! Your letter finally made sense. I had already written my next letter asking what you meant, but now I got it. You're reading the rewritten version.

To answer your question: I loved your present. At first, I was a little down considering you couldn't make it to the party. This totally made up for it, though.

The same afternoon of the package-receival, that bag of candy you included magically disappeared... Two days later, the bread had also been eaten. I gave Arthur a piece of that too. It's not like I ate the entire thing by myself. I would need to be at least fifty years old, in order to allow myself to do that.

I gave the included cake recipe to the new cook and he's making it as soon as he gets his hands on the ingredients! I'll tell you how it turned out in a next letter. When I handed him the recipe, he said he had never seen such a recipe for cake. He was confused by the number of eggs, but was interested in trying it nonetheless.

I promised him a piece when he would finish it.

Anyway, enough about me. What's going on with you? You mentioned you moved into the inn. How's that? Must be nice to live at the place you work. That's one of the reasons you moved, right? No more commuting time. How's your mom taking it? She must hate not having you around. Make sure you visit her often!

I'd love to hear what you think about the recipes I included.

With love,

Nicole