Lacuna ¹

29

Monday morning rolled around, much to everyone's distaste. Charlie and Amélie woke up as they usually did in the early hours of the morning. Both preparing for the coming day with Charlie holding a large cup of coffee to match with his heavy breakfast of eggs, bacon and french toast while Amélie had a large mug of tea in her hand with one of her homemade croissants in the other. Charlie dressed in his usual navy blue police clothing will all his walkie-talkies and tazers strapped to him. While Amélie wore a simple white dress shirt underneath a short green cardigan with a matching white tennis skirt pairing it with her usual white converse - that she desperately needed a new pair of.

It was around seven thirty when the sound of thunderous footsteps echoed from the rickety room that was above the kitchen. Charlie chuckled, knowing it was Bella being her unorganised self. The footsteps became more desperate as they travelled from up and down the upstairs hallway, most likely running from the bathroom and then to her bedroom before going back, most likely forgetting something. It wasn't long before Bella came tripping down the staircase, almost falling flat on her face but luckily she had caught herself before embedding her face into the wooden floors. Charlie went over to assist her off the floor. She groaned as she got up with Charlie's help, much to her prides disgust.

"Thanks, Char- Dad," Bella corrected herself as well as giving the older man a somewhat strained smile.

Charlie nodded. "Sure, kid, Amélie made breakfast."

Bella could only roll her eyes. "You mean a non-vegan friendly breakfast?"

"I actually managed to get down to the store this morning!" Amélie sent her beloved sweet smile towards her. "I managed to pick up a few vegan friendly options for you! I felt so bad about last night that I made you breakfast and lunch for school!" Amélie got up from the kitchen table and took the two trays out of the oven carefully with an oven mit. She placed them in there to keep them warm for Bella until she was finally awake to eat them. "I made you vegan scones and vegan muffins! I also got some more fruits and nuts for other meals or for some snacks for you during the day."

Bella's eyes were wide, and her mouth was open wide, although she recovered quickly, a small scowl overshadowing her face. "I don't like scones or muffins."

"Oh," Amélie muttered in disappointment, upset that this was the second time that Bella had turned down her cooking, although the first time she was completely understandable, but now she was just disappointed.

Noticing how deflated his niece was from her usual happy self made Charlie frown and decide to pipe in. "I will take a few with me, I'm sure me and the team will be happy to taste some of your baking Amélie."

Amélie perked up a small bit. She carefully placed five scones and five muffins from each tray into a large tubberware box before handing it to Charlie. A smile crawled back up her face, and her smile put Charlie at ease. One of his own smiles covered his face, but once he noticed the time, his smile fell.

"I'm sorry, girls, I have to get to work. We will have dinner at the diner tonight. Have a good day Amélie," he spoke in a hurried voice as he leaned over and kissed Amélie on the forehead before then moving to Bella to do the same only for her to swerve away. Charlie felt a pang of hurt shoot through him. He whispered a simple "Have a good first day, Bells."

To which Bella only responded with a nod.

"Buona giornata! Ti amo (Have a good day! Love you!)" Amélie raised her voice so the large man could hear her from the front door.

Charlie chuckled, loud enough to be heard from the front door of the Swan House. "Anch'io ti amo.. (Love you too..)"

Once the front door had closed, the two girls were now left in the awkward silence of an empty house. Amélie busied herself with cleaning away her breakfast dishes before then packing up the rest of the muffins and scones. When she turned back around, she noticed Bella was no longer in the kitchen or in the house for that matter. When Amélie heard the familiar sound of the rickety old truck start up, she quickly grabbed her things and rushed out the door and towards Bella in the truck.