It's us {Dani and Jamie}

Sharing is Caring

11

- Dani -

It was a lovely day for a picnic. A classic blue sky, white cloud, green grass kind of day.

The au pair and the children sat on a blanket on the edge of the lake, breathing in the soft sunlight.

"I bet you can't catch this blueberry in your mouth," Miles teased Dani, raising it dangerously between his fingertips.

She opened her mouth wide in protest. The berry flew. It missed.

"Ha ha!" Said Miles, "I was right."

"That was a terrible throw, give me a second chance."

"Miss Clayton!" Flora scolded, placing her teacup back on it's dainty plate, "This is a distinguished outing, where are your manners?"

She closed the gaping hole her mouth had made, smiling, "Sorry Flora. What do good girls do at tea parties?"

"They say, 'pass the tea please, Flora.'"

"Alright, pass the tea please, Flora."
   
They passed the miniature pot from the toy tea set between them, using proper manners, of course.

"There we are," Flora smiled, "That was perfectly splendid, good work."

They sipped their tea and listened to the birds for a moment before a voice interrupted their peace.

"Oi!" Said the gardener, stepping closer from a distance, "What's all this, then?"

"Apparently it's a 'distinguished outing'" Miles replied, "But I wasn't informed so I wore my shirt with the stains on it."

Flora gasped accusingly in his direction.

Dani shielded her eyes from the sun, looking up at the newcomer, "Care for a cookie? They're fresh," Jamie narrowed her eyes suspiciously before Dani sighed, "Owen made them, don't worry."

She smiled, "Then of course I'll take one."

"But she wasn't invited to the tea party." Flora protested.

Dani frowned, "That doesn't mean we can't share."

"Yes it does."

"Flora," She scolded, "Let's be nice."

The girl furrowed her brows, snatching the cookie from her hand, "Owen made them for us not her."

Both women widened their eyes. Miles chuckled under his breath.

"Flora." Dani said, hardening her voice, "This is not how we treat our friends."

She stood up suddenly, seeming taller than four feet somehow, "She's NOT my friend."
Dani's mouth fell, but no words came out.
"She can't have our cookies, they're for us. Me and you, Miss Clayton, she doesn't want Jamie to have any cookies."

"Who?" Miles inquired.

His sister spun around to face him with impatient, wild eyes, "MY IMAGINARY FRIEND."

The three of them watched the little girl stomp away, tin of cookies dangling from her fingertips.

"Woah." Jamie said after a moment, eyes sadder than Dani had ever seen them. She began walking away, murmuring under her breath, "Woah..."

The au pair sighed standing up to follow, "Miles, go after your sister, tell her we need to have a talk when I get inside."

The boy nodded, brows still raised in surprise from the outburst.

"Jamie," Dani cried, walking quickly to catch up, snatching her hand to stop her, "Jamie wait."

"What, Dani?" She grumbled, not meeting her eyes.

"I'm so sorry about that, I don't know what's gotten into her lately, I -"

"You know what?" Jamie sighed.

"What?"

"I think it's time somebody talked to that girl about her 'imaginary friend'."

Dani frowned and nodded, releasing her hand, "I think you might be right..."