"That's really weird. My mommy makes it the opposite way," Joy frowned.
"That is true, your grandpappy makes his tea in a strange way, but not everyone is the same. We all have different ways of doing things, but that does not make the end product any less worse or better than the other," Margaret replied.
"Hmm, okay, I think it does, but okay," Joy said.
Margaret laughed. If Joy getting taller and her hair getting longer did not signal to them that she was getting older. Her sharp tongue and the way she expressed herself would definitely remind them of it.
Margaret remembered the time when Joy could barely speak, she could not even walk. She used to crawl everywhere in her diapers. Those times were the most cute of them all. Every stage of a child's life was different, but it did not make it any easier than the last.
She should know. She had raised two children of her own coupled with three others that were adopted, and now she was a witness to how her granddaughter was being raised and she was very grateful for that opportunity.
Joy added the cold milk to half of the teacup.
"Good, and now I will pour the hot water because I don't want you to get hurt," Margaret said holding the kettle. She poured the water into the teacup.
"Okay, now can I stir it?" Joy asked.
Margaret smiled and nodded. Joy did not need any other signal. She picked up the teaspoon and began to stir it gently as the teacup was nearly full.
"And we are done?" Joy asked.
"Yes, just leave the teabags in. Your grandpappy loves them to remain inside so it thickens the brew," Margaret said.
"Okay, now I know how to make grandpappy's tea. Yayyy!!!" Joy celebrated.
Margaret laughed, "That is true. Come, let us serve it to him.".
Margaret carried Joy off the counter. She placed the teacup on a tray along with some biscuits and then Joy followed her out of the kitchen.
Ernest was busy scolding his son with his eyes. Unfortunately for him, Ernest Jr was used to his father's deathly stares. They did not affect him any longer, and over the years, he had gotten very good at keeping his poker face.
"Here is your tea grandpappy," Joy announced proudly as she ran and jumped onto the couch.
"How lovely," Ernest laughed.
"Your tea, father," Margaret smiled. She placed the tray on a little stool in front of him. It was his special stool that was used solely by him whenever he was over here, and that was very often.
"Thank you, my dear," Ernest smiled. He picked up the teacup with the teaspoon. He stirred his tea four times before taking a sip.
Joy watched in anticipation. She wondered if he would taste something different since someone else had prepared it.
Ernest paused. He narrowed his eyes and took another sip of the tea. This time he moved it around in his mouth from side to side.
"Is something wrong, father?" Margaret asked.
"Maggie, my dear... there is something odd about the taste of the tea. Did you use a different whole milk?" Ernest frowned.
"Not at all. I used the same old whole milk we always use," Margaret replied.
"Are you sure? There is something different about it," Ernest insisted.
Joy found it hard to try not to giggle. The confusion all over her grandpappy's face was very funny. Ernest Jr watching silently all their reactions had an idea of what was going on, and it made him laugh internally. His father deserved a change in his normal tea taste since he had been very unbearable lately.
"Well, I used the same blend of tea, the same whole milk, and it was prepared the same way," Margaret said.
"I have a feeling that it is different," Ernest frowned.
At this point, Joy could no longer contain her laughter. She burst out and laughed loudly.
"What is so funny, my dear?" Ernest turned to her confused.
"I made the tea grandpappy. I asked grandma if I could, and she said yes, so I made it the way you like it," she laughed.
"Really now?" Ernest asked and Joy nodded while still laughing.
"Oh, no wonder it tastes different. It is filled with the innocence and laughter of a child. That is why the taste is so distinct," Ernest chuckled.
He was about to get upset that his tea was not prepared the way he liked it, but after hearing that it was his beloved great granddaughter that had prepared it, his heart softened and he found himself able to bear the horrible taste because he knew she did it out of the goodness of her heart.
"You really like it, grandpappy?" Joy asked.
"More than like it, I love it," he smiled.
Although that was far from the truth, why would he break his beloved great granddaughter's heart? He took another sip and smiled.
Ernest Jr could almost not contain his laughter. He could see the way his father's eyes bulged out every time he took a sip and although tried to cover it up by smiling, he could see it clearly. His father was hating every taste of the tea, but he would not say it.
Ernest Jr felt the gaze of his wife on him. He ignored it, he knew that she was frowning at him.
Ernest Jr chuckled. This was one of the many things that surrounded having your great grandchild around. It was normal for children to want to do something for the people they love, and they were still children and rarely did everything perfect. However, it was the thought that counted the most.
"I am going to finish preparing breakfast," Margaret said.
"Let me help you, grandma," Joy smiled.
Margaret was happy now that she had an eager, little helper.
As soon as Margaret and Joy left the living room. Ernest placed the teacup down on the tray and coughed silently.
Ernest Jr let out an audible chuckle. His father turned his way and shot him a nasty glare.
"What do you think you are laughing at?" he scoffed.
"I am laughing at you deceit. I thought you taught all of us never to lie no matter the situation?" he sneered.
"Be quiet junior. This is different. There is a difference between lying and sparing your lovely great granddaughter's feelings. Do not act all innocent, you did the same thing when Louise prepared you eggs when she was five, so be quiet!" Ernest replied.
One of the advantages of having your children have children and grandchildren meant they now had an experience of how hard parenting could be. Which resulted in them critcising your previous parental skills less.
"That's what I thought," Ernest scoffed. "Now, stand up you lazy boy and go and prepare me another cup of tea. A much better one.".
"I can't do that, they are in the kitchen," Ernest Jr replied.
"I know that, I am not dumb. Go to my house and prepare it, make sure to be quick before they return. Up, up, up now," Ernest pushed.
Ernest Jr sighed. At his age, being sent on errands by his father was not something he thought he would do. It just went to show that you could never outgrow your parents.
"Be quick, do not dally!".
"Yes, yes," Ernest Jr shook his head as the carried the teacup with the almost full tea in it. His father had barely drank anything, he just pretended he did.
Ernest Jr frowned. He should have never laughed, his father always had a
...
Natasha walked out of the bathroom. She had a change of clothes. Her hair was wet and she dried it with a towel. She was very careful not to accidentally wake up Lulu.
Lulu opened her eyes. Her first instinct was to look around the room. This was not her bedroom in Dom and Natasha's house, instead it was her childhood bedroom.
It was so welcoming and comforting. Somehow she had forgotten about all the stress of yesterday, and it was almost a shock to find herself in her old bedroom.
She looked around only to see Natasha drying her hair with a towel.
When Natasha's eyes met Lulu's sleepy ones, she smiled and Lulu smiled back.
"Good morning, my lovely," Natasha said.
"Good morning to the best sister-in-law in the world," Lulu replied getting out of bed.
Natasha laughed, "I didn't want to disturb you.".
"You could never disturb me. How was your night? I heard that you weren't feeling well yesterday?" Lulu asked.
"I felt terrible, so very terrible yesterday, truly I did, but now, I feel so much more better and it's thanks to you all for caring for me so much," Natasha smiled.
"What else is family for? We are always, always here for each other. It feels so nice to be back home, I slept like a log of wood," Lulu said as she and Natasha laughed.