head briefly. “Point well taken. All the more reason I should have invited you to dinner. But since I didn’t, the least I can do is share a few of our leftovers. I hope that’s not considered bad manners in England?” Her eyes sparkled even in the moonlight, accompanying her hopeful smile.
“Well, I . . . it’s not considered . . . but—”
“Good. Then I shall leave them with you. Just pop the Chicken Crescents in the microwave for about a minute. There’s also a Waldorf salad—apples, nuts, celery—and a couple of chess squares. I hope you like them. I’ll put this in the kitchen for you then you can eat whenever you like.”
With that, she disappeared inside the house. The audacity. She just walks in like she owns the place. These Yanks have a lot to learn about etiquette. Moments later she returned.
“It wasn’t necessary. You needn’t have bothered.” He tried to sound pleasant enough but somehow it didn’t come out that way.
She made her way to the top of the steps and began her descent. “Goodnight, Ian.”
He blinked, unsure what to make of her, what to say. She turned her head, casting one final smile before crossing the street.
Goodnight . . . Maddie.
Chapter 6
M addie lifted the kettle of hot water to fill the Spode teapot to warm it properly. Carefully sloshing the water inside before pouring it back out, she then measured the loose tea leaves into the infuser filling the air with a delightful aroma. Taking the kettle of gently boiling water again from the stove’s burner, she refilled the teapot.
“There. Now we’ll let it steep for six minutes then give it a try. Are you ready?”
Nana smiled, visibly happy to be Maddie’s guinea pig as she practiced her new skills. “Ready when you are.”
Maddie picked up one of the delicately painted teacups. “Aren’t these beautiful?”
“They truly are. Who could have known that my little hobby, collecting teacups from around the world, would some day come in handy for you like this?”
“Are you sure you’re okay with us using them? You know there’s a good chance a few might get chipped or broken.”
“Good heavens, yes. What good are they stored away in the attic or collecting dust around here? And a chip here and there only adds character—to teacups and old ladies,” she mused, pointing to her useless left arm.
“You’re a character, all right. I’ve known that my whole life,” Maddie teased.
“I’m only trying to keep up with you, young lady.” Nana laughed again, her crooked smile as enchanting as ever.
“I’ve got a couple dozen new ones on order from that little shop in Chawton. The place where I found that gorgeous cup and saucer I brought back with me?”
“I love the deep, rich shades of red on that one. Plus, you know I’m always partial to the ones with gold touches. It’s absolutely stunning.”
“Isn’t it though? Although the ones I’ve ordered are a variety—all different kinds. No two alike.”
“That makes each one so special.”
“Okay, okay, let’s get back to work here. Is your cup still warm? According to my research, the best ‘cuppa’ is one that is served in a warmed teacup.”
“Warmed and ready to go,” Nana obliged. “What flavor are we having today?”
“This is an English Breakfast Tea. Pour your cream first, Nana. That’s the proper way— before I pour the tea.”
“I know. I remember.” Nana poured a splash of cream into her cup then set the chilled creamer back on the table. “Hope we finish this before the workers get here. They’re like a bunch of bulls in a china shop.” She chuckled. “A real china shop, in this case.”
Nothing pleased Maddie more than the sound of her grandmother’s laughter. Coming from one who could have chosen never to laugh again, it was music to her ears. She checked her watch. “Six minutes exactly. Any longer and we risk a bitter tea. That’s because the longer it steeps, the better the chance for
“Well, I . . . it’s not considered . . . but—”
“Good. Then I shall leave them with you. Just pop the Chicken Crescents in the microwave for about a minute. There’s also a Waldorf salad—apples, nuts, celery—and a couple of chess squares. I hope you like them. I’ll put this in the kitchen for you then you can eat whenever you like.”
With that, she disappeared inside the house. The audacity. She just walks in like she owns the place. These Yanks have a lot to learn about etiquette. Moments later she returned.
“It wasn’t necessary. You needn’t have bothered.” He tried to sound pleasant enough but somehow it didn’t come out that way.
She made her way to the top of the steps and began her descent. “Goodnight, Ian.”
He blinked, unsure what to make of her, what to say. She turned her head, casting one final smile before crossing the street.
Goodnight . . . Maddie.
Chapter 6
M addie lifted the kettle of hot water to fill the Spode teapot to warm it properly. Carefully sloshing the water inside before pouring it back out, she then measured the loose tea leaves into the infuser filling the air with a delightful aroma. Taking the kettle of gently boiling water again from the stove’s burner, she refilled the teapot.
“There. Now we’ll let it steep for six minutes then give it a try. Are you ready?”
Nana smiled, visibly happy to be Maddie’s guinea pig as she practiced her new skills. “Ready when you are.”
Maddie picked up one of the delicately painted teacups. “Aren’t these beautiful?”
“They truly are. Who could have known that my little hobby, collecting teacups from around the world, would some day come in handy for you like this?”
“Are you sure you’re okay with us using them? You know there’s a good chance a few might get chipped or broken.”
“Good heavens, yes. What good are they stored away in the attic or collecting dust around here? And a chip here and there only adds character—to teacups and old ladies,” she mused, pointing to her useless left arm.
“You’re a character, all right. I’ve known that my whole life,” Maddie teased.
“I’m only trying to keep up with you, young lady.” Nana laughed again, her crooked smile as enchanting as ever.
“I’ve got a couple dozen new ones on order from that little shop in Chawton. The place where I found that gorgeous cup and saucer I brought back with me?”
“I love the deep, rich shades of red on that one. Plus, you know I’m always partial to the ones with gold touches. It’s absolutely stunning.”
“Isn’t it though? Although the ones I’ve ordered are a variety—all different kinds. No two alike.”
“That makes each one so special.”
“Okay, okay, let’s get back to work here. Is your cup still warm? According to my research, the best ‘cuppa’ is one that is served in a warmed teacup.”
“Warmed and ready to go,” Nana obliged. “What flavor are we having today?”
“This is an English Breakfast Tea. Pour your cream first, Nana. That’s the proper way— before I pour the tea.”
“I know. I remember.” Nana poured a splash of cream into her cup then set the chilled creamer back on the table. “Hope we finish this before the workers get here. They’re like a bunch of bulls in a china shop.” She chuckled. “A real china shop, in this case.”
Nothing pleased Maddie more than the sound of her grandmother’s laughter. Coming from one who could have chosen never to laugh again, it was music to her ears. She checked her watch. “Six minutes exactly. Any longer and we risk a bitter tea. That’s because the longer it steeps, the better the chance for
Similar Books
