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Tea
"I love your scones", Esme mumbled, her cheeks bulging as she munched the last bite of the Irish treat.
Lena smiled, "Well, thank you. I'm glad."
Quiet music was playing in Lena's softly lit penthouse. Esme was sitting on a bar stool while Lena was preparing tea.
"You drink a lot of tea", the girl mused, looking questioningly at Lena who finished steeping the tea and turned.
"I do indeed", she chuckled. "It's something I learned from my mother when I was about your age", she finished with a wistful smile.
Esme perked up, "Really? That long ago?"
Lena let out a little snort, "Yeah, it was a long time ago. … In another life", she added in a whisper.
But Esme had heard. "Huh? Another life?"
When Lena didn't answer, she said, "Aunty Lena?"
Hearing her goddaughter call her by that name, made Lena emerge from her thoughts, "Sorry, sweety. What did you say?"
"You said 'another life'. What does that mean?" the girl asked.
Lena exhaled, "Well, I just meant it was so long ago and I was thinking back about how my mother would often make me tea and scones to cheer me up or when it was cold outside."
Esme considered this, "Like you are doing for me now?"
Lena blinked, her heartbeat accelerating and smiled. "Yes", she breathed, leaning across the countertop to caress Esme's cheek.
Suddenly, the timer for the tea broke through the silence and Lena busied herself with pouring two mugs.
"Should we sit on the sofa? It's more comfortable, isn't it?" she asked Esme.
Instantly, the child slid off her stool, scampered over and curled up in her favorite corner of the couch. Lena followed with a smile and set the mugs down on the coffee table before reclining on the sofa herself. Esme immediately snuggled up to her and Lena put her arms around the little girl, closing her eyes in a silent 'thank you'.
"Does your mom still make you tea and scones sometimes?" Esme asked quietly.
Lena's heart clenched and she hesitated for a moment.
"No, not anymore", she whispered, stroking Esme's hair.
"Why not?"
Lena had feared this. Esme was a curious and clever child but also sensitive. That's why Lena was not sure how much she should tell her. But when Esme raised her head and gently poked Lena in the side, "Aunty Lena?" Lena made her decision.
"My mom is not around anymore, sweety. She died when I was very young", Lena said gently.
Esme sat up and looked at Lena, surprise and compassion written across her face. "I'm sorry. That's really sad", she mumbled, hanging her head.
Lena put her hand under Esme's chin and lifted up her head to look her in the eyes. "Thank you", she smiled, "It is really sad, yes, but, like you, I got a new family."
Esme nodded but looked confused, "And your new mom never made you tea and scones to make you feel better when you were sad?"
Lena snorted slightly, imagining that scenario. "No, she didn't. … My family weren't such nice people and they didn't like where I came from", she said.
"Oh", Esme frowned, "That's not nice. It's not your fault you have magic."
Surprised, Lena marvelled at Esme's powers of deduction – even if her magic was not what she'd been referring to.
"No, that was not nice but they did what they thought was right. And", she gave a radiant smile, "only because I lived with them, we are now both part of the same great family who loves us just as we are."
Esme grinned, "Yeah!"
Lena embraced her goddaughter, kissing her head and whispering, "I love you, sweety."
And Esme put her arms around Lena's midsection and mumbled, "I love you, too, Aunty Lena."
Lena glanced at the still steaming mugs on the table and smiled.
"Tea helps heal the soul", she heard her mother's words echo from the depths of her memory.
