A/N: Bella and Renee, because I was thinking of my mom and all she does for me. :-)
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Bella sat at the kitchen table, chin resting on her hands, watching the timer on the oven count down from one minute.
Almost time, she thought.
The smell of sweet fruit and brown sugar filled the cozy kitchen, enveloping her like a warm hug. It was one of the highlights of coming home for summer break: hanging out in the kitchen, watching her mom, Renee, bustle around, spoiling Bella by baking her favorite dessert—blackberry crumble.
They had gathered the berries that very morning from the back of the garden. Bella washed, sugared and spread the plump berries in the baking dish, while Renee prepared the simple crumble topping of butter, flour and sugar.
Once it was in the oven, Renee scurried around the kitchen, cleaning up the prep dishes while Bella sat at the table and watched. She always offered to help, but Renee would just shush her, direct her to the table and tell her to relax. Knowing that Renee never took "no" for an answer, Bella complied and contented herself with sitting at the table and enjoying the warmth and coziness of her childhood kitchen.
The timer went off, drawing Bella from her daydreams. Renee pulled the pan from the oven and placed it on the counter to cool. Bella stood and walked to the stove, grabbing the teakettle and filling it with water from the sink. While waiting for the water to boil, she retrieved her two favorite china tea cups from the cupboard, as well as two PG Tips teabags and two generously-sized bowls. Renee supplied the milk, sugar, utensils and napkins; a simple arrangement of white Shasta daisies in a crystal vase already graced the table. Their ritual was almost complete.
Inhaling deeply, Bella watched as Renee sliced into the warm crumble, carefully spooning each serving into the bowl. Bella had the final honor of scooping a generous portion of vanilla bean ice cream on top of each slice of crumble, her mouth watering as she watched the ice cream melt and mingle with the dark purple of the blackberries.
Mother and daughter took their bowls to the kitchen table, sitting down together to reconnect over tea and blackberry crumble.
"Mmmmm," they moaned in unison after taking that first bite, licking crumbs and blackberry and ice cream from their lips and smiling contentedly. Two hands reached out to find each other.
"I love you, Mom," Bella said.
"I love you too, sweetheart," answered Renee.