Chapter 11

** Bella-Rose POV**

Nana doesn't go with the petty route of calling me 'fifibel'- thank god! No, my nana has class (please don't tell this to mom), she behaves as if Queen Elizabeth took tutoring classes from her. All elegant and poised which makes you feel two-inch tall...that's nana for you. She normally arrives at the bakery after the breakfast crowd leaves, which would be around now.

I went in search of my nana in the place where she is normally found-her office. You would think, a woman who is the owner of a bakery and whose soul resides in its legacy would be found in the kitchen. Nope. That place is limited to us minions. Nana doesn't sully her hands with menial work; her words. I sauntered to her office, tried to stop the shiver in my hands, gave up, tapped on the door, and waited for her command. Once I heard her dismissal 'come in', I entered her inner sanctum with

Nana's office is a small cubicle with a desk and 3 chairs placed at one corner of the room with a few steps of walking space. Her desk is covered with ledgers and my nana insists she needs to maintain this place. Technology and Nana are like those distant cousins who do nothing but nod at each other when met. In simple words, Nana knows nothing about it and she is too proud to acknowledge that fact. And I will let you know about the opinion of technology when it gets its conscience.

Nana raises her head from whatever she is scanning through her laser eyes. As we are on sign languages these days, she arches her eyebrow as an inquiry. Instead of replying in her language I stoop low and say, ' that look doesn't suit you'. Yes, I said that. I'm petty, deal with it.

She folds her hands and stands to intimidate me. Ohkkk, it's working. Before she can add any more penalty to my punishment, I split out, 'look nana, I get it. I should have answered sooner that day'.

At her pointed look, 'ok, ok, I should have said it was you. So that no doubt remains. Not that there was ever a doubt. Nil. Nada. Only, I should have confirmed it. That too before mom', I started the process of buttering the bread aka nana. Step 1: dip the table knife in the butter.

At her angry glare, I rushed on, 'it's not like I was the only one who wouldn't decide the side they want to be with. Dad and Scott do too. Especially Scott. He plays you guys like a violin and goes Scott-free. You never hand out any punishment to him'. Nana's gaze intensifies that says- quit stalling and come to the point. Step 2: Take a chunk out of butter bar (what! A girl has to eat).

'What I want to say is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry nana. Won't you forgive your one and only favorite granddaughter in the entire whole world for making a teeny-tiny mistake?', I added a touch of puppy eyes at her. Tears are way out of my league but a good puppy-eyes I can do any day. I blinked twice for the added effect. Step 3: lather the bread with butter, over and over and over again.

Nana snorted at my attempt at acting., clearly indicating what she thought of that. No one does better than mom I say. Should have asked her for training. End Result of all that buttering: the bread crumbled and fell apart.

'Ok nana, here's the deal', I said, all the pretense of obedience gone.

'Either you lift up my punishment or-', I waited a minute for a dramatic effect, 'or from now on I will call you grandma Georgie', I laid the deal on the table with my hands folded in front of me, ready to wrestle her if it comes to it.

'You wouldn't', Nana sounded shocked.

'Try me. I'm fed up with you guys dragging me into your mock battles. This week was too brutal for my taste. First with mom calling relentlessly 'fifibel' in front of my neighbors and then you giving me the silent treatment as if you have landed a role in a silent movie and couldn't stop practicing', I rant my frustrations. Ya...I dug deep.

'Olivia tried the 'fifibel' tactic! I should have known. I tell you; your mom is a single-track horse. Never falters from 'fifibel', though it works every time', Nana said, admiring the enemy’s tactics, animosity forgotten for now.

'Next time, maybe I should try it', she continued deep in thought...and planning ahead to apply said tactics in the future battles. What she is planning about, I don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss. And I thrive in my bliss.

'Ha! I knew it. You praised mom just now', I said clapping my hands and halting nana's musings.

'No, I didn't', nana replied stubbornly, her hands on her hips.

'You just did', I said in between Na-na-na-boo-boo tunes. Mature, that's moi.

'I didn't and you can't prove it to her. You will see me becoming a nun rather than praise that peeled beetroot', nana threw that statement in a haughty tone. If concentrated a gong bell sound can be heard somewhere in the background.

I snorted imagining nana in a nun habit. Surprisingly, I can imagine myself in one but not nana (pathetic, I know). Growing up (I believe with all my heart, that I still am growing, in which direction is a different perspective), nana was never without a boyfriend. So, it's kinda hard to picture her in this new scenario. 'A nun? And you? Your number of boyfriends is bigger than my age and you are talking about becoming a nun?' I laughed outright, not withholding anything, at her.

'Pst... it shows the experience of a young lady. It's like a journey. Each one gives a different experience. Some experiences are meant to be gone through quickly and some are meant to be savored. Anyways, a lady never kisses and tell'

'TMI nana. TMI. Please trust me, I'm the last person who wants to know about her 74-year-old nana's love life'.

'Well...you are the one who started that topic. I thought you wanted to gain some knowledge'

'This kind of knowledge, I could do without. Anyways, we are good, right?', I asked her because jokes apart, a day without talking to nana is not a day spent well.

'We are...for now', nana said with a flair.

'Oh, hush. Stop copying mom's dramatics'

'Why, I would never!'

I covered the distance between us and gave her a tight hug. 'I missed you, Nana', I said into her shoulder.

Nana stroked my back gently. 'Oh honey, it was just a bit of fun thing'.

'I know, but...I don't like spending my day without talking to you'.

'Now young lady, what will happen when your nana is no more?'

'Stop that tongue right there. No one is going anywhere. I won't let you. You hear that?', I hugged her tighter to convey my feelings.

'Sooner or later, you need to adjust to this fact honey. Everyone gets to die. I'm not getting any young you know', nana replied thoughtfully.

'No more talk of that. I won't hear it. From now on no depressive talks are allowed. Now let's gobble up some of that cake I made. It's a new recipe', I took her hand and led her to the kitchen.

'Oh bells, I fear for the day your blindfolds are removed', nana mutters evasively.

'What are you mumbling about nana? The cake is waiting for us. Come on'