Birthday cake
It was a chilly morning, but the sun was shining in through the window and giving them light at the breakfast table. They had all almost finished breakfast and Ann was starting to get impatient, her leg was unconsciously starting to jump, her foot tapping lightly against the oak boards. Anne threw her napkin on the table after wiping the corner of her full lips, and eyed the occupants at the table,
“Well, I’d better be off if I’m going to make it back in time for dinner.”
“Shall we set a place for you or not?” Marian enquired annoyed, knowing that her sister was always running late – not caring about the fact that they waited for her.
“We have had the same conversation for twenty years, Marian – just set the table and if I, against all odds, shouldn’t arrive on time – then take it off for God’s sake, it isn’t harder than that.”
“Anne you are so, so – obnoxious! You don’t care about-“ Marian began, her chest heaving up and down but she stopped when Ann put a hand on her arm, and said with a sweet smile,
“Don’t work yourself up over her, Marian – you cannot change her. And besides, if she’s not here then maybe we can invite Mr Jones who helped us so kindly when I tripped the other day in Halifax.”
They could see how Anne’s jaw tightened and her knuckles clench, and she looked sour indeed,
“I’ll be here on the dot. Don’t invite anyone else!”
“We’ll see about that.” Ann smiled up at the brunette who scowled,
“I think we might have a problem then.” Anne said seriously and the whole mood changed at the table and Marian were about to stand and defend the blonde against her irate sister. But Ann tilted her head,
“No, YOU, have a problem. I have an idiot who keeps getting into one.”
Marian had to mask her laughter with a cough and Aunt Anne began wheezing from laughing so hard but trying to hide it and Jeremy merely smiled into his porridge.
“Oh, I have… I’m an… that’s hilarious. We do have a problem though – and that’s inviting people I don’t know for dinner.”
Anne wouldn’t let it go and Ann merely smirked,
“You call it a problem, I call it a solution.”
“Ann, this is outrageous!” Anne growled, but Ann didn’t stand down she chinned up and stared directly into the dark, upset orbs belonging to Anne,
“It’s really not. If you are on time – that is to say 18 o’clock on the dot, we won’t invite him. Stop making such a fuss – you stare at that ridiculous pocket-watch all the time so I think you’ll manage that fine – unless you can’t tell time.”
“You are…”
“You better go now, Anne or you might not make it back in time.” Ann smirked pointing at the clock,
“Urgh.”
“Tick-tock.” Ann smiled and the woman glared at them before walking off and out of the house.
“I could just kiss you! How you handle her is amazing!” Marian laughed and Ann smirked at her,
“It’s not hard. She’s a real softie once you know her sore spots.”
“Who is that gentleman you talked about?” Aunt Anne asked with a quirked eyebrow and Marian and Ann looked at each other and began laughing,
“You know the man in church – who is really tall, muscular and brown-haired?” Marian asked and her aunt nodded,
“That’s the guy.”
“You don’t think, Anne will pick a fight with him?” Aunt Anne asked worriedly, and they shook their heads,
“She has too much to do. But she’ll be on time tonight for sure.”
“Now, I did have a reason to get her out of the house – it’s her birthday tomorrow and I thought we could do something for her.” Ann said excitedly but suddenly all eyes avoided hers, and she wrinkled her forehead in confusion,
“What?”
“Oh, eh, Anne doesn’t celebrate her birthdays anymore.” Marian told her with a half-smile,
“She gets mad at anyone who mentions it and has forbidden us to make any sort of fuss at all.” Aunt Anne agreed and Ann stared at them,
“You’re not serious?!”
“Unfortunately, we are. Don’t take it personally, Ann – she doesn’t do them and I’m afraid we all learned that the hard way. So, I’m not in.” Marian told her and Ann frowned,
“But…”
“I’m sorry, dear. I have promised to respect my nieces wishes on that account.” Aunt Anne told her with a sad smile and Ann bit her lip in thought,
“But I haven’t – so I’ll do it in any case. She deserves to be celebrated.”
“That she does but she loathes it. I’m not sure why – I think something went wrong once, on her birthday… a disappointment with… eh, the government.” Aunt Anne glanced at Marian with some trepidation – she didn’t know just how aware Ann was of Anne’s past.
“Then I’ll just make her associate it with good again and next year we can have a huge celebration.” Ann smiled positive about the thing the occupants around the table were not equally so.
“You’re on your own, I’m afraid. We have had enough of the Queen of rage.” Marian told her and Ann shrugged her shoulders,
“Oh I think it will be fine.”
Ann decided that every birthday needed a cake, so she went into the kitchen to ask Mrs. Cordingley and Hemingway to make one for the morrow. The women looked up and stopped whatever they were doing for a second, the talk died out too as always, Ann smiled nervously at them,
“I was just going to ask whether you could make a cake for tomorrow since it’s Anne’s birthday.”
“Eh, no ma’am.” Mrs. Cordingley stuttered and Ann frowned – had the servant just refused her request? That was a first.
“Why not?”
“Because um, the mistress has said that whoever makes a birthday cake for her again will be turned out without mercy.” Mrs. Cordingley replied, her cheeks flustered, and Ann sighed, of course Anne had threatened everyone in the household.
“Fine. I’ll make it. But I need you to show me how.” Ann told the woman who seemed surprised,
“I wouldn’t do it if I were you, Miss Walker. She becomes a dragon, and no one wants to be near then.”
“Ah, she’s not that dangerous. I’ll take her on if that’s the case. Will you show me how to make a cake?”
“Um, yes – of course, ma’am.”
“Good, thank you so much. I’ll be remembering this. Now, we need to do it whilst she is still out, so she doesn’t know.” Ann told the women and they nodded both a little weary about this whole operation since they both remembered the last time someone had tried to celebrate the mistress birthday.
Ann proved herself to be a diligent student, and she wasn’t afraid to get a little dirty – she did her absolute best during the instructions by the two women and produced something resembling a cake – it was quite horrendous and Ann laughed at the sight with Mrs. Cordingley and Hemingway,
“It’s truly singular.” Mrs. Cordingley tried to say something positive about it and Ann laughed,
“Then it’ll suit the recipient fine.”
“You can put it in here – she won’t look here anyway.” Hemingway pointed at the cupboard and Ann nodded gratefully,
“Perfect. Thank you, ladies.”
They were all sat down for dinner, having said the prayers when Anne came bustling in through the doors, hat almost off,
“I’M HERE! Don’t invite anyone!”
The tables occupants almost began laughing at her, and Ann pointed at her seat,
“Unfortunately, you are two minutes late and we took mercy on poor Mr. Jones – he is just asking the servants for more potatoes.”
“What? You gave him my seat! My seat! Why would he need to sit next to you!” Anne cried upset and it took all self-control for all of them not to die laughing at her dramatics.
“Well, I might need someone who can lift the heavy saucer and such – it’s good to finally have a man around the house – right Marian?” Ann smiled innocently at Marian who currently almost choked on her wine.
“Mm.”
“That’s… That’s… urgh… I can lift a saucer!” Anne barked and Ann couldn’t help but laugh at her and when she had started the others quickly followed, confusing Anne,
“Anne… there is no one here. Sit down!” Ann laughed and pulled out her chair for her and she sat down growling, but her cheeks were flushed red.
“We’ll talk about this later.” Anne mumbled to the blonde and she flashed an innocent smile,
“Come on, it was a joke.”
“Oh, this is far from over. I’m going to get you back. My way.” Anne muttered to the blonde her eyes intently focused on her and the blonde flushed,
“So I guess it’s safe to say that I will die tonight but little.” Ann announced and whilst the occupants laughed unknowing Anne just gasped and looked at Ann with clear disbelief.
Ann had barely slept a wink all night, too excited about the morning and the fact that she had managed to keep everything a secret from Anne. Maybe she was a little apprehensive about Anne actually getting mad from what everyone had been telling her, but her excitement overshadowed that. She was up before the brunette which was in all fairness something highly unusual as Anne always woke up at about five in the morning. Ann could barely contain herself from jumping on the bed shouting happy birthday, but she thought, that might not be the best nor the most dignified way to go about it. Instead Ann crawled nearer to her sleeping form, placing her hands on either side of her before leaning down and capturing her lips in a slow kiss. Anne moaned in her sleep, and then slowly one eye opened to glance down at the blonde,
“Hm?”
“Happy Birthday, Anne!” Ann smiled before kissing her again, but Anne frowned,
“Don’t say that.” Anne growled and Ann raised a surprised eyebrow, and sat up next to Anne, holding her hand, stroking her knuckles with her thumb absentmindedly,
“Why not?”
“I don’t celebrate my birthdays.” Anne muttered,
“Why is that? Is it because it makes you feel old? Because I would argue that forty-three is not a lot and women are like wine – they just get better by every year.”
“With that logic Aunt must’ve have been a greater bargain.” Anne retorted and Ann nodded,
“Well she wasn’t interested so I settled for second best.” Ann shrugged her shoulders but then glanced down at Anne smiling,
“Stop growling, Anne – it’s your birthday.”
Ann placed a kiss on her lips, but she still looked as though someone had just told her she was an idiot, or you know – a man.
“I just don’t want to talk about it.”
“But we will need to talk about it – because otherwise you’re just going to hate this whole day and the fact that I may or may not have gotten you a birthday gift and… made a cake.” Ann frowned at the brunette, brushing hair out of her dark eyes gently, before kissing her again.
“Ann…” Anne growled but Ann wouldn’t listen, instead she threw her leg over Anne’s abdomen and sat over her staring down at her,
“Tell me. I’m still going to give you your birthday gifts and the cake because you deserve it. Clearly – for staying alive this long with all the scrapes you’ve been into.”
“Fine! I haven’t for years, not really, no reason – just was never around. Then… you… promised me – to tell me on the third and everything went to hell and I lost it.” Anne cried annoyed, and Ann shut her mouth and Anne glared at her, with tears prickling her eyes,
“Happy now?”
“No. I’m sorry. But I’m here now, and all is well. I just wanted to show you some appreciation and love. I guess I should’ve listened to Marian and your aunt.” Ann’s whole stance sank, and Anne sighed and rubbed her hands-on Ann’s thighs,
“No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t… I cannot cling to every bad thing I’ve been through – I know you don’t. I’m being selfish. It’s very kind of you to care about me.”
“Don’t you dare say that, Anne!” Ann told her and she looked confused,
“What?”
“Care?! I, blooming love you, idiot.” Ann smiled and kissed her wife soundly on the lips and the brunette’s hands went up to hold her face,
“I love you too.”
“I made a cake for you.” Ann laughed and pointed at the side table and Anne looked at it and tried not to laugh,
“It’s a piece of art. Unusual art – and I thought you had a lot of appreciation of it.”
Ann swatted her playfully but smiled still,
“I do have a lot of appreciation for art. I know a masterpiece when I see one and I know, trust me, I know how to appreciate it.”
“Really?” Anne asked with a quirked eyebrow, and Ann leant down – an inch away from her lips,
“I married you, didn’t I?”
“Minx!” Anne laughed and kissed her,
“Now I have three gifts for you, one of them which are…” Ann wasn’t allowed to finish her sentence as Anne budged in,
“If you say something cheesy like ‘I want to pin you to the wall like the piece of art you are’ I will be mad.”
“What if I want you to pin me to the wall like the piece of art I am?” Ann retorted and Anne looked up at her speechless for a few seconds,
“Well, then that’s a maybe.”
“It’s not my gift though – I don’t know why you would think that. My gifts are thoughtful and full of love – I am going to romance your freaking arse off.” Ann smirked and Anne laughed,
“Oh wow, that’s beautiful - is that Shakespeare?”
“Lie still.” Ann told her and then proceeded with the first gift.
They came down to breakfast were everyone was waiting nervously; Marian was looking at Ann as if to discern whether there was some damage done to her.
“It’s Anne’s birthday today…” Ann began, and everyone glanced nervously at the brunette who rolled her eyes,
“Ah you don’t need to look so worried. It’s fine. I’m forty-three and it’s been a great forty-three thus far.”
Ann smirked at the woman and the occupants breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank God, you have Ann for companion, or we might still fear the wrath of you.” Marian told her with an attitude and Aunt Anne glanced at Marian sharply,
“We’ve been blessed. Now, how did it all come about initially?”
“Mm, I guess it all changed when Ann asked me to come for dinner and stay all night.”
Anne wiggled her eyebrows at Ann who became beet red in the face and wanted to be swallowed by the ground and disappear.
“Well then, let us toast to that.” Aunt Anne said and winked at Ann who at the moment was redder than ever before.
“And a very happy birthday for our favourite An-… I guess we can’t really say that, now can we? There are literally three of us in the room… to our favourite…” Aunt Anne trailed off,
“Of the day?” Ann suggested,
“Yes, good, excellent – to our favourite of the day!”