Sloane hums. “I quite like all the veggie stuff I’ve tried so far. My mom really wants us to eat more plant-based. Dad is a big meat lover, but the doctor isn’t happy with just how much he eats.”
Dad sighs. “Yeah. As much as I love a good bacon butty, they’re not great for the body. I’ll admit I don’t mind going veggie for most meals except for this one.”
Laughing, I clap him on the shoulder. “We’d never take away your Full English, Dad.”
“And that is why I love you,” he replies.
Mum hands me a bunch of cards. There is one from her and Dad, Jenna, my Gran and Grandad, plus one from my aunt.
“Damn, will this be the last year I get money in a card?”
Mum laughs. “Yup, that’s it. No more ten-pound notes.”
“Well, that sucks,” I pout.
“Ha, I still have four years of it.” Jenna grins.
Rolling my eyes, I open each card. Sure, as the day is long, each one has a ten-pound note in it, even the one from my parents. I save them all up and spend them when we visit the UK.
My grandma, however, has also included a check for…Jesus Christ.
“Bloody hell, Gran’s given me three grand!”
Jenna whips the paper out of my hand and stares. “What the hell!”
Snatching it back, I stare at it. “This is way too much. I need to call her.”
“Hold your horses,” Mum says. “She called me last night and told me she was sending you some money. She also said you’d react like this.”
“Well, yeah!”
“Eden. Shut up a second and let your mum explain,” Dad chides playfully.
“Remember that painting you did, the one Gran took back to the UK with her? It was her first visit I think.”
“Yeah?”
“Remember she said you should sell it?”
“Yeah, but then I never heard anything from her about it.”
“That’s because she wanted it to be a surprise. She sold it and kept the money. She and Grandad figured it would make a nice eighteenth birthday present. Maybe a little nest egg for college.”
“That’s amazing, Eden. You sold your first piece!”
Sitting up a little taller, I smile at everyone. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
“Proud of you, love,” Dad says, standing. He clears our plates and begins loading the dishwasher.
Mum looks at her watch. “You guys need to get a shift on. You’re going to be late. Sloane, we’ll see you tonight, love.”
“You sure will. Thank you for breakfast. It was delicious and…an experience.”
Mum and Dad chuckle. Jenna stalks out of the kitchen, clearly pissy that I’ve made some money. Whatever. I’m not going to feel bad about it. I’m doing my part to support her in what she wants to do with her life. She could afford me the same.
Pushing all thoughts of my demonic sister out of my head, I run upstairs to grab my bag. Sloane is by the door waiting for me. Jenna is standing beside her, looking at me.
“Um, everything alright?”
