“Do you want to make it, or shall I?”
Gloria looked at her. “Me?”
Matty stood up and grinned. “Yeah, you... I mean, you might need a hand, but I reckon you can manage, can’t you?”
Gloria considered it before shaking her head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Alright.” Matty shrugged, pretending Gloria’s refusal didn’t bother her. “I’ll be back in a minute with a brew.”
By the time she had the kettle filled and boiling, Matty heard the familiar shuffling sound and turned to find Gloria in the doorway.
“Thought I’d come and make sure you were doing it properly.”
Matty chuckled. “You’ve not once complained about my tea-making skills.”
“That’s ’cos I was being polite,” Gloria said, huffing at the exertion.
Matty grabbed one of the chairs from the small table by the door and put it in front of the counter. “If you want to sit.”
“I’m alright,” Gloria insisted. Once she’d got herself steady, she reached out with a shaky hand for a mug from the mug tree. It clanked as she set it down and she repeated the movement for another one.
Matty pulled the tea caddy down, wrenched the lid free, and slid it across the counter.
Without a word, Gloria reached for it and looked in. “Teabags?” She grimaced. “Is this why the tea is so bad?”
Matty giggled. “Maybe. Have you got a teapot?”
Gloria pointed to a cupboard. “Up there.”
The cupboard was too far across the room for Gloria to reach, even if she could, so Matty opened the door. On the middle shelf was a blue and white teapot and she grabbed for it.
“Here you go.”
“Thank you,” Gloria said, taking it from her. “The tea is in the other caddy.”
Matty found it and repeated the motion, lifting the lid to reveal proper tea leaves.
“No sugar for me,” Matty said with a wink. She reached up again, found the milk jug, and brought it down before closing the cupboard door. “I’ll get the milk from the fridge.”
As she closed the fridge door, Matty heard the kettle click off. She turned and watched as Gloria shuffled one step closer and reached for the kettle.
Gloria twisted awkwardly, stretching as far as she could, her right hand trembling with the effort. She wobbled a little as her weight tipped more onto her left side.
As Matty came up beside her and put the milk jug down, she said, “It’s not a failure to ask for help, Mrs S.”
Gloria eased back and righted herself properly. “You’re right. Will you pour?”
“Absolutely.” Matty grinned and took hold of the kettle. “I noticed in the breadbin, there are some biscuits.”
Gloria’s eyes lit up. “Sloan’s favourites?”
Matty shrugged and ignored the fact Gloria had used Sloan, not Joan. “I don’t know… Chocolate chip, I think?”
With her good hand, Gloria flicked the bread bin open and grabbed the packet. “These will do.” She slid them into the pocket of her cardigan and grabbed her cane. Turning slowly, she began to shuffle away again. “You can carry the tray.”
“I’m right behind you,” Matty said, already holding it.
When they were both settled, Matty said, “So, what do you fancy doing this week?”
