Page 12 of The Baby Dragon Bakery
Chapter 5
Lavinia had found a way to push off Theo’s question yesterday at the cafe, but today was Sunday, her day off from all work, internships, and school. It was also Sunday, the day Theo came over to her house. The bakery was busy in the morning, but he usually came by for an early dinner, as the Williamses had a late brunch on Sundays.
After sleeping in, she had joined her family for breakfast. Sundays were for the elite combination of fried eggs, shami kebabs made of spicy minced meat and lentils, and parathas, the flatbread’s dough lathered in ghee until it was practically fried.
The meal was paired with mango juice, then followed with biscuits and elaichi chai, which she was now lazily drinking in the living room, shafts of sunlight pouring in through the wide windows. Her stomach was full as she sat with her parents and little brother, Alfie, who was eleven.
The baby dragon, Biter, was asleep in her bassinet, which was a special dragon bassinet made of stones. Biter was nestled in a pile of blankets, her red scales shimmering in the sunlight.Her little chest rose and fell as she slept soundly, the sound of her breathing soft.
Biter was three months old, which meant she spent most of her time asleep. Lavinia knew all about taking care of babies from her experience at the Animal Hospital and her classes, and at this age, baby dragons weren’t high maintenance at all, so long as they were fed (special formula in bottles) and kept warm (hence the blankets). Famke had provided everything the Williamses would need to look after Biter until Famke recovered in December.
“Alfie, don’t bother her,” Lavinia scolded, as her little brother went to touch Biter’s red head.
“I’m not!” Alfie protested. “I just want to pet her.”
“Be gentle,” Beena ordered. “If you wake her up—well, you know where she gets her name from.”
While the little dragon only had her deciduous—or baby—teeth, her bites could still be painful when she wanted them to be. Lavinia watched as Alfie gently patted Biter’s red scales. The little dragon hummed in her sleep, nestling deeper in her blankets.
“She’s so warm,” Alfie said, smiling to himself. His face was the picture of contentment.
The house was slightly chilly, but sitting in the sun, Lavinia was warm, too. Her legs were over Beena’s lap, and Beena rested her teacup on Lavinia’s knee. Lavinia bit into a buttery biscuit, taking a sip of chai.
Lavinia had never moved out, and a big part of that was because she loved her family. They got along really well. She also didn’t want to miss spending time with Alfie, who had grown up before her very eyes and who she adored. And now the added—though temporary—fun of Biter.
Another part of the appeal of staying home was evidenced by her full stomach. Her mother was a fantastic cook. Lavinia had picked up a few things from Beena, but she was always so busy with school and work that she hardly ever had time to spend in the kitchen with her mother. Beena’s true prodigy was Theo.
Even now, Beena asked when Theo would be coming round. “I’m making murgh cholay for dinner,” she said. The hearty spiced chicken chickpea dish was one of Theo’s favorites.
Mention of Theo made her heart skip a beat.
“Umm,” Lavinia said, trying to sound normal. “Whenever he’s done with the bakery.”
“You haven’t spoken with him today?” Beena asked, confused.
“He’s at work!” She tried not to sound defensive.
“Ask him when he’s coming,” Alfie said. He moved away from the bassinet and went to sit on the couch across from her, hugging their father’s arm. Garrett had glasses and short brown hair. While Lavinia looked more like her father, Alfie looked more like their mother; he had darker hair and a deeper brown skin tone.
Alfie had already asked her a million times since he had woken up if Theo was coming, when he was coming, how long would he be coming for.
“He’s coming! Relax!” Lavinia said. “I swear, you people care more about Theo than me, your own blood!” She tried to sound offended but couldn’t quite manage it; Alfie was her little munchkin.
“Well, areyougoing to play football with me?” Alfie asked, eyebrows raised.
Lavinia sank deeper into the sofa. “No.” She took a sip of chai. “And maybe grow another two feet before you can catch up to Theo.”
She and Theo had been thirteen when Alfie was born and practically spent the next decade using him as their favorite toy, playing with him constantly. As such, Alfie practically hero-worshipped Theo, especially since Alfie didn’t have an older brother.
An hour later, they were all in the same position in the living room and her family members’ wishes came true as a knock sounded on the door. Alfie shot up.
“I’ll get it!” he said, running out. Lavinia’s pulse quickened, and she took a deep breath, ordering herself to calm down and act like a human being. A moment later, Theo entered, his arm slung around Alfie’s shoulder.
“Hiya,” he said. Garrett waved, and Theo walked over to hug Beena hello. She kissed his cheek as he bent over, and Lavinia kicked his stomach from where her legs were still over her mother’s lap. “Oi, be nice to me,” Theo said, deflecting. “I come bearing gifts.” He threw a brown paper bag onto her lap. It was still warm, and the smell of bread wafted out.
Lavinia gasped with delight, pulling the fresh loaf of bread out. As Theo went to look at Biter, still asleep, she split the bread open, closing her eyes as she inhaled the heavenly scent.
“A work of art,” she said, squeezing the bread. She watched it bounce back, then squeezed again. “I want a bed made out of this stuff.”
