When Emily turned up at the nursery to pick up her son, he threw himself into her arms, gripping her tightly and whispering fiercely in her ear, Mum, mum, lets take Bens nan home with us!
Emily blinked in confusion. What? Whose nan? What on earth are you on about? she asked her son, urging him gently, Come on, get your coat on, Dads waiting for us in the car.
He pointed urgently at a grey-haired lady shuffling out the door, guiding a boy Emily recognised as Ben. That nan! Bens! I told you, Mum.
Dont be silly. Thats someone elses nan, she said, already stooping to grab his scarf.
So what? he whined, looking up at her with those pleading eyes. Please ask her to be my nan too. Please, mum.
Youve got grandmas, and not just one two! Why would we need another? Lets not start imagining things now. Get your trousers on.
He pulled a long face, wriggling into his warm trousers with a sigh. My grans arent proper grans, Mum. Bens nan is proper. Shes a real one.
Emily forced a smile. And how exactly arent your grans real? Theyre certainly real. They gave life to your dad and me, not Bens nan.
He shrugged hopelessly. So what if they did? Doesnt make them proper grans, does it?
Emily felt a pang of bewildered guilt. How do you mean, love? Of course theyre proper. Youre our son, that makes them your grandmas.
I dont want them to be by default! I want real grans! he insisted stubbornly.
Whats a real gran then? Emily tried, desperate to keep her patience.
Like Bens nan.
Whats so special about Bens nan, then? Whats she got that your own dont?
With surprising seriousness, her son explained, She lets Ben call her nan out loud, not just at home. My grandmas dont like that at all. One tells me to call her just Margaret, and the other one gets cross if I shout gran at her out in the park. Says it embarrasses her, that it makes people think shes old.
Emily frowned. What, my mum says that?
He nodded. Yep. And she told me youre always offloading me onto her. And Bens nan says Bens the best thing thats happened to her. I want to be the best thing in someones life too.
Emilys heart sank as she gently nudged him towards the cloakroom. Come on, mate, Dads waiting. And what about Grandma Margaret does she mind?
He shook his head. No, she doesnt tell me off. But she never answers if I call her gran. But when I say Margaret, she praises me loads. And Mum, why cant my grans cook the right kind of food? Like nans are meant to?
Emily stared at him. What do you mean? Are you saying your grandmas let you go hungry when you stay over?
He gave a dramatic sigh. Yeah. Starve.
Now youre just being silly! They feed you like youre a little king you know Ive seen all the treats they save for you!
He grimaced. Its all just ham, frozen pies, salads Thats not real food.
So whats real food, darling?
Pancakes. With jam.
Emily repeated slowly, Pancakes?
Yeah. Or those little ones drop scones. Bens nan told him this morning theyd have hot drop scones with clotted cream and jam after nursery. Said, Remember how we made jam together in the summer? Ben was well happy. My grans never do jam with me. Or make pancakes.
Emily sat him down and ruffled his hair tenderly. Tell you what, how about we have tea and jam tonight? We can pop to the shop on the way home and get some nice jam.
He gave her a withering look. Shop jams never nice.
Well, how do you know that?
Cause my grans have bought it for me before I asked them.
And did you ever ask them to make drop scones?
He nodded sadly, pulling on his coat. Yeah, but they say it takes too long, or take me to that café. Those pancakes are always cold and the syrups way too sweet. Bens nan says fresh drop scones straight from the pan are the best thing in the world.
Emily smiled wistfully, squeezing his little hand as they walked out of the nursery. Shes right, you know. My gran used to make them when I was little too
As they made their way to the car where her husband was waiting, Emily pulled out her phone and called her friend.
Hi Sarah, are you in? she asked, not quite able to keep the guilt from her voice.
Yeah, whats up? came her friends relaxed reply.
Bit of a weird one Can I ask you for something? Promise you wont laugh?
Sarah laughed anyway. Whats going on?
You always bragged about your brilliant drop scones. Said your Jake eats them faster than you can cook them
And?
Could I have the recipe, please? Emily pleaded. She could feel Sarah grinning down the phone.
Best come over and Ill show you. Much easier than me writing it out!
Now? Emily faltered. Ive just picked up George from nursery. My husbands waiting in the car.
Perfect, bring the lot of you. Jake will love a new mate. See you soon! And with a chuckle, Sarah ended the call.
The very next day, Emily purposely left work early and showed up at her mums house. She rolled up her sleeves and asked her mum to help her make drop scones. Her mum grumbled about the modern expectations of grandmothers, but Emily fixed her with a look and said firmly:
Mum, if you dont want us under your feet, Ill never bring George to visit again. Do you know what makes a real gran? Why do you never make jam with him in summer? Hes your grandson now!
Her mum pursed her lips, ready to say something sharp, but when she saw the resolve in Emilys face, she chose to say nothing just in case.
