"Always remember, anyone can make a cup a coffee, but a perfect cup is made love Lily".
I stared at her as she stirred her famous coffee cake with a satisfied smile on her face. How could she be so content with so little?
I had no clue what she meant, I was ten years old.
I had zero interest in coffee or making anything with love.
I was going to leave this small town and be the next big star and I was never going to look back.
I stood staring at my grandma's grave. A tear escaped my eye. I had wasted so much time, chasing after a dream that didn't become a reality no matter how much I tried.
In the process, I had left the only person in the world that loved me unconditionally. The woman who had taken me in when I lost my parents.
I closed my eyes as I remembered the last time I saw her.
"Lily, could you please come help me stir".
I had stared at her and turned away with a blank, "No".
"If you're going to stay under my roof, then you're going to have to contribute".
"Then maybe I shouldn't be under your roof anymore".
I stood up and left. That was the last time I saw her.
"I'm really sorry Grandma".
The rain that was sprinkling came down pouring drowning me with my tears.
The notice came two days later, I had to clear out grandma's coffee shop.
I had been trying to put it off for the longest time, packing up the last pieces of her. But it had to be done.
I looked at the sign, "Home after from home".
The once homely and vibrant coffee shop was filled with dust and emptiness.
A sign caught my eye, Our Specialty: Grandma's Coffee Cake"
I smiled sadly at the sign, if only I hadn't wasted so much time and learnt a little. My heart hurt. It hurt so so much.
I began clearing. I did the same thing for the next one week. I found so many old pictures, I couldn't remember the last time I laughed like that.
The final items were out. I went back staring at the emptiness. The only thing left was the speciality sign.
The Coffee Cake
I took a deep breath, it needed to be done. I moved it and then I realized that the floor board beneath it creaked. An edged popped out.
I don't know why but I found myself kneeling, I traced my fingers on it, then tried to raise it.
It felt like deja Vu. Like I had been there, done it before.
The floor board came out. I knew exactly what it was the moment I saw it.
Her cook book. I had seen her peep into it over the years.
Y
Source
I didn't think twice, I grabbed it and rushed back to the place where I grew up and had so many beautiful memories.
I searched until I found it.
Her Coffee Cake Coffee Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups of sugar
- 3/4 cups of butter
- 3 eggs
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 1/2 cups of sour cream
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
- 1 cup of brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
- 1/2 cup of chopped pecans
I followed the instructions deligently, I wasn't the best cook but it was as if she was guiding me through it.
I preheat the oven, then mixed the sugar and butter. I remembered how she mixed it, with a beautiful smile on her face and I couldn't help but smile too.
Next were the eggs, one at a time, I beat them before adding them to the mix.
In a separate bowl, I whisked together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, then gradually the flour mixture was added to the butter mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
Her voice rang in my head, "Always put your heart into everything". I mixed with the whole emotions I felt.
The love, pain, reminision, memories, laughter.
Vanilla went in next, then I mixed brown sugar, cinnamon and chopped pecans in a small separate bowl.
I poured the batter into a clean pan, then sprinkled the cinnamon mixture over the batter. I alternated the process, to have layers.
I carried it with my heart in my hand to the oven. I needed it to work.
I stood watching it until it was ready, then I brought it out, left for sometime and then took a bite.
I closed my eyes. It wasn't exactly the same but it tasted like everything I needed.
Suddenly I had an epiphany. I might have failed her in life, but I could try to right my wrong and I would do it by keeping her legacy alive.
I took another bite and I was convinced. I was going to carry on her legacy and hope that one day I could hug her again and here her whisper, "I love you my little flower", but for now I'd do it, "I love you Grandma".