The Taste of Love

by Kirsten Christensen

Grandma

sends her love,

my mother said

as she leaned over

to kiss me.

She’ll be here

in a week.

As I wiped

mom’s lipstick

off my forehead

I wondered

how grandma

could put

love

in an envelope.

Grandma’s

in the kitchen,

mom said

as I raced in

the front door

with a

finger painting

in my fist.

I found grandma

behind the counter

wearing an apron,

her hands white

with flour.

I love you,

she said

handing me

a warm

cinnamon roll.

I smiled

a thank-you

and finished

my roll

so I could give

grandma

a hug.

But inside

I was anxious

to talk

to my mother.

I had to tell her

that grandma

couldn’t have

sent her love

in a letter.

She brought it all

with her

and put it in

the cinnamon rolls.