Citrus fingers

Dear Heart,
The Family Mad visited me in Chez Slug to celebrate Mamma Mia's birthday. I clambered out of bed to make her a belated birthday cake - an orange and raspberry Victoria sponge. I used copious amounts of orange zest and coated my fingers in a beautiful fresh scent. It was like being alive.
I spread everything out on my beautiful chest of drawers and sat the cake on the doily I sourced from the vintage fayre. We sang a surprisingly tuneful chorus of "Happy Birthday" to Mamma Mia as she blew out her candles. She was thrilled, I think. I felt warm and gooey and entirely full up. She said I was blooming; I take this as the highest praise coming from a woman so apt to love flowers as my mother is.
When they left this evening I sat on the edge of my bed with my skirts spread out around me, a sliver of cake on my lap. My feet dangled, cushioned by air.
I was alone, but not at all lonely. I'm getting better, dear Heart, I'm sure I am!
Love, Lydia x