Mika nodded enthusiastically and picked up the gingerbread-man-shaped cutter.
She had never had the privilege of having a real mother, and while she was convinced that she was peachy without one, she had always been curious. This wonderful, kind lady, who had seemingly appeared from nowhere, had entered her life with perfect ease. Mika realized that Alfie's looking out for her best interests and spending an entire afternoon baking with her was probably much like what a mother or a grandmother would do. Even though she knew that Alfie was not really mother or her grandmother, she had also learned long ago that family was not always made of the people who were related to you by blood. Besides, it was always nice to know that someone is looking out for you, family or not.
Mika decided that she would try to look out for Alfie, to the best of her ability, though she was sure that there were many other people who looked out for Alfie, as well.