"I don't know how you do it, Mrs. D, but these potatoes are the best I've ever tasted. They're absolutely magnificent!"
"Thank you, Ethan," said Mrs. Darling, glancing over at Wendy. She saw the satisfied smile on her daughter's face and knew exactly what it meant. This comment was far more acceptable than that of the other boy she had brought to dinner, that young man named Peter who had said such odd things. Of course, Mrs. Darling could see why Wendy had been drawn to him, he was remarkably good looking and had an exciting energy about him that made you want to go on an adventure, but he also seemed dangerous somehow. She was so glad that Wendy had met Ethan, who perhaps wasn't as intriguing, and often times was downright annoying, but she could tell he cared for her daughter and appeared a bit more normal than her previous choice.
"I tried to make roasted potatoes once and I nearly set the house on fire!" Ethan commented with a laugh. "Aunt Fran didn't let me in the kitchen for a whole month after that."
"Well, one time Wendy tried to make popcorn on the stove, but she forgot to cover it. I heard her screaming and ran in to find that she had taken cover behind the couch while the kernels were flying all around the room. A few of them even burned holes into the curtains!"
Wendy looked sour while Ethan and Mrs. Darling erupted into laughter at her expense, but they were so gleeful that after a while she couldn't help but to join in.
"Sounds like something my mother would do," Ethan said, wiping a tear from his eye. "She rarely sets foot in the kitchen. Our cook always prepared the meals."
There was an awkward moment of quiet at this admission of his family's wealth. Mrs. Darling could scarcely imagine having any kind of servant, especially in their small flat. She tried to think of something to say to dispel the unease in the air.
"How long will you be visiting your parents again?"
"Just a few days. That's probably about as long as I can handle them nagging me," Ethan said with a wink in Wendy's direction. "We'll be back by Sunday night."
Wendy looked apologetically at her mother. "Mom, I forgot that you had asked me to help you refinish the chairs on Saturday evening. I'm sorry I won't be there."
"Oh, never mind that. We'll do it another time." Mrs. Darling had actually forgotten about the chairs too. Saturday evening was when she was going on that date with James, the mysterious man with the bright blue eyes that held her attention in a way that her husband's never could. She squeezed her eyes shut and silently scolded herself for the comparison. She loved her husband and she missed him terribly. He had been kind and sensible and a wonderful father, but she also knew that their relationship, though strong, had always left something to be desired.
"Mrs. D, are you feeling alright?"
Mrs. Darling realized she still had her eyes squeezed shut. She opened them and saw that Ethan and her daughter were staring at her with concern.
"Ah, I just had a slight headache, but I think it's gone now," she lied.
Ethan, who never seemed to miss a cue, stood and took his plate to the sink. "I'd better get going, it'll be a big day at the firm tomorrow. We're going to put a lot of people in prison," Ethan said with a little more excitement than Mrs. Darling thought was necessary. She turned away as the young man kissed her daughter goodbye, then he came to give her a quick hug before he slipped out the door.
Mrs. Darling and Wendy cleared the table in silence for a few moments, until a sigh from Wendy brought Mrs. Darling's attention to her.
"Mom, have you ever made a choice with your head, even though you feel as if everything else was pointing to something different?"
Mrs. Darling pursed her lips. She knew exactly what her daughter was thinking, and while in a different situation she might have urged Wendy to follow her heart, she desperately didn't want her to get involved with that Peter boy again.
"Wendy, you're young," she began, wincing at her use of such a patronizing phrase. "Sometimes the most appealing option isn't the smartest one, and while it may give you pleasure for a moment, it could bring you unfortunate consequences in the long run."
Wendy nodded and gave her mother a small smile that didn't reach her eyes, then turned and began washing the dishes. Mrs. Darling felt a twinge if guilt. She hadn't told Wendy about her date on Saturday because she didn't feel the need to, especially if nothing came of it. But considering the fact that she was going on a date with a near stranger, she couldn't help feeling that the advice she had just given to Wendy had been slightly hypocritical.