I breathed a sigh of relief when he turned and stalked out of the party. Following Tad, I suspected, since he headed in the same general direction. I wondered if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
So did Michael, apparently.
„Should someone go after him? Them?“ he asked.
„I don't think so,“ I said. „Tad seems to be pretty good at calming Faulk down,“ I said.
„And pretty good at involving Faulk in his problems,“ Michael said. „Would Faulk need calming down if it wasn't for Tad?“
I shrugged.
„I just wish Rob would at least try to keep Benson out of trouble,“ I said. „Where is he, anyway?“
„Rob? I haven't seen him all afternoon.“
„If he's in my booth playing with the flamingos again – “ I muttered.
Michael chuckled.
„Yes, he does love the flamingos,“ Michael said. „You should make him a brace.“
„Never,“ I said. „Those are the only flamingos I will ever make and I'm beginning to wonder if it might not be easier to scrap the damned things and give Mrs. Fenniman her money back.“
„You mean you wouldn't even make me a flock?“
„Not unless you were planning on putting them somewhere I'd never ever have to look at them.“
„What a pity. I was thinking they'd make such a nice present for Mom. We could install them in a couple of weeks, when she goes down to Florida to visit her sister. It's still warm enough to pour concrete, right? She'd be so surprised.“
„Okay,“ I said, smiling in spite of myself. „I might make an exception for your mother, since I know how overwhelmed she'd be.“
Michael and I burst out laughing. I glanced around to see where Mrs. Waterston was before making another joke and saw her, rather nearby. She heard our laughter, turned, saw me, and frowned.
I sighed, wondering what I'd done now. I could never get over the feeling that she saw me as a highly unsatisfactory incumbent in the position of Michael's girlfriend, and as a completely unsuitable candidate for the vital position of daughter-in-law. Maybe she was a big part of my problem with commitment after all. Maybe I'd feel differently about moving in with Michael, much less (maybe? eventually? if things worked out?) marrying him, if I sensed something even vaguely resembling approval from her.
Suddenly she headed our way.
„Hello, Mother,“ Michael said when she reached us. „You look very nice.“
„Hello,“ she said. „So do you.“
She glanced over at me as she said it, leaving me to guess whether I was supposed to be included in the „you“ or not. I resisted the impulse to tug at my dress. Not only did the neckline seem much lower all of a sudden, but every time I looked down, my breasts looked much closer than I was used to seeing them. I had to fight the irrational fear that if I stumbled they would fly up and smack me in the face.
„Meg,“ Mrs. Waterston said, „did you find that recipe yet?“
„Recipe?“ Michael echoed. He knew perfectly well how implausible it was for anyone to ask me for a recipe.
„I'm sorry. I've been so swamped getting ready for the fair that I really haven't had time to look. I will as soon as I get home, though.“
„I'd appreciate it,“ she said, and sailed off.
„What was that about a recipe?“ Michael asked.
„I owe your mother a recipe,“ I said.
„What recipe?“
„The beef with peppercorn sauce she had when she came to dinner at my place in June.“
„You made the beef with peppercorn sauce?“ Michael asked.
„You don't have to sound so incredulous,“ I said. „I'm not such a lousy cook.“
„No, just an infrequent one,“ Michael said.
„I had no idea you made that. I thought you got it from Le Rivage after you burned the roast.“
„Well, of course I did,“ I said.
„Then why is she badgering you for the recipe?“
„Well, I didn't want to admit that I'd served her carryout food.“
„Didier's filet au poivre isn't exactly carryout food.“
„Yes, but I didn't want to admit I hadn't made it myself. So, when she asked for the recipe, I pretended I'd mislaid the card, and I looked up a recipe that sounded like the same thing and sent it to her. Apparently I didn't guess that well.“
„I still don't understand….“ he began.
„You never will,“ I said, with a sigh. „It's a chick thing.“
„Next time, just tell her it's an old family recipe, and your mother forbids you to give it out.“
„Now that might work,“ I said. „Better yet, I'll confess.“
„That you didn't cook the sauce?“