Peter & Wendy
By: June Goddess
Chapter Three - Invitation to a Masquerade and a Lovely Shopping Trip
Wendy was in the middle of reaching into the deepest, darkest brooding place inside herself, when her mother interrupted with fluttering excitement, so at odds with Wendy's own mood. Wendy watched as her mother made a wasted attempt to calm down. A small fond smile graced her lips for a moment and some of her broodiness dissipated somewhat.
"Wendy, darling, I have some exciting news," Mrs. Darling began. "Your father and I have discussed it, and we think you are quite the young lady. You have really matured rapidly these past few years, it's hardly fair to call you a child." She sent Wendy an apologetic look. "Oh, I know we moved you into your own room some years ago, oh how many was it? Six? Or maybe it was-"
"Four years and nine-and-a-half months," Wendy interrupted softly. Wistfully.
"What was that, dear?" Mrs. Darling's eyes snapped to her daughter's face, searchingly.
She cleared her throat. "Nothing, Mother. I was just correcting you is all. It's been four years and nine-and-a-half months since I moved to my own room." While she was speaking, she became slightly overwhelmed by her mixed and turbulent feelings for Peter. Not wanting to concern her mother, she kept her eyes down so her mother could not see the tears.
Mrs. Darling noticed how Wendy refused eye contact and stared fixedly on her hands. She was even more worried than ever, but cleared her throat as well and continued. "Yes, well... Even though you moved to your own room, we, your father and I, have still treated you as a child, for the most part. But tomorrow night, that's all about to change."
"What do you mean, Mother?" Wendy still refused to look up, and so missed the slight hesitancy of her mother's stance.
Mrs. Darling forged on, however. "Well, tomorrow night is the Farthington's masquerade. You shall be attending with us," she said with false nonchalance.
"What!" Wendy shouted, as her head shot up in surprise, no longer mindful of the tears in her eyes. Her eyes lit up at the prospect of going to a real masque. She was so excited, she really felt like crying tears of joy. At last her parents were finally beginning to see that she was no longer a child to be kept at home.
Mrs. Darling watched the transformation in her daughter with a degree of awe. Wendy really has grown up, she realized. She had always been a lovely child, but now... she's a lovely woman. Her eyes misted over at the thought that someday, perhaps soon, Wendy would be walking down an aisle in a gorgeous white gown, preparing to spend the rest of her life with a young man and having darling little children. She was brought back to reality at a cry of teenage dismay from her only daughter.
"But, Mother! Whatever shall I wear?!" Wendy's despairing voice elicited warm laughter from her mother, who hugged her close and whispered shopping plans into her ear.
Later that day...
Mother and daughter swept into the foyer from their grand shopping adventure amid a whirlwind of parcels, bags, and laughter. Both were completely exhilarated from their spree and had flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.
Mr. Darling was, of course, filled with utmost anxiety. He stood unnoticed in the shadow of his study's doorway and watched as the two females in his life ordered the boys to take everything up to Wendy's room. Liza came and led the two into the parlor, offering and serving them tea, all the while shooting questions about the shopping trip.
After an eternity, which was really only a few minutes, he came away from his refuge and slowly made his way to the parlor. Another few minutes had passed due to his slow pace, and when he reached the parlor, Liza and Wendy came bundling out and ascending the stairs quite rapidly, huddled together and whispering excitedly. He watched as they disappeared from view, then slowly turned to acknowledge his wife.
"So," he began, uncertainly, before he blanked out on what he might say. Mrs. Darling allowed him to fumble around for a bit before she rescued him from his own dire thoughts about their spending.
With a sweet smile, she approached him and slid her arms around his waist. "Don't worry, dear. We really didn't spend all that much. Everyone seemed to be having the most wonderful sales." She smiled lovingly at him, and all his concerns melted away.
His arms enfolded her to him and he kissed her forehead. "Thank you, love."
They stood together in silence, basking in their love that had not diminished in all the years they had been married. Their smiles were happy, free, and full of young dreams, as though they had only just met. Then they were once again parents, and their smiles took on the added quality of pride and joy.
"She really is a young woman, isn't she?" he murmured wistfully.
"Yes, George. She really is," she murmured back, just as wistful.
"If any boy comes near her, I'll introduce him to that pistol I bought a few years ago when the bank was held up," he said protectively.
"Oh, George!" she sighed, though a smile tugged the corners of her lips.
