Ch. 5: False Assumptions
The night air was cool and breezy as Daniel and Wilhelmina made their way down the sidewalk, chatting easily.
"That was delicious!" Daniel exclaimed.
"Told you to let me pick the place; Savrio's is top notch."
Daniel laughed. "Alright, alright, you were right" he said, wheeling himself slowly beside Wilhelmina. Suddenly, a large black town car pulled up beside them. Daniel and Wilhelmina stopped short, their hearts jumping in their chests. The window rolled down slowly, revealing none other than Claire and Cal. Claire jumped from the car.
"Where the hell have you two been?!" she hissed, her eyes darting back and forth between them.
Daniel and Wilhelmina looked and each other and shrugged. "Just out to dinner, mom, no big deal."
Cal, who had remained in the car looking disinterested, poked his head out the window. "Wait a second…you people were having dinner…together? Voluntarily?"
Wilhelmina crossed her arms. "Oh, please, you people act like we've never shared a civil moment together in all our lives. Perhaps there haven't been many…but there were some. It's not like we'll kill each other every time you leave us alone."
"Exactly," agreed Daniel, "we're not babies, you know. We can have a pleasant time together without being chaperoned."
Claire and Cal looked at each other and back and Daniel and Wilhelmina.
"If it's alright with you two, we'd like to get home and not freeze our asses off out here" Wilhelmina said, trotting past them. Daniel followed behind her. "You're more than welcome to meet us there, should take about 10 more minutes by foot."
Claire shook her head and got back in the town car. It slipped past Daniel and Wilhelmina and disappeared around the corner.
Wilhelmina shook her head. "Old people" she muttered. Daniel let out a quiet laugh. "I hope to God I never end up like that."
They arrived at the apartment to find Cal and Claire waiting in the lobby. They stood in stoic silence together in the elevator, Cal and Claire sneaking occasional sideways glances at Wilhelmina and Daniel. They entered the apartment and Daniel quickly shoved his things into his bags with Wilhelmina's help. Claire stared at them.
"What are you thinking about?" Cal whispered.
"Oh nothing, just wondering where I failed as a mother" she said, all the while watching them, wondering what exactly it was that caused this change in relationship. "Should've never left them alone together" she muttered under her breath.
Daniel turned to his mom. "Okay, I'm ready to go. Can you guys give me a hand?"
Cal and Claire bent to pick up his things and stepped out into the hall, followed by Daniel. He turned back to Wilhelmina, who had followed as well and was leaning against the front door.
"I had fun" he said, smirking at her.
She tilted her head. "Well it turned out better than everyone expected" she said, casting a glance at Cal and Claire.
"Thanks for frame, Wilhelmina" Daniel said, smiling earnestly at her.
Claire's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "She gave you something?!"
Wilhelmina turned to Claire. "Do they not celebrate Christmas up on Witch Mountain?" she pouted, causing Daniel to snicker.
Claire glared at him before turning back to Wilhelmina. "Just like they do in Hell" she said icily. Wilhelmina rolled her eyes and stepped back inside her apartment. She turned around and paused before saying, "Goodnight Daniel." He smiled. "Goodnight, Wilhelmina." She looked at him for a few moments before shutting the door. Daniel turned and rolled past Cal and his mom. "Ready to go?"
"It's about time; we nearly starved waiting for you two" Cal growled.
Daniel pressed the button on the elevator. "Oh, if you're hungry I know a great little place just 10 minutes from here. Ever been to Savrio's?"