The opportunity presented itself like a gift out of the blue, though the circumstances might have been better. Seeing Dr. Linus with his face battered and his arm in a sling wasn't quite what she'd prayed for, though with it came one of those odd flashes of emotion, this one stark recognition. Something made her think she'd seen him beat up before. Which again was absurd. But it was the perfect opportunity.
She convinced him, with all her charm, that he couldn't possibly drive home, dragged him over to her mother, who was only too pleased to meet him, and pretended to come up with the sudden idea for dinner. Maybe another time he might have succeeded in demurring, but in his condition, battered and with one arm (like Napoleon, as she told him with a laugh), it would be a feat if he could heat up a bowl of soup. And it was coq au vin night, which he seemed to appreciate. Mom was the best cook.
On the way she plotted out her plan of attack. They would eat dinner. Dr. Linus would be sweet and adorable, and Mom would be fun and scintillating. Alex would complain about her big math test tomorrow and leave the table slightly early to go study. If there was one thing Dr. Linus couldn't help her study for, it was math, as he had once told her before. Mom would let her skip out on the dishes if she made a show of really needing to study. Then Dr. Linus would have to hang out in the kitchen and talk while Mom did the dishes. This would work.