It was time for the next phase of the plot. If Mom and Dr. Linus weren't going to make the move, Alex was perfectly capable of making it herself.
That afternoon she came home from school and rushed immediately upstairs, shouting to Mom about homework. She dashed through her homework, of which thankfully she didn't have much, and then changed her clothes, did her hair, and touched up her makeup. It smelled wonderful when she went downstairs.
"What are you making, Mom?"
"Posole."
"What is that?
"A kind of Mexican soup."
"Mexican again? I swear you're in love with Tyler Florence."
Her mom swatted her playfully with a potholder.
"Is it ready for me to have a bowl before I go?"
"Go? Go where?"
"Mom! The thing at Karl's church he wanted me to go to? I told you about it ages ago!"
"I thought you said that was next week."
"Did I? Weird. It's tonight. You said I could go, Mom."
"But Dr. Linus is coming for dinner."
"Oh, no! He is!" She sighed. "Well you'll just have to manage without me, Mom. Sorry to abandon you, but...you know. Karl."
Her mom grinned at her. "Karl. Will there be others there?"
"Mom! Of course there will! His mom's picking us up. You have no idea how embarrassed he was to tell me that."
"Oh, I have an idea."
Dr. Linus was ringing the doorbell just as she peeked out to see if Karl was here. "Alex, you look very nice."
"Thanks, Dr. Linus! I have a sort of not-date. Oh, there he is. Sorry. Got to run. See you next time, Dr. Linus."
She left him standing and staring after her on the porch and grinned to herself as she hopped into Karl's mom's car. One date: successfully arranged.