My sweet little duckling!
After their children have gotten into the limo and driven away, Fran and Maxwell leave their observation post at the window. Maxwell is completely beside himself about the scene that has just unfolded before them.
"What has gotten into our daughter? How didshe come up with this provocative outfit? And besides, to make matter worse she went behind our back!"
He runs agitated back and forth around the room. Fran tries to calm him down.
"Now try to stay calm, Honey. I admit, Eve's new outfit might has been a little bit inappropriate. But there's no point in getting so worked up about it."
"Please, Fran! I'm seriously concerned about Eve. She was always an honest and sincere girl. And she always had a decent good-looking taste. I was always proud of her for not running around like those fashion dolls. And now this sharade. She looked downright forbidden. She looked like like..."
"Like me, you wanna say?" Fran retorts.
"Well, I didn't want to put it that way, but I guess I'm probably right with my assumption that she took those new clothes from your closet, right?"
Fran doesn't give him an answer, but her eyes tells him that he's hit the nail on the head. He begins to have a bad suspicion.
"Say, Fran, you didn't know anything about this, did you? Look deep into my eyes! Please tell me you didn't know anything about this unspeakable idea?!"
"Of course not! I swear to you, Maxwell. I had no idea what Eve was up to... I only noticed it when I saw the second label coming out of her blouse. A mother has an eye for things like that. Besides, I used that trick myself in the past." she adds sheepishly.
"Aha, there we have it. Could it be that you inadvertently gave Eve this idea? Did you tell her about your previous adventures during one of your cozy tea times?"
"Certainly not, Maxwell. I admit that I may sometimes give our children unusual ideas. But I really have nothing to do with this."
Maxwell smiles at his wife, but is not yet completely convinced of her innocence.
The couple goes back to the kitchen and sits down at the breakfast table. Fran pours her husband a second cup of tea. Maxwell is still sitting at the table with a very tense expression on his face.
"Come on, Maxwell. This whole thing isn't the end of the world. Now eat something and digest the whole story."
"You know, Fran, sometimes I really wish I had your composure. I can't take it nearly as easy as you. I would love to drive to the school right now and give Eve a prep talk personally."
Fran stares at her husband in shock.
"Don't worry, I'll behave. I just said what I'd like to do."
They sit there in silence for a while. Maxwell sips his tea nervously. He is far too excited to eat anything. Fran is a different story. She has only worked up her hunger and is already spreading cream cheese on her second bagel. Maxwell turns to her again.
"But seriously, Fran, what should we do? I mean, we can't just ignore this story as if nothing had happened."
Fran thinks for a moment.
"The best thing will be if I talk to her. I'll probably find out what's wrong with her. I'll wait for a quiet moment and talk to her sensibly and calmly. Maybe there's a completely innocent explanation for all of this."
"Your word in God's ear."
While Maxwell drinks his tea, he taps his fingers nervously on the table, which gradually drives Fran crazy. Finally, she can't take it anymore.
"Can you please stop that, honey? You're driving me crazy. I thought after all the experiences we've already been trough with Maggie and Gracie, you'd be a little more relaxed with your last daughter."
"That's just it!" Maxwell mentions sadly and makes a very doom face.
"What? I don't understand what you mean."
"Well, that's exactly my problem. Eve is my last little girl. When Maggie got married so young and Brighton wanted to go abroad for a few months at the same time, it was very difficult for me to let my two oldest children go. I consoled myself with the thought that we still had Gracie. And then Eve and Jonah came along very quickly. And when Gracie grew up and finally moved out, Jonah and Eve were still so small. But now they are almost grown up as well. And I'm going to lose my last little girl."
Fran gives him a loving, compassionate look and strokes his face.
"Well, losing is a bit of an exaggeration."
"You know what I mean. Do you remember what I used to call her when she was little? My sweet little duckling."
Fran's face suddenly takes on a very sentimental expression.
"Yes, I remember. But your sweet little duckling is about to turn into a swan. And that's completely normal. That's life Maxwell. Do you remember our conversation a few days ago? You yourself explained to me in a very reasonable way that Eve is about to turn from a little girl into a young woman. Today's incident is probably just a part of that process."
"You're right as always, Fran."
Maxwell finishes his tea and looks at the clock.
"I have to go, Darling! We have that meeting with the new director today that I told you about. CC will chop my head off if I'm late."
Fran hugs her husband goodbye. He peeks at her lovingly and strokes her cheeks.
"You know, Fran, I'm really glad that our children have such a sensible and understanding mother like you!" Fran feels herself blushing. For a moment, the two sink into a passionate kiss.
After Maxwell has left the house, Fran looks out the window. She lets out a loud and deep sigh. Fran is not as calmly and relaxed about the whole situation as she tried to make her husband believe. In reality, she is also deeply worried about her daughter. Today's events shows her once more that something is terrible wrong with her girl.