45

"I'm sorry, I had no idea," I admitted with embarrassment, gripping the edge of my dress.

I felt Esther's warm hand on mine. I wasn't sure when she had come so close that our hands could touch.

"Don't worry, dear. You just need to be patient with him. He's never spent this much time with a girl," she spoke to me with a maternal air that reminded me of my mother.

"How does she know...?"

"He tells me almost everything, sweetie. Besides, I'm his mother, I know him," Esther smiled and glanced in the direction where Ethan had gone.

I turned and saw him coming with a tray carrying three cups of coffee.

"Here you go," Ethan said as soon as he arrived.

"Thank you, dear, you're very considerate," he smiled at his mother and then sat down beside her.

Ethan's mother was in between the two of us.

"What were you talking about?"

"I was telling Minerva that it would be lovely if you went to buy some desserts for tonight because I'm making a delicious dinner," Esther smiled, winking very discreetly.