And so was the end of their evening signaled, pleasant as it had been. Maddie smiled in thanks and took the tray back without complaint. "Only the favor I asked of you. Whenever you receive a response I would like to know the outcome. Good or bad," she assured him, nervous to know her fate was at the hands of seemingly everyone but herself lately. "Until then I wish you well," she bid him, bowing her head to him with sincere respect before turning to go up to her door. Once she was through it she turned to wave in a more final goodbye before closing it.
Her mother watched her daughter with slight skepticism once she had returned from her visit with the Mordecai. It was clear they had talked and by the slight color to her cheeks she guessed she was a bit smitten with the soldier even if the young woman would not admit it. "Did he enjoy dinner?" she wondered, smiling slightly for the obviously empty tray.
"What? Oh, yes! It seemed like he did, yes," she answered, trying to keep the excitement from her voice for she knew he as likely within earshot if he had not bolted from their door. "He will be asking on my behalf if I could be given leave to travel," she explained again as she stepped the short distance to the kitchen that was open to the rest of their main living space. "I hope they will let me go visit father with you," Maddie sighed as she cleaned up all of the dishes from the evening meal.
"We can only hope," the older woman yawned, turning to look out the window once more into the darkness of night.