Steve complied, pulling on the mitts and picking up the trays. He chuckled a bit when Peggy expressed what had troubled her. "I know she looks young, Peg," he explained, keeping his own voice just as soft. "But she's not exactly human. She's a mermaid. I read this book about them - they age slowly. She's older than she looks."
He wasn't quite sure how old that was, but there was maturity to Ariel. Innocence, of course, and a sweet naivete, but the girl wasn't a child.
He set the casserole on the table, and glanced to Peggy for the nod to begin serving.