Based on the information in the passage,"she signaled us to the table. almost tiptoeing across the office, I maneuvered myself to keep my mother between me and gringo lady"; I can interfere that the speaker feels hesitant. The verb maneuver may be a clair sign that the speaker feels that way due to the fact that when someone is hesitating, he is tentative, dubious, undiceded, unsure and speaks and acts slowly.