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she started down the stairs, his gaze remained on her.  She suddenly considered how long he had been waiting for her.  As usual, he looked handsome and distinguished in his black tuxedo, especially in contrast to the informal decor of her house—a welcome mat with polar bears, worn tennis shoes and snow boots piled in a corner of the entryway, an assortment of puffy winter jackets and hats lining the coat rack.  Isabel had just shoveled the driveway after returning home late from the office, and the shovel was now dripping dirty salty water across the hardwood floor near Aidan’s random rock collection. 
    She arrived at the base of the stairs and stared at Phillip with a mixture of embarrassment and discomfort.  He had never seen the inside of her house, and it felt like an awkward intrusion.  She preferred Phillip to believe that every aspect of her life was under control with the same professionalism that she asserted every day in front of him at the office, and she preferred not to grant him a voyeuristic glimpse into the constant disarray that was her household.
    “Are we late?” She glanced up at her wall clock and noted the defensive tone in her own voice.  Phillip noted it, too, and his response turned hard and assertive.
    “No, I simply felt that it was a necessity to drop off something for my friend.”
    Phillip revealed a small gift from behind his back and presented it to Aidan, who was lurking in the fringes of the living room.  Isabel watched her son.  He had only met Phillip a handful of times when she had brought him to the office, and now, she wondered if Aidan remembered him.  But the wrapped gift was too much to resist.  Aidan swooped out from his hiding place, grabbed the gift from Phillip’s hands, and tore off the wrapping paper, revealing a battery-powered helicopter.
    “Whoa, cool…” Aidan exclaimed, watching its headlights flash and its blades swoosh in circles, all with the touch of a red button. 
    “Phillip, you shouldn’t have…” Isabel studied the helicopter.  She always arranged all of Phillip’s gifts—even for his own aging mother who has since passed away.  This time , Phillip had taken the time to shop for the gift himself .
    “Yes, it was obligatory.  Your son has been kind enough to lend me his mother—two nights in a row.  Minimally, that sacrifice deserves a new helicopter.”
    Suddenly, he presented a bow-tied box of chocolates to Isabel’s mother.  “It also deserves a gift for his grandmother as well.”
    Mrs. Alvarez eyed the elegant box with skepticism, but deep down, Isabel knew her mother wanted to accept the truffles more than she wanted to maintain her icy glare.  How Phillip knew her mother loved Godiva chocolates, Isabel didn’t know; but she also wasn’t completely surprised.  He always performed his due diligence in order to strategize the best angle to negotiate a business deal with anyone—including Isabel’s own rigid mother.
    “Thank you, Mr. Spears.” Mrs. Alvarez nodded politely.  “You will have my daughter home by midnight?”
    “Mother—”
    Mrs. Alvarez ignored her daughter and challenged Phillip with her brooding Spanish eyes.  He smirked and lowered his voice like a teenager escorting Isabel to the prom.  “Yes, of course.  Midnight.  I promise.”
    Isabel rolled her eyes.  Impossible .
    “Mommy, can I eat some toast before bedtime?” Aidan suddenly asked.
    “Yes, of course,” she said, kneeling down to her son and reaching out to him for a hug. “Nica will help you make it.  I have to go now, but I’ll be back soon.”
    Aidan flew his fancy helicopter into Isabel’s arms, allowing her to kiss his cheek.
    “Goodbye, Mommy.  Can I wait up for you?” Mimicking the sound of sputtering blades, He cut his toy through the air. 
    “No, honey…be a good boy and go to bed with Nica and don’t wait up for me.  I’ll see you in the morning.” 
    The disappointment in his face was almost too much to bear,