In an aside to Maria I said, "Let me handle this and don't talk about our purpose for being here."
Maria looked puzzled, but she nodded obediently.
I loved her mute acceptance of what I'd asked of her. Maria was coming to both trust me and respect my headship enough to do what I asked without having to know the why, where, and how it would be. It was relational progress.
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Maria felt nervous as she waited beside Elon at the big wooden front doors of the villa. She respected Flint and Lisa more so than just about anybody else and she couldn't help but cringe at the prospect of trying to explain her unique relationship with Elon to them.
The door opened and there was no one there and then Maria glanced down to see the little boy standing there one arm craned up to the door handle. Maria had to smile at the adorable little boy, who was the spitting image of his daddy, only with a darker complexion.
Elon squatted down to be eye level with the boy and said, "Brian should you be opening the door if you don't know who's there?" Elon said reprovingly.
"The little boy responded exuberantly, "Oh I knew it was you Elon! Mommy saw you coming up the driveway."
"Well then I stand corrected." Elon said.
The little boy twisted his hands together anxiously and couldn't seem to stand still as he studied Elon with hopeful anticipation. And then in a statement one would expect of one much older the boy said, "Please don't make me beg Elon!"
Elon laughed out loud and began pulling small metallic figures from a pocket in his coat and handing them one by one to the little boy. They were exquisitely cast and detailed little metal warriors wielding swords and spears that would've been any little boy's dream toy come to life.
Maria watched as delighted pleasure beamed from off of Elon's face as he in turn watched the little boys look of shocked awe with the unveiling of each new unique metallic creation of art. It was readily apparent that Elon loved children.
A man who loved children like he did should have some of his own to shower affection upon, as there was a shortage in the world of loving fathers. Maria suddenly didn't mind at all that she would be the one to give him children to spoil. In fact it seemed like a rare privilege had been extended out to her.
The pocket of treasure empty the little boy turned tail and ran screaming across the grand foyer, "Mom!!! Look!"