"I'll ensure your mother will be notified, Stephanie, don't worry. It's sweet that you think of it." He petted her head and then, gently, took the bag from her to carry it himself. "I'm the dad, right? I should do the heavy lifting."

True to those words, he also lifted her up and out of the window, gently letting her down to the fire escape, immediately following behind her. He leaned down, one arm across her shoulder, pointing to his car that was parked downstairs. It was one of his subtler ones, black with dark green leather interior. "That's my car. I got a booster seat for you."

He was prepared! Very responsible, he felt.