"Alex can be next door or something, but if you can avoid getting there by public transit..."

"What's wrong with public transit?"

"Makes you strandable, if you lose track of time or something and it stops running."

"Oh. Yeah. Maybe Alex could take me by car and wait for me somewhere nearby...?"

"Yeah. And he can bail you out if it gets nasty."

"Mmhm. I don't think it will but yeah."

"Okay, if you really think it's best you have my permission to get Alex to take you to this meeting."

"Thank you, ma'am. I love you. I wonder if I should go girl-shaped."

"Do you think that would help?"

"Maybe, maybe not, I'm not sure. He could construe me going as a boy as either offense or as further evidence I'm beyond his reach."

"Maybe go girl and read the situation and switch mid-conversation if it seems like it'll help then."

"Yeah, that could work."

"Be safe. I love you so much."

"I love you too, ma'am. I'm yours, for as long as you'll have me."

"Good."

"I'll call you again after talking to him."

"You'd better. Don't keep me up worrying about you."

"Yes, ma'am, I won't."

"Love you. Be safe."

"Love you, too. I will."

He hangs up, and when Alex arrives from school goes ask/tell him about it, though maybe Isabella already did.

"Yeah, she mentioned. Where are we going and when?"

"Don't know yet, wanted to ask you if it was alright before calling Tobias back to confirm."

"I can chauffeur long as it's not during school hours or my friend's birthday party this Saturday."

"Okay. I'll call him." He goes and does just that, it's short, and finally they settle on "This Sunday?"

"Yeah, sure. You're sure about this?"