She knew Isaiah too, though. She had worked in this house for nearly twenty years and had seen a lot in that time. He was strong, when needed; compassionate when necessary; determined when he wanted something, or someone. He was also consumed by the world around him and their control of him; it would be an interesting battle, she just wished the kids didn't have to stand in the middle of the battlefield.

***

"I talked to Derek last night." Isaiah looked at Pauline, shocked and not knowing how to respond. Why should he care? "He was so despondent, Iz. You rejected him, and didn't even give him a chance to defend himself." Walking to the fridge, she leaned in and pulled out a beer from inside, walking back, ignoring the questioning look from Isaiah. "What's to defend? He was skimming." Pauline took a long draw from the can and patted his head. "Now, Iz. Do you know that for sure? It's not nice to condemn a man without a trial. It seems to me you could have let him explain." She sat down and took his hands in hers, time to be the guiding mommy force; he would pull back from stronger tactics. Isaiah shook her off. His angry roughness was surprising, even to him. Looking into his mother's eyes, the coldness told the truth. Her soft, loving approach was foreign to her and her eyes couldn't hide it. "Excuse me, mom. My fiancée needs me." He pushed back the chair and walked quickly from the room before she could say another word to stop him. Just saying "stop', would have probably been enough. He had spent his entire life listening to her commands and obeying, it was time for a change of command.