Stepping out of the elevator, Eleanor immediately scolded Princess, "No more running off next time, you hear me?"


    Princess only looked up at her with those big, innocent eyes, clearly confused about what she''d done wrong. Sighing, Eleanor had no choice but to take the dog home with her.


    "Princess!" Evelyn squealed with delight, running over to throw her arms around Princess''s neck, her cheek squishing into the pup''s head.


    "Mom, where did you find her?" Evelyn asked, eyes wide with curiosity.


    "In the garden downstairs," Eleanor replied.


    "Naughty Princess! You''re not allowed to wander off like that anymore!" Evelyn said, pretending to scold her, though she was clearly just relieved.


    Joslyn watched the reunion, unsurprised. She''d suspected Princess had been at Mr. Goodwin''s ce all along.


    That night, after putting her daughter to bed, Eleanor took a moment to look over the gifts she''d received from Xavier and Mansfield. It was her birthday, so friends sending presents was only natural. Xavier''s gift was simple enough that she could easily find a reason to return it if necessary.


    But Mansfield''s gift was another matter entirely-it was far too extravagant to simply hand back. Eleanor felt a headacheing on. Navigating social niceties had never been her strong suit.


    She finally mustered the courage to text him. "The gift you gave tonight is too much," she wrote, knowing it might sting.


    "You deserve it," Mansfield replied, his message short but sincere.


    "I rarely carry anything expensive with me, and I worry about safety. I''m going to return your gift, Mansfield. Your friendship means a lot to me, but there''s really no need for something sovish," Eleanor typed, carefully choosing her words before hitting send.


    "Eleanor, don''t be like this. I just want to give you the best I can," Mansfield replied promptly.


    Staring at his message, Eleanor took a deep breath and typed again, "I appreciate your thoughtfulness, truly, but it''s too much. How about you just treat Evelyn and me to lunch someday instead?"


    The screen showed "typing..." for nearly two minutes before his reply finally appeared. "Alright, I''lle pick it up tomorrow and bring something else. But I''m still taking you and Evelyn out to eat."


    Relieved, Eleanor sent back a smiling emoji. "I''ll be at work tomorrow, so I''ll leave it with Joslyn. You can pick it up anytime."


    "Will do!"


    With that settled, Eleanor finally felt she could rx. Otherwise, she probably wouldn''t have been able to sleep at all.


    Xavier''s gift this year was much more modest-a small, beautifully crafted trinket, worth only a few hundred dors at most.


    Early the next morning, Eleanor handed the ring box to Joslyn before taking Evelyn to school.


    At half past nine, Mansfield arrived as promised, standing at the door with a new gift bag in hand. Joslyn promptly handed him the little velvet box. "Mrs. Ellington said I can''t ept something this expensive," she said politely.


    Mansfield couldn''t help but smile-had he really managed to traumatize Eleanor with his gifts?


    "Don''t worry, it''s just a little music box for her room."


    Joslyn peeked inside and saw an elegant, artistic music box. She immediately pictured it on Eleanor''s desk in the study. "This would look perfect in her study!" she said honestly.


    "Would you mind putting it there for me?" Mansfield asked with a gentle smile. "Of course," Joslyn replied, taking the bag. "I''m sure she''ll love it."


    Mansfield didn''t linger. Later, Joslyn snapped a photo of the music box in ce and sent it to Eleanor.