3: Shoveling snow
Agnes Burke* and Antonio Vega

Llanview, Pennsylvania

"Wow, aren't you just a regular Boy Scout," Agnes said as she walked out of her house one morning to discover her gorgeous Latin next-door neighbor shoveling snow from her driveway.

"Just trying to be a good neighbor," Antonio said, offering her a soft smile.

"You know I actually believe that," Agnes allowed. "Any other guy … I'd just assume he was trying to get into my pants." Agnes smiled at Antonio. "I really appreciate this."

"No -" Antonio hefted a shovelful of snow into the gutter - "problem."

"You know," Agnes said, twining a strand of chestnut brown hair around her index finger, "I feel like I should thank you somehow."

"No worries," Antonio said, focusing on his work, maybe even more intently than was necessary.

"Okay, but maybe I want to. You should come over tonight for some spiced eggnog and stilted conversation," she teased. He seemed to be of few words, playing his cards close to the vest here.

"I can't. I'm taking my daughter to see The Nutcracker tonight."

"You have a daughter?" Agnes asked.

Antonio nodded. "Still want to hang out with me now?"

"Sure. I mean, why not? How old is she?"

"Three and a half."

"And you're taking her to see The Nutcracker? Will she even understand what's going on?"

"Yes. She's incredibly sharp, just like her mother was." He sighed. "Jamie is mature beyond her years."

"Oh…"

Antonio tucked his shovel under his muscular arm and surveyed his handiwork. "Think I've got it all."

Agnes nodded. "You did."

"I'll see you around then," he said, lifting his hand in a half-wave.

"Wait! I mean, just for a second. I really do want to thank you for what you've done."

"I just shoveled some snow. I didn't donate a kidney or anything."

"No, but you saved me from throwing out my back doing it," Agnes said. "That means a lot. After The Nutcracker, why don't you bring your daughter over here for some hot chocolate and warm cookies?"

Antonio nodded slowly. "That should be okay."

"Great. I'd better start baking then," Agnes said, and waving to him, she slipped back inside her house. She was actually really looking forward to tonight. She figured she had about twelve hours to learn how to bake.

No problem, right?

*Agnes is my original character. She is "played" by singer Cheryl Cole.