Emily

A year ago, I wanted to surprise my mother by paying her an unannounced visit. Little did I know that it was I who would have the surprise of my life. I was just about to walk to the elevator leading up to her condo unit when I caught sight of her, all dressed-up in a lovely long black gown getting into a devilish handsome guy's car.

Not in the whole fifteen years that she has been separated from my father have I seen her go out on a date. I didn't want to ruin her evening by telling her I was in LA for a visit. I know she would be delighted by the news, but I didn't want this date to be ruined so I ended up just calling to say hello, and just staying in a hotel for the night.

"Hey, Emily, what's up? How are you, darling?" said my mother.

"I was uhm… just calling to see how you were," I managed to say.

"How's the new job? I know catching a murderer is different from working in Internal Affairs."

She replied, "Well, I'm fitting in quite nicely. I'm getting used to all the constant deaths that kept popping into our newsroom. So how are you dear?"

"I'm working on a new ballet. Don Quixote. I got in as a part of the ensemble," I said.

"Sounds great!" exclaimed my mother delightedly.

"Did I catch you at an importune time? Are you at work?" I asked, checking what she would tell me, fishing for information.

"No, I'm not at work. I'm actually on my way to a friend's daughter's wedding. Oh, we just got here, I'll call you when I get home."

"It's alright, mom. I might be asleep by then. Let's talk tomorrow. I love you."

"I love you too. Bye sweetie."

I was half expecting she would tell me about her date the next time we spoke, but she didn't. But hey, whoever tells their daughter about their love life. For a year I have not heard of any news about my mother's devilish handsome guy with salt and pepper hair that I now thought he was out of the picture until I paid my mother a surprise visit at the precinct.

As expected, my mother was very happy to see me, and everyone in her workplace was truly welcoming.

I was left alone inside her office while she stepped out being called by her chief to his office.

I did not mean to snoop but seating on her chair, waiting for her was getting pretty boring. I scanned the folders on her desk that contained notes on case files. Disinterested, I moved to her desk calendar which was even more twice as boring with notes on meeting schedules, people on leave-paid, unpaid, sick, and other daily office notes. Until I happen upon mom's personal daily planner.

Grocery lists and schedules were jotted down; the laundry schedule and pick up, bills payment, Rusty's schedule, PTA, visits to my place and Ricky's. Just about everything my mom wants to remember to keep the order in her life.

Skimming through it, I noticed she was constantly out, almost every other night. Movie, dinner in several different restaurants and just beside each of them is a letter A.

I flipped several pages, and the same thing appeared-the letter A.

In a couple of entrees, there were notes such as Daisies from A, Roses from A, Tulips from A. Ballerina Snow Globe from A etc. Geez, this guy sure knows how to woo a girl. I stared at the aforementioned snow globe- which my mom used as a paperweight in the middle of her desk. Even the brand of chocolates from A were written down.

Mom's notes tried to appear nonchalant but just like every woman in love, she just wants to write everything memorable about the date. I sniggered, noticing even A's perfume and the tie he was wearing were noted.

April 27 Dinner at the Hilton w/ A

Musky poison, blue tie, grey suit

April 30 Tennis at Green Valley w/ A

Fresh pine scent, blue sports shirt, white shorts, Nike white sneakers

Mom's surprisingly busy going out with A. She even brought A home for dinner and a game of scrabble and an old movie night.

Was A the same man I saw with her a year ago? Possibly. All I could tell was Mom and A were pretty close judging from how often they see each other.

Mom was so secretive, she not only kept her boyfriend from us, but she can't even write A's name in her journal.

Suddenly, my attention was caught by an up-coming long -weekend schedule on a Mexican Cruise. My mom will be gone for 5 long days on August 8-12.

That date sounded familiar… Where have I seen that long vacation schedule? I skimmed back to mom's desk calendar, and there it was, one of her officers was going on a vacation leave on those exact dates. -LT. FLYNN.

A coincidence?

I heard my mother's voice as she came back to the squad room. While she and her squad were busy in their discussion, I immediately scrambled back into my mom's desk to ensure I have put everything back in place.

I was ecstatic for my mother. It's about time she found love and happiness. It was just too bad that she didn't find it necessary to share it with her children. If they had only begun dating recently perhaps that was the reason my mom did not think it necessary to introduce him to us yet. Although, I think it was serious as she was spending a five-day vacation with him.

I sneaked a glance at my mother. She was still preoccupied.

I flipped her personal calendar to another page and saw she had another entry on the following week after the cruise.

August 18 Attend Nicole's out of town birthday party with A

Overnight at hotel?

A commotion outside my mom's office distracted my thoughts and I ran out to see what it was. Looking out, I got my second stupefying surprise of the day. Coming inside the murder room, holding a burly man in handcuffs was the devilish handsome date of my mother a year ago.

"Andy, Chief Taylor wants to see you in his office. Turn that suspect over to Julio," said my mother.

There was nothing sugary with her tone or with the way the devilish handsome guy replied, "Sure thing, Captain."

Andy! I finally know my mom's secret boyfriend called A.