"Mom," 16 year old Elizabeth Sousa called.
"Yes dear," Peggy turned to face her daughter.
"I need your help."
...
"Oh, why didn't you tell me?" Peggy asked almost excitedly.
Elizabeth was shuffling through her closet trying to find the perfect thing to wear. "Well... I wasn't sure. I wanted to be sure."
Peggy looked through her closet with her daughter.
"His name is Dakota Hemmings . Blonde hair, blue eyes." Elizabeth sighed, obviously in love. Peggy chuckled. "Mom!"
Peggy chuckled again. "What? Young love. It can be the best."
"Can be?"
Peggy shrugged. Elizabeth looked at her curiously. "When I was 19, I thought I was in love—I was engaged to him—but... It wasn't what I thought."
"Then you met dad?"
Peggy shrugged her shoulders. "More or less."
Liz held a dress to her shoulders, "This one?"
It was the totally cliche, little black dress. Peggy shook her head, "Too short. Why do you even have it?"
Elizabeth laughed, "I think it's Emily's."
"That would make sense." Peggy laughed along with her daughter. "This one."
It was a pale pink, high-low with a sparkling belt. Between that and her chocolate curls, she would absolutely gorgeous. "Just remember," Peggy said handing over the dress. "Distance. And boundaries."
"Yes ma'am," She saluted as she laughed.
"Get dressed and I'll help you with your hair." Peggy left the room and walked back to the kitchen. Daniel was sitting at the breakfast bar, reading the paper.
"Liz has a date tonight," Peggy said as she opened the fridge.
"Oh good. Good." Daniel wasn't listening. Obviously. "Wait - A date?! With who?"
Peggy laughed as she pulled a Coke out of the fridge. "You promised you wouldn't be like that."
"Like what?" asked he, incredulously.
"An over protective patent."
"I'm not being over protective. I asked who she was going out with."
"In an over protective manner." She raised a rather amused brow.
"Peggy," He said short. "Who is she going out with?"
"His name is Dakota Hemmings."
"Have we met him before?" He asked. Peggy set down her coke and placed her elbows on the bar, her hands supporting her chin.
She looked rather cute, Daniel mused. Before she could say anything Elizabeth called for her mother again.
Peggy headed that way throwing a smile at Daniel.
Elizabeth sat at the vanity waiting for Peggy. She picked up the brush and ran it through the unruly chocolate curls. "Up or down?"
Elizabeth didn't answer. "Elizabeth."
Her daughter blinked and asked, "What?"
Peggy laughed. "Do you want your hair up or down?"
"Whatever you think is best," She rather blurted.
Peggy smiled. "Nervous?"
"No." She said quickly. "Maybe. ...Yes... We're you nervous on your first date?"
Peggy shrugged her shoulders. She didn't really get nervous. In most situations she couldn't afford to. "Not on my very first date. But I was when I went on my first date with your dad."
Little did both women know, Daniel was outside the door watching the two. He was glad Innis was sleeping so he didn't miss it.
"I was 27 and... Scared, more or less."
"Did you consider bailing?" Elizabeth asked curious.
"Maybe the first time he almost asked."
Elizabeth giggled. Sometimes the two were polar opposites. "You'll do fine." Peggy finally said.
Daniel returned to the living room and opened the door that someone knocked on. Standing there was was a teenage boy maybe as tall or a little taller than himself, with blonde hair, nice suit and blue eyes. He also has a bouquet of roses in his nervous hands.
"You must be Mr. Sousa. I've heard a lot about you..." The boy was really nervous. Daniel almost felt sorry for him. "I-I'm Dakota. Dakota Hemmings."
Daniel shook his hand introducing himself and letting him come in. Once inside she practically threw the roses at Daniel. "For Mrs Sousa. Of whom I have heard much about, as well."
Daniel smiled at his chivalrousness and took the flowers. At least he was polite. "Would you like to have a seat?"
"No," he replied. "no, thank you."
Daniel nodded his head. "So... Where did you and Elizabeth meet?"
The boy seemed glad for distraction and answered in the most polite way. "Youth Group. We were put together to work on a community service project."
Daniel nodded his head approvingly. "What did you do?"
"We did car washes and street cleaning."
Daniel nodded.
Daniel was about to ask another question but the date arrived downstairs with her mother. Peggy joined him at his side and watched the two.
"Hi," Lizzie breathed.
"You look...beautiful." Dakota said as he slowly held out his arm.
"Thank you."
The two of them walked out and Peggy laughed as Daniel shut the door. "What?"
"They are so cute."
"Oh," Daniel passed the roses to Peggy. "From Dakota."
Peggy just smiled all the more.
~•тнє єи∂•~