Chapter 29

Jo and Miranda are helping Lizzie get ready for her date. Lizzie grabs 2 dresses out of her closet.

Lizzie: Which one should I wear? The silver or the blue?

Miranda: Mmm, the blue!

Jo: I think so too.

Lizzie: Okay, blue it is. She puts the other dress back in the closet. Mom, will you do my hair? I wanna wear it up, with a few ringlets hanging down around my face.

Jo: We'll let you get changed and then I'll fix it for you. She and Miranda leave the room so Lizzie can get changed. Miranda, you got the barrettes?

Miranda: Yeah. She fishes them out of her purse. They're straight with silver and blue stones (faux diamonds and sapphires).

Jo: Oh, they're perfect! She'll love them! Tell your mom she did a great job on them.

Miranda: They go great with the necklace you gave her. She showed me the necklace once when we were kids, and told me she couldn't wait until she was sixteen and got to wear that necklace.

Jo: Smiles and laughs a bit. Yeah. I'd catch her every once in awhile holding it. She'd say, "Mommy, when can I wear it? I wanna wear it now." She was so cute. Changes the subject. Do you know where he's taking her?

Miranda: No. I couldn't get it out of him. I tried, but he wouldn't budge.

Lizzie: Opens her door. Okay, I'm dressed now. You can come back in.

Jo: Go ahead and sit at the vanity. Lizzie sits. These are for you. She places the barrettes in Lizzie's hands.

Lizzie: Gasps. Mom, they're beautiful. She pauses. Miranda, did your mom make these?

Miranda: Yeah. She made me a pair to match. Remember the barrettes I wore for my Quinceañera?

Lizzie: Yeah. I loved them!

Miranda: I told mom I wanted her to make you some for your Sweet Sixteen.

Lizzie: But weren't yours red and silver?

Miranda: Yeah. I told mom that the blue would work better for you than red.

Jo fixes Lizzie's hair and places the barrettes. Well?

Miranda: Lizzie, you look gorgeous!

Lizzie: Smiles and studies her hair. Thanks. Mom, I love it.

Miranda: You're gonna have such a good time!

Lizzie: Do you know where he's taking me?

Miranda: Not telling!

Lizzie: Aww, c'mon!

Miranda: Nope, not saying a thing. Call me when you get back, okay? I want details! Lizzie laughs. Jo shoots the girls a look. Miranda feigns being offended. Mrs. McGuire! I didn't mean THAT. Seriously. This makes Lizzie laugh harder.


While Lizzie is getting ready for her date, the doorbell rings.

Lizzie: Panicking. Mom, it's him! I'm not ready!

Jo: Relax. Your dad will get the door. Gets up and yells down the stairs. Sam, the door!

Sam: Yelling up the stairs. I've got it! He opens the door. Gordo is dressed in a black suit, with a white shirt and blue and silver tie. He has a bouquet of red roses, tied with a blue and silver ribbon, and a heart-shaped box. Gordo, come in, son.

Gordo: Uhh, thanks, Mr. McGuire.

Sam: Let's sit in the living room. Lizzie's not quite ready. They go to the living room and sit down. So, what do you have planned for my daughter tonight? Gordo tells Sam the itinerary for the evening. It sounds like you're gonna show her a good time. He pauses and takes a deep breath. Gordo, remember, this is my daughter you're taking out tonight. It's her sixteenth birthday, a really special one. She's had a hard year too…….

Gordo: Cuts him off. Uhh, Mr. McGuire, I love Lizzie and would never do anything to deliberately hurt her.

Sam: You'd better not, or so help me…………

Jo comes down the stairs. Sam and Gordo stand up. She's ready. Jo is grinning from ear to ear while Lizzie descends the staircase. Miranda watches the scene from the top of the stairs.

Gordo: His jaw drops. Wow! He mouths.

Matt: Walks into the room from the kitchen. Wow Lizzie, you look great. Well, even if you are my sister.

Sam: You look great, kiddo. He kisses her on the cheek.

Lizzie: Thanks!

Gordo: Stammering. You look amazing.

Lizzie: Thanks. She blushes.

Gordo: Gives her a gentle kiss. This is for you. He gives her the bouquet first.

Lizzie: Mmm, roses. They're lovely.

Gordo: This is for you too. Gives her the box.

Lizzie: Opens the box and takes out a piece of chocolate. They're milk chocolate pieces, some with nuts and others with peanut butter in the center. My favourite! Thank you! She gives him a passionate kiss.

Gordo: Are you ready?

Lizzie: Yeah. She hands the box and bouquet to her mother.

Jo: I'll put these in water in your room for you.

Lizzie: Thanks, mom.

Jo: Have a good time, baby. She hugs her daughter.

Lizzie: I will.

Sam: Whispers in Gordo's ear. Remember what I said.

Gordo: You've got my word.

Sam: Okay. Have a good time.

The couple leaves. Miranda slips out as well. Matt watches TV in the den.


Jo closes the door behind the couple. She puts her hand on her hip. Sam, what did you tell him?

Sam: I just told him not to hurt my daughter.

Jo: Exasperated. Sam, you didn't.

Sam: I just wanted to make it clear that he'd better not do anything to her, or I'd kill him.

Jo: Rolls her eyes. Sam, this is Gordo we're talking about.

Sam: Yeah, I know. But I know what it's like to be a teenaged boy with raging hormones. I know what boys do sometimes.

Jo: Smiling, putting her arms around her husband. And what did you wanna do with me when we were dating, huh? Did you wanna do, uh, things with me?

Sam: You wanna know? He whispers in her ear and her eyes widen. She giggles and leads him upstairs into the bedroom, and she shuts the door.