"Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, never let it fade away, " Declan sung softly as he knocked on Peggy's door for the third time. "Come on, Peg," he muttered to his better half. "How long does it take to get ready for bowling?"
The words had no sooner left his lips than the door opened. "I'm sorry, Declan, I--" Peggy stopped short, staring at him as if he'd grown a horn in the center of his forehead. "Is *that* what you're wearing tonight?"
Peggy was wearing a royal blue evening gown, strapless, with a gauze wrap over her shoulders. Declan suddenly felt underdressed in his jeans and flannel shirt.
"W--we're going bowling tonight, right Peg?" He suddenly had the sinking feeling that Miranda had been right and he'd actually forgotten their anniversary. Peggy shook her head slowly. "Tonight was our anniversary, wasn't it?" he said, giving her the same apologetic look Mole usually gave him after shredding an important paper.
Peggy nodded this time, a smile struggling its way onto her face.
"I'm sorry, Peg. I forgot."
"It's okay, Declan. I've gotten used to it by now," she added, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Let's go back to your place and get you changed."
*~*~*~*
"No, Declan, *this* one," Peggy said, handing Declan a suit from his closet.
"But I look better in..." he held up another pointedly.
"That one's got a stain on it. Where'd you wear it last? McDonalds?"
"Close... Wendy's." When Peggy's mouth dropped open, he added. "It was after a conference. There was a big formal dinner and the food majorly sucked, Peg. So I stopped off for a bacon cheese burger and biggie fries."
Peggy's groan was cut short when her cellular phone rang. "Peggy Fowler," she answered. "Oh, hi!" Holding her hand over the mouthpiece, she turned to Declan and whispered, "It's Miranda! You wanna talk to her?"
Ummm... " Declan looked up at her while hopping around on one foot and trying to get the other one--his shoe still on--through his pant leg. "Sure." He reached for the phone and promptly fell over. His head smacked the side of the couch with a dull thud.
Peggy giggled. "I'm sorry, Miranda. Declan can't come to the phone right now. He's tangled in his pant legs." A plaintive "ow" from Declan punctuated her statement.
"You forgot your anniversary, didn't you?" Miranda asked when Declan was finally able to take the phone from a laughing Peggy.
"Yeah," Declan groaned in admittance.
"I'm... sorry," Miranda's voice came through the phone, and Declan just knew she was smothering laughter. "I guess it's a good thing I'm not going to be joining you tonight, then?"
"Oh? You're not?" Declan asked, momentarily forgetting this was probably for the best.
"Yeah. My tutoring session went a little longer than expected."
"It did? How long?"
"I'm still there," came her reply. Behind her, Declan could hear the bustle of voices and clinking silverware.
"Where's 'there' exactly?" he asked.
"The Coffee Cup. It's a café downtown. Good coffee."
"Does that make it a date?" Declan teased.
"No."
"Are you sure? You said he was cute."
"Declan!" both Miranda and Peggy scolded. Peggy held her hand out for the phone.
"Uhoh. Gotta go, Miranda, or we'll be late...er... later than we already are. You'll fill me in tomorrow, right?" Declan asked.
"Sure. Tomorrow."
"Great! Can't wait to hear about this date."
"Declan!" both women exclaimed again, and Peggy instinctively threw one of Mole's chew toys at him.
"What was that for?" he complained.
"Because you deserved it and Miranda couldn't be here to do it herself,"
she told him, even though she was smiling. "Now, come on. We're
going to miss our reservation."
(continued in Part 4)