CHAPTER 2

The next morning, Lizzie is at her locker and Gordo and Miranda walked over. "So," Miranda asked, "give us the 4-1-1!"

"Well, mom asked me if I would give up my room for the baby."

"Well, are you?"

"She wants me either to take the guest room, or we'll remodel the basement and turn it into a suite."

"Hey, I like the second option!" Miranda's eyes brighten.

"Me, too."

"Think of it, Lizzie," Gordo started, "you can get your own room, bathroom, and maybe your own living room."

"Ooh! You could sweet talk your folks into getting you a TV and couch." Miranda suggests.

"You could milk this for all its worth, Lizzie!" Gordo echoes.

Lizzie grinned, "This could be good!"

"What else did you talk about Liz," Miranda queried.

"Mom told me how she told dad when she was pregnant with me and Matt."

"I bet that was so romantic," Miranda squealed.

Lizzie beamed, "Yeah, mom's such a romantic. She cooked dad's favorite dinner when she told him about me."

"What about Matt?"

"Actually dad told mom she was pregnant."

"Umm, how could he know before she did? It is the woman that carries the baby." Gordo comments.

"Yeah, but mom said she was acting all weird and dad figured it out."

"Oh."

The bell rings. "Great," Lizzie sighs, "now we're late for class."

"Wanna do something fun?" Gordo asks.

"What?" Miranda responds.

"Well, since we've missed the bell for first period, wanna get out of here and go shopping?"

"Why not?"

"I dunno guys." I've got a bad feeling about this!

"We can pick out things for your new room!" Miranda suggests.

"Sounds great!" What I'm I so worried about? Shopping! That's always fun!

"Let's go!" The trio snuck out of the building and headed to the mall.

The trio looks at curtains, throw pillows, and blankets at the new Bed and Linens store in the mall. Then they eat lunch at the local pizza parlor and get ice cream. Lizzie looks at her watch, "Guys, we've got to get back. Mom's picking us up in half an hour."

"Let's go!"

They put their purchases in their backpacks and sprint back to school. Jo McGuire pulls into the parking lot and the kids run to the car. "Safe," the trio sighs with relief. "Hi mom!"

"Hi kids. How was your day?"

"Good. Oh, Lizzie told us about the baby. Congratulations," Miranda replies.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks kids. So, Lizzie, wanna go shopping this Saturday? We could look at things for your room. We could go to that new Bed and Linens store. I saw some curtains and other accessories that you might like."

"Sure. That would be great." The trio looks at each other. Guilty looks cross their faces. I'm so dead! Someone should order the flowers.

Jo pulls into the driveway, and the trio starts to get out of the car. Jo stops Lizzie, "I know what you did today."

Busted! "I, I don't know what you mean?"

"I got a call from your principal today. It seems a certain young lady was seen sneaking out of the school building with another young lady and a young man."

"I, uh."

"Lizzie, what were you thinking?"

"I, I, uh."

"We'll talk about this after supper."

A defeated Lizzie walks into the house and into her room. Bonnie and Clyde, otherwise known as Miranda and Gordo are waiting.

"So," Miranda asks, "what did your mom want?"

"We're busted."

"Whaddya mean busted?"

"I mean, busted, as in the principal called her and said that we were seen sneaking out of school."

"Aw, man," Gordo folds.

"What are we gonna do," Miranda whines.

"I don't know," Lizzie sighs.

------After Dinner------

After dinner, Miranda and Gordo go home and Jo walks into Lizzie's room. "Lizzie, we need to talk about today."

"I know."

"What got into you?"

"Ungh, I don't know. We were talking and the bell rang."

"So you took that as your cue to skip school?"

"Something like that."

"Uh huh, something like that, yeah right," Jo rolls her eyes.

"Well?"

"Well! Tomorrow, your father and I have to meet with your principal. Lizzie, you might get suspended! That's not like you, honey."

Now I feel REALLY good. "I know. Mom, what am I gonna do?"

"Well, I don't know what's going to happen with the principal tomorrow, but your dad and I decided you're grounded for a month."

"A month! Mom!"

"Do you want to make it two?"

"No. What about Saturday?"

"I already promised you that we can go shopping, but after that, no phone calls, no instant messaging, and no friends over."

"But Gordo and I have that project for Economics."

"That's different, honey."

"Mom, I'm sorry."

"I know you are."

"Are you going to make me take back what I bought?"

"No, let's see it." Lizzie shows her mother the purchases. "Lizzie, these are lovely. Your room's going to look so good." Jo looks around her daughter's room, "I remember decorating your nursery. Your crib was over there, and I had a rocker beside the window..." Lizzie snuggles up to her mother. "Do you want to hear this?"

"Please, mommy?"

"Mommy? You haven't called me mommy in a long time." She brushes a lock of hair from Lizzie's face, "I was seven months pregnant with you. I felt as big as a house..."

------FLASHBACK SEQUENCE--------

Sam: Jo, I think I've found us a house.

Jo: Really?

Sam: Come on. I'll show you.

Jo: Sam, I'm a wreck.

Sam: You look beautiful.

Jo: I think love has blinded you.

They exit the apartment and drive to the house. A "Sold" sign stands in the yard.

Jo: Oh, Sam, it's beautiful! Sam smiles and pulls out a set of keys. It's ours!

Sam: Unlock the door and go in!

Jo: I love you! She wraps her husband in a tight embrace, and the pair walks to the house. Sam sweeps her off her feet and carries her across the threshold Sam! Are you crazy? Put me down! I'm too heavy for you.

Sam: You're light as a feather.

Jo: Now you're delusional.

Sam: Can't I carry my bride across the threshold of her new castle?

Jo: But your bride is 7 months pregnant. Sam puts her down and they walk through the house. It's so big! Look at this kitchen!

Sam: Take a look at the bedrooms upstairs.

Jo: walks into the room opposite the master bedroom. This is going to be the baby's room. We can put the rocker over by the window and the crib over here. I want to decorate it in pink with fairy princesses and silver stars...

Sam: That will look funny in a boy's room.

Jo: When we have a boy, we can decorate his room, but I know this baby's a girl.

Sam: wraps his arms around her. What makes you so sure? Did you sneak a peek during the ultrasound?

Jo: No, a mother just knows.

--------END SEQUENCE---------

Lizzie smiled, "And you were right!" She and Jo laugh. Lizzie continued, "I remember those fairy princesses. I wanted to be a princess when I grew up."

"Your dad always called you his little princess."

"Mom?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

"I'm really sorry about today."

"I know you are. Why don't you go ahead and get ready for bed? Since we need to meet with your principal tomorrow, we'll be driving you to school. And whatever happens, we love you."

"That's right," echoes Sam from the doorway.

"How long have you been standing there," Jo asks.

"Long enough to see how beautiful my two best girls are."

Lizzie got up and gave her father a hug, "I love you daddy."

"I love you too, princess."

Jo sits on the bed, watching the scene in front of her, and a tear escaped her eye.