Chapter 15

"Ok, Lizzie, we have to get busy!" Gordo explained to Lizzie as he stepped into Lizzie's house. Lizzie had just answered the door after Gordo had rung the doorbell.

"Ok?" Lizzie said confused.

"Don't you remember my plan? I told you about it a few days ago." Gordo explained.

"Oh yeah!" Lizzie lit up. It was the Saturday after Lizzie's mom's surgery. The doctor said she could probably come home early the next week. Lizzie was excited that her mom would be coming home soon.

"Let's get to work!" she said excitedly. "What do we need to do?"

"Is your dad here?" Gordo asked.

"No, he's at the hospital with Mom. Matt and I were going to go a bit later." It was only eleven in the morning. Matt was still in his pajamas. Gordo spotted him through the corner of his eye.

"Matt, get dressed. We need your help." Gordo shouted in Matt's direction.

"Can I look at their room?" Gordo asked.

"Of course, follow me."

"What are you two up to?" Matt asked coming into the room.

"We're going to surprise mom when she gets home. Matthew McGuire, welcome to Extreme Makeover: room addition!" Gordo delivered with a big voice.

"Awesome!" Matt said. "Do you think Dad will care?"

"I don't think so. Anything to make Mom happy. But let me call him real quick. Matt, give Gordo a quick tour of the room."

Lizzie entered the kitchen to make the call and the two young men went upstairs to evaluate the room.

"Ok, looks good. I think we have some shopping to do." Gordo explained as he came back downstairs. "We'll need your womanly advice."

"Oh course," Lizzie giggled. "Dad loves the idea. So what are your thoughts?"

"Well, I think a new bedspread, curtains, maybe some candles, something girly like that?" Gordo listed off his ideas.

"I love it!" Lizzie said. "We should do something in their bathroom. I know Mom would love that."

"Works for me," Gordo said.

"I have an idea!" Matt spoke up.

"Yeah?" the two looked at him.

"You know that picture we took at the beach with the four of us that mom loves?" he began.

"Yeah, Mom loves that thing." Lizzie retorted.

"We can get it blown up and frame it. We can hang it right over her bed."

Lizzie hugged her brother in excitement. "Matt, that's a wonderful idea. She'd love that."

"Ok, let's get in the car. We can think of more ideas on the way." Gordo said pulling his car keys from his pocket.

"This is going to be great!" Lizzie said as she moved toward the front door. The three loaded up into Gordo's car.

They spent hours out shopping. They went from one store to the next collecting various things they would need.

As they exited a local Home Deepo, after buying a new shower curtain and other related goods, Lizzie spotted a small thrift shop.

"You guys, let's go look in there." Gordo followed her command, and parked in front of the small store.

The three entered and looked around at the cluttered store. Lizzie instinctively moved toward one corner that was littered with old furniture.

"Look how pretty," Lizzie instructed as she pointed at an old wooden rocking chair.

"Wow, Mom would love something like that. She's always said she wants her own rocking chair." Matt put in.

"Yeah, but it needs some work. Its pretty old." Lizzie put in.

"I can take care of that." Gordo put in. "I can take it home and sand her down and put a fresh coat on her."

"No, I couldn't ask you to do that." Lizzie said.

"No, I want to do something special for your mom."

"I can sew a cushion for it myself."

"How much is it?" Matt asked.

"Twenty-five dollars." Gordo read a tag from the back of the chair.

"Wow, that's a steal." Matt answered back.

"Well, is it a go, Lizzie?" Gordo asked.

"Yeah, it's a go."

"But how will we get it home?" Matt put in.

"Good point." Lizzie hadn't thought about that."

"I'll come back for it later. I can use my dad's pickup truck."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am, Liz." Gordo said forcefully.

"Ok, thanks," she said as she kissed him on the cheek.

"Let me talk to the owner really quick. Gordo talked to the old woman behind the counter and reserved the chair. The three filed out of the store and began their journey home.

The unloaded the many bags of goods and started the tasks of rearranging the room. Lizzie had fun changing the furniture to make room for the new chair while Matt remade the bed, hung the new shower curtain.

"This looks great!" the kids were interrupted by Mr. McGuire's sudden presence.

"Do you think she'll like it?" Lizzie asked.

"She's going to love it." He answered. "Why is there a big empty wall?" He asked pointing to the now lonely wall.

"We bought this beautiful new rocking chair for her. Gordo is just going to repaint it for us."

"She's always wanted a rocking chair," Sam said more to himself than to his kids.

"But Dad, you're not going to be able to sleep on these new sheets until mom gets home." Lizzie laughed.

A/N:

I'm sorry for the very late update. I hope you all are still interested and will continue to read and review. It will be complete very soon.