"Mommy, where are we goin' tonight?" Lilly asked from Brooke's bed as she watched her mother walk in and out of her large walk-in closet.
"You are going over to Peyton and Jake's so Jenny can watch you and I am going to have dinner with Mouth." Brooke laid out another dress on her bed.
"How come I can't come with you, Momma? I always go with you to see Mouth and Noelle."
"Noelle isn't going to be there either, honey." Brooke said as she entered her bathroom to finish getting ready. "She's going to be at her grandparent's house."
"But why can't we both eat dinner with you and Mouth too? Lilly asked as she stood up on the bed.
Brooke let her shoulder length hair fall out of the towel and she said, "Because we want to be alone so we can talk about grown up stuff. It's a date."
As she spoke those words, Brooke realized she's never explained dating to her daughter before. She'd never needed to.
"What is a date?" Lilly asked as Brooke reentered the bedroom.
Brooke lifted Lilly off the bed, sat down where she had been standing in her bare feet, and set her daughter on her lap.
"A date, Lilly, is when two people, or two really good friends who like each other go out by themselves to talk and spend time alone so they can get to know each other."
Lilly crossed her eyes brows like Brooke always did when she was confused and she said, "But you and Mouth already know each other. You knowed him from high school, 'member?"
Brooke sighed, " Yes, sweetie. You're right. But Mouth and I only know each other from high school. We want to spend some time alone so that we can learn more about each other's lives now. And it will be easier for us to do that without you and Noelle there giggling all night."
Lilly smiled and said, " Okay, Mom. But I have another question."
"Okay, shoot."
"Did you and my daddy go out on dates too."?
Brooke smiled as she remembered all her dates with Lucas, and the times they skipped to the after the date part and she replied, "Yes, we did. We dated a lot."
"Do you love Mouth like you loved daddy?"
Brooke frowned and said, "Well, I really like Mouth but I will never love anyone in the same way I loved your dad. And no one can ever take the place of you dad, okay."
"Okay."
Brooke kissed her daughter's head, stood up and put Lilly back on the bed.
"Now," she said as she held up a knee length, red halter-top strap dress on a hanger and a short, spaghetti strap dress on another hanger, "Which one of these dresses do you think I should wear tonight?"
"Umm…" Lilly hummed as she tapped her finger on her chin and thought. "The red one!"
"Good choice. Thanks baby."
"You welcome."
Ding Dong!
Smiling, Haley walked towards the front door with Cooper in her arms.
"Gamma, gampa, here?" Cooper asked.
"I think so." Haley replied as she reached the door. "Let's find out."
Haley opened the door with a big smiled and found her parents, Jimmy and Julie James on the other side.
"Haley bob!" Her mother shouted excitedly as she hugged her daughter and grandson.
"Hi, Mom." Haley replied with a chuckle just before letting go. Her mother took Cooper and kissed his cheeks making him giggle. Haley hugged her father and the rest of the family entered the living room.
"Hi, Daddy." Haley said, still smiling when she hugged her father.
"Hi, sweetheart." Jimmy replied as they pulled away. He looked her up and down and said, " You look beautiful honey. You look a little different too."
Haley's mother heard his statement and she glanced down at Haley's stomach and said, "Goodness, darlin' you're right. She does look different. Absolutely glowing, I think."
Nathan stepped up at Haley's side and they both smiled as Haley's mother said to her husband, " Well, good gracious Jimmy, I think these two may be expecting again."
Nathan and Haley smiled even wider and Jimmy said, "I think you're right. It seems that way. So have you two been busy?"
Haley chuckled and said, " Yes, Dad. We are expecting again and we are thrilled."
"Well congratulations, honey." Jimmy said, hugging Haley again and kissing her cheek.
Haley's mother, Julie, hugged her daughter again and said, " Congratulations, baby. I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks."
"Mom," Andrew said, after hugging his grandfather, "I'm hungry. When are we ordering' the pizza?"
"I'm hungry too." James said.
"I already ordered the pizza, guys." Nathan said, closing the front door. "It'll be here in awhile."
"Great, pizza, can't wait." Jimmy said as he sat down next to James on the couch.
"Well I guess we can catch up while we wait." Haley suggested as she followed her mother and Nathan to sit down. " I missed you guys so much and I want to hear about your travels."
"We missed you too, Haley bob." Julie said, finally putting Cooper down. " And apparently, we have some catching up to do too."
