Two unperfect parents

chap. 2

Elizabeth stands in the doorway of the guest room, her hands planted firmly on her hips. The room, though perfectly fine, feels a bit bland to her now. It has a simple bed with a plain white comforter, a wooden desk by the window, and a small wardrobe in the corner. A rug covers part of the hardwood floor, but there's nothing particularly special or inviting about it. She tilts her head, squinting as she mentally rearranges the furniture and imagines what changes could be made to transform the space.

"Okay, Lizzie," she mutters to herself, tapping the notepad against her chin. "Think like a teenager. What would a 14-year-old girl find cool?"

She flips through her notes, the pages filled with scribbled ideas. She pauses on one of the pages where she's written down "neon lights on the ceiling," "movie posters," "books," and "vinyl records." She smiles a little, imagining Giusy's reaction to a room filled with color and personality.

"She seems like such a sweet girl," Elizabeth muses softly, thinking back to Giusy's latest email. Giusy had addressed them as "Mr. and Mrs.," which had made Elizabeth chuckle. She liked how polite and considerate Giusy seemed, always so careful with her words. In the email, Giusy had also sent a picture of her dog, Stella, a fluffy little thing with big brown eyes, and another picture of herself with her soft brown curls and those green eyes that reminded Elizabeth so much of her own.

"She's got those same green eyes," Elizabeth thinks, smiling to herself. "Just like mine." She thinks about how much Giusy and she have in common, from the love of animals to the activist spirit. Giusy had written about her volunteering at an animal shelter, helping out on bingo nights at an elderly home, and even attending protests for climate change and a pro-Palestine rally. Elizabeth can't help but admire her courage and conviction.

"She's definitely got a big heart," Elizabeth says in her head, feeling a swell of affection for the girl she's never met. "I can't believe she's doing all this at her age. I wasn't nearly that brave when I was fourteen."

Elizabeth flips to a new page in her notepad and writes "pet names?" at the top. "She's definitely a sweet girl," she thinks, tapping the pen against her lips. "What would be a good nickname for her? Sweet Pea? Sunshine? Maybe something that captures her spirit..." She writes down a few ideas, then crosses them out, feeling indecisive.

"Sweet Pea," she tries out loud, testing the sound of it. "Hey, Sweet Pea, how was your day?" She laughs at herself, shaking her head. "Too cutesy, maybe."

She glances around the room again, feeling a little frustrated. "Come on, Lizzie, think!" she mutters, running a hand through her hair. "You want her to feel at home, not like she's staying in a hotel." She jots down more ideas: a bean bag chair, some fairy lights, maybe even a little indoor plant—something green and lively.

Just then, Robbie's voice calls out from the hallway. "Lizzie, you in there?"

Elizabeth turns to see him leaning against the doorframe, a curious look on his face. "Hey, yeah. I'm just trying to figure out how to make this room a bit cooler for Giusy. It feels so... plain right now."

Robbie steps inside, taking a look around. "Yeah, it's a bit basic," he agrees. "What have you got so far?"

Elizabeth hands him the notepad, and he skims through her notes. "Neon lights, movie posters, books... that's a good start. Maybe some cool vinyl records on the wall? Or a little record player if she's into music?"

Elizabeth nods enthusiastically. "I thought about that too! But I feel like I need more ideas. I want her to walk in and feel like it's her space, you know? Something unique."

Robbie grins, handing the notepad back. "Well, she seems like a pretty unique kid. Did you see her email about the animal shelter and the protests? She's got guts."