Page 49 of A Place for Daydreams

“You got it.” Hazel felt glad to have a task to do. “Come on into the kitchen and I’ll make you a cup.”

Julia followed Hazel into the cozy little kitchen. “So you’re nervous. Tell me about what’s making you nervous.”

“I just—I just have some misgivings, I guess. She seems so young to be going to a dance with a boy. But I know I have to let the reins go a bit so that Samantha doesn’t feel stifled and resent me.”

“Oh, I don’t think she’d ever resent you. I think she’s empathetic enough to understand where you’d be coming from, even if you did choose to be that strict.”

Hazel shook her head. “She couldn’t be, not really. She can’t understand why I’m afraid the way another adult could understand it. When she thinks about boys, all she sees is happily ever after. Until you get your heart broken, you think you’re invincible.”

Julia hugged her sister sideways. “I see what you mean. But I think you’re going to be able to find a healthy balance. Trust your instincts. No one is a perfect parent, and all you can do is your best. Talk to Samantha about your concerns, but also let her explore and have the adventures she wants to have. She’s got to learn to navigate the world on her own, and that training is starting now.”

Hazel groaned. “Oh, you’re right. I wish it wasn’t starting for another five—no, ten—years.”

Julia chuckled. “Just let her have fun today and let yourself have fun too. There’s nothing to worry about. She’s just going to a fun dance with a nice boy.”

“Yes.” Hazel smiled. “A fun dance with a nice boy. And I’m glad she’s so excited, I really am.”

“Speaking of Glinda the Good, where is she? Shouldn’t she be downstairs by now?”

“She should.” Hazel glanced toward the staircase with a chuckle. “She’s probably twirling around again. I would be too, if I was her age and I was wearing a dress with a skirt like that.” She started toward the staircase, intending to go up it and remind Samantha that it was nearly time to go.

At that moment, however, the doorbell rang again.

“Oh, that must be the boy and his parents,” she said, feeling suddenly flustered again.

“Don’t be nervous!” Julia called after her, laughing a little, as Hazel hurried over to the front door.

She opened it, but to her surprise, Samantha’s best friends, Willow and Natalie, were standing on the doorstep. Both girls were clearly ready for the dance—Willow was wearing the Wicked Witch inspired outfit that Samantha had described, and Natalie was wearing a beautiful silver dress.

“Hey, girls!” Both of Samantha’s best friends were great kids, and Hazel was always happy to see them. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to pick Samantha up,” Willow said, grinning from ear to ear. “My mom’s over there in the car waiting for us.”

Hazel’s lips parted, and she felt a flop of worry that Samantha had forgotten to tell her friends about her plans with Austin. She didn’t want Willow or Natalie to feel badly that Samantha wasn’t going to the dance with them. She decided not to say anything yet, however. It was possible that Samantha’s carpooling plans had changed and she just hadn’t told her mother yet.

“She’s almost ready,” Hazel said, smiling. “Why don’t you two come inside for a moment?”

The girls stepped into the house just as Samantha was coming down the stairs. The moment she saw her friends, Samantha squealed with delight and raced to hug them.

“You guys made it! I thought you were going to be late!”

“No, my mom drives even faster than my dad does,” Willow said, shaking her head as if she was wondering how she would ever get her mother to behave properly.

Julia and Hazel exchanged a quizzical glance over the girls’ heads.

“Hey, honey,” Hazel said quietly to her daughter. “What about Austin? I thought you were going with him?” She pressed her lips together, worrying that Austin had changed his mind and Samantha was already dealing with the pain of rejection.

“I’ll see him there.” Samantha was grinning, clearly not upset in any way. “And I promised to dance with him?—”

“Ooh!” her friends squealed.

“—but I decided that I wanted to go the dance with ‘The Rosebuds.’” She said the name with infinite pride, and then all three of the girls struck dramatic poses.

Julia and Hazel exchanged another glance, both of them clearly trying not to laugh.

“What are ‘The Rosebuds’?” Hazel asked.

Samantha’s eyes danced mischievously. “Mom, Aunt Julia, take a seat on the couch for a second.”

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