27
Crabapple Cove, Maine
May 5, 1978
Elizabeth Margaret Jane Pierce stood in front of the mirror in her childhood bedroom looking at her reflection. Her father stood next to her looking at his little girl. He couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. When she was a baby Margaret took a picture of Hawkeye holding his little Betsy in front of that same mirror, she took another picture right before she left to go downstairs to get ready for the procession. It was just Hawkeye and Betsy left in the room and all that those two could do was look in that mirror. Her childhood room held so many memories for the both of them. Hawk starred silently into that mirror remembering all the times he read bedtime stories to her, sat with her when she was scared or upset, where he slept on the floor beside her bed after she had heart surgery, and all the times they just sat and talked.
"Well are you ready?"
"Are you?"
"No, no I'm not ready to let you go."
"I know your not Daddy."
"Your still my little girl right?"
"Of course Daddy, I'll always be your little girl nothing is going to change, you know that. Ben and I even bought the house down the street so we could close to you and mom, and Aunt Peg and uncle B.J. moved here because well Erin and Andrew are living in Boston, and Ben and I are living here. Nothing will ever change Daddy."
"I love you, Betsy."
"I love you too, Daddy."
The two embraced, and then there it was the knock from Whitney, her maid of honor that it was time to go.
"Well I guess it's time."
"Yea I guess so."
"You know you can still back out, if you want."
"I'll be fine Daddy."
A misty- eyed Hawkeye Pierce and his daughter left her childhood. He met his daughter at the bottom of the staircase the same way Margaret met her father the day of their wedding. Elizabeth wanted the same wedding they did. He walked her down the isle to turn her over to her husband. It was the hardest thing he'd ever done, giving his little girl away. She would always have that special place in her heart for her beloved father.