"My name is Taylor Hanson. I'm one of the musicians who is performing here today," he said. Mrs. Wilcombe's eyes widened.
"You're one of the musicians? You mean, you're in the band playing here?" she asked, flabbergasted. Taylor smiled genially.
"Yes, ma'am. I have met your daughter, I believe, today. Didn't she come to work with you?" he asked. The woman smiled broadly.
"Why, yes, she did," she said. "You met her?"
"Yes, ma'am. I was wondering if it would be alright if I took her out tomorrow night," Taylor said.
The woman looked suddenly as though she might pass out. "You…you what?"
"I'd like to take your daughter out tomorrow night. Out to dinner maybe," he said. He looked closely at the woman. "Oh, you look pale. Are you alright?"
"I'm okay," she said. "Can I…may we please sit down?"
Taylor took her elbow and lead her to a bench conveniently placed nearby. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied. "You said you wanted to take my daughter out, that's all. How old are you, young man?"
"I'm only 17," he said. "I'm in a band with my brothers. Hanson?"
"Yes, I know," she replied. "I've seen the posters in the lobby. And you want to take out…Teresa?" she asked.
"If you don't mind," Taylor replied.
"Oh, I…you really would take her out?" her mother asked.
"Yes. To dinner, maybe out to see a movie or something if she'd like," Taylor said. "I was just wanting to make sure it was okay with you, and also to make sure I had the directions to your house right."
"Oh, well, in that case, of course I don't mind," Mrs. Wilcombe replied. "I just…have you asked her?"
"Well, not really," Taylor said.
"It's fine by me," Mrs. Wilcombe said with a shrug. "Now whether or not my daughter would like to…" She trailed off as she studied the young man. He was handsome, and seemed to be a gentleman. "I don't think she'd mind at all. What time do you want to come by to pick her up?"
"Is 6 o'clock okay with you? I have a photo shoot in the morning," he said.
"That's fine by me," she said. Her eyes were attracted to something behind Taylor. Taylor turned to see Teresa coming down the hall.
"Mom, we need to…" She looked from Taylor to her mother. "Hi, Taylor. Mom, what…"
"Honey, you didn't tell me you'd met Taylor Hanson," her mother said smiling.
"Oh, well, I…"
"Did you know he wants to take you out on a date?"
"Um, well," Teresa stammered.
"He does. I know you think that you shouldn't go out and all because of your studies, but…"
"Can I talk to Taylor in private?" Teresa asked.
"I guess so," her mother said. Teresa grabbed Taylor's arm and dragged him far enough down the hall so that her mother couldn't hear them.
"What are you doing?" she hissed.
"Just talking to your mom," he said innocently.
"I've already told you…"
"I know what you've told me," he said. He reached down then and pulled the CD out of his pocket, along with a slip of paper. He thrust it into her hand. "Just, listen to this. If you want to go out with me then, just call that number. That's the number at my hotel. Ask for Taylor."
Teresa looked at him in confusion.
"If you don't want to go, I'll live," he finished. "Now, I'm going to thank your mother for our lovely conversation, and see to it that she also does her bit to convince you to come."
With that, Taylor walked back down the hall, thanked Mrs. Wilcombe for her time, and then quickly excused himself saying that he needed to go finish getting ready for the concert. After he'd gone, Mrs. Wilcombe remarked to her daughter, "He's cute, Teresa. He is very polite. And he's got money. I like him…"
Teresa felt her face go red, blushing half out of embarrassment and half out of anger.