Journey of a Lifetime

Pre-Wedding

"How was your time away?" Joe asked as we set off to Pats on that late Saturday morning.

"It's been really good. Glad to be back here though" I reply, smiling over at him from the passenger's seat. It's been a few weeks since we've played at the tavern, and I've missed his company.

"Canada just as you remember it?"

"Things were still in the same spots" I nod, "gave a guy I used to work with a few grand so he could start up his tattoo parlour. It was a promise I made when I left the first time"

"That's nice of you" Joe smiles and laughs to himself

"What did you get up to?" I ask

"Just family stuff. Get to meet your family soon"

I laugh at the comment.

"What? Your staged wedding is only a week or so away" Joe says, frowning as he drove us

"They aren't coming. Adam's mum is, my family is staying in Australia"

"Oh damn, I'm sorry"

"Don't be. If they wanted to be there, they would be"

"Adam should just tell his mum you two got married already"

"He won't do that. She means too much to him. I don't mind anyway. I still get to wear the dress I've picked out and party after. And now, I don't have my mother's judgemental glare on me the whole time"

"If you are still staging it, and your family isn't coming, who's going to give you away?" Joe asks, frowning over at me before looking back at the road

"I don't need to be given away, Joe" I snicker

"I could do it" he shrugs, acting like it's no big deal.

"You would do that?" I ask in a whisper.

"Of course I would"

"Joe, I..."

"Zoe, you are basically family. If your blood family aren't showing up for you, at least let me"

"You really are the best, you know that. Right?" I reply with a large grin, and the urge to hug him.

The gig went well. Better than I thought it would have with the time away. We performed Crystal Ball and Mean. Adam was away at work for the next few days, just getting back in time for our wedding. The pressure from his eyes were gone. The songs didn't feel as personal, as mean as they really are.

The gate bell rang as we worked through some new stuff in the basement.

"Are you expecting anyone?" Joe asked, looking over at me

"No" I answer, not looking up from my journal

The bell rings again

"You going to answer it?" Joe asks

Sighing heavily and placing my journal on the piano, I head upstairs to see who is at my gate. It was a surprise to see Sera sitting in a cab at my gate that evening.

"Hey, wasn't expecting you for another couple of days" I greet, seeing her small frame exit the cab

"Hi to you too" Sera says, grabbing her small suitcase and handbag. "Did you really need a place like this? The driveway is so long" she comments as the gate opens

I laugh at her comment, taking the suitcase from her hand. "Any reason you are early?"

"Just an earlier flight. Phil is still on the road, and I got bored at home"