The Parent Trap (Camren)

Meeting Mom

At that veeerry moment, Lauren Jauregui stood amongst the throng of people waiting anxiously at the Napa County Airport. She was still as beautiful and lovable as she was in college, at the age of 31. She watched the passengers exit the gate and brightened up at the sight of her daughter.

"Hey Punky!" she called out with this big goofy grin, "Welcome home kiddo!"

"Oh gosh, it's her." Penny breathed to herself when she saw her and fingered her locket nervously before putting on a huge smile of pure excitement. She ran up to her and stopped just in front of her.

Lauren held out her hands with a huge grin plastered on her beautiful face, "Get into these arms you little punk," she said holding out her arms.

"Mom..." Penny smiled as she dropped her duffel and wrapped her arms around her mother. "Finally!" she said as she picked her up and swung her around planting a loving kiss on her cheek as she did so.

"Oh I hope you had a lousy time at that camp because you are not going back - I missed you too much." Lauren said in a kind of joking-serious voice as she cupped her daughter's cheek then kissed it.

Penny smiled brightly at her, hugging her tightly once again. She couldn't believe she was finally hugging her mother. Lauren kissed her hair and they started walking.

"What happened to you Punky? Something's changed," Lauren said then measured the top of her head to her torso with the flat of her hand, "Have you gotten taller?" she asked with a grin. The two walk out of the airport with Lauren carrying Penny's duffel.

"So, what's up, Mom? How's Mani and everybody?" Penny asked in her recently perfected California accent. She smiled smugly to herself when it came out without a hitch.

"Great. Everybody's great, can't wait to see you. Eight weeks really is too long, Punky. So much has been happening around here." Lauren answered and wrapped her arms tighter around her girl.

"A lot's happened to me, too. I feel like I'm practically a new woman." Penny said which made Lauren chuckle - since when did she use the term new woman? As they walked, Penny kept peeking at Lauren and she became quite self-conscious.

Rubbing her jaw, she looked at her when she peeked at her, "What's the matter? Do I have a zit?"

"No, it's just seeing you for the first time. I mean, you know... in so long." Penny said then giggled, "You look taller to me too Mom," she joked.

Lauren just laughed and pulled her closer to her, "C'mon kiddo, let's go home," she said. Mother and daughter walked over to the parked Range Rover and Lauren opened the door for her daughter. She climbed into the driver's seat and wore her sunglasses. She started the car and they drove off.

After a while, Penny looked out the window and saw rows and rows of vines lining the fields. She was awed that it was all her mother's and she couldn't stop staring at them. She fell in love with the place too - Miami is way different than California.

"Hey, by the way, thanks for all those newsy letters. I'm really glad I bought you all that personalized stationary you just had to have." Lauren said in a sarcastic yet joking voice to her daughter, a while later.

"We meant to write, Mom, but we just got so busy with..." Penny tried to explain and Lauren gave her another one of her crooked grins indicating that she was joking.

"We?" she noted.

Realizing her stupid mistake, Penny tried to act calm and smiled at her. "Oh. Me and my friend. I met this girl at camp and we got really close." She explained.

"Great," Lauren remarked nodding her head as she continued driving.

"Practically like sisters. She was a lovely girl." Penny said hoping she didn't get the innuendo.