The Family Encounter

"Ready for the London show, bro?" Shannon asked me as we were flying to the UK. We were supposed to have three shows before the one in London. I was already nervous, and we haven't even left the States yet.

"You know I'm never ready for London," I answered with a smirk. "Just knowing they both might be there, makes me anxious and thrilled at the same time. Why did we have to split like that? Why was she so stubborn and wouldn't let me just be there for her? For both of them?"

"Women," Shannon sighed, "why do they do anything... it's a mystery of a lifetime."

"Always so wise, big brother," I teased Shannon, and he laughed at his own words.

"Look, it's pointless to think about that every time we visit Europe. What's done is done. All you can do now and from now on is to try to make a better contact with Brooke and Ashley. Especially with Ashley. She loves you so much, and she really deserves a dad who is going to be there for her a bit more."

"I know, Shan... it's just that ... ugh, every time I try to reach out, Brooke becomes all defensive and won't let me do anything..." I said as I leaned back against the seat, and started thinking about my daughter.

She is already a teenager, and I haven't been there to see her grow up at all. Brooke and I got together so unexpectedly, fell in love, got Ashley, and split in a blink of an eye, without ever trying to resolve our situation. Brooke never let me make any decision, she just took Ashley and went to England after a huge fight we had when Ashley was only six months old. Despite my constant persuasions about them coming back to America, Brooke stuck to her decision and wouldn't cave for a second. We never got married, so I didn't have any legal rights to use against her, and soon all I saw of Ashley were a few pictures, and occasional visits when I was in Europe. Now, the band was on tour once again, and I couldn't be more ecstatic that I'll get to see my little girl after so much time.

The show in Glasgow was over and we were staying at the hotel before we went to London the next day, to prepare for the show that was happening in two days. I kept thinking about Brooke, so I decided to call her and see if maybe she and Ashley are coming to the show. Dialing the number, my heart started pounding, and I couldn't wait to hear the ringing sound on the other side of the line.

"Hello?" a woman's voice picked up, but it didn't sound as Brooke. Suddenly, I was out of words. "Hello? Is anybody there?" the woman repeated and I quickly cleared my voice, eager to hear where Brooke was.

"Yes, hi. I'm looking for Brooke. Is this still her phone number," I asked in anticipation.

"It is, she's on the other phone, hold on a second. Mom! Are you done, your cell phone just rang!" oh my God that was Ashley. My little Ashley sounds so grown up now.

"Ashley? Hi, it's me..."

"Hello? Who is this?" right before I was able to introduce myself to Ashley, she gave the phone to Brooke.

"Hi, it's Jared," I said and I heard her gasp.

"Oh, hi. I wasn't expecting your call. How are you?" she asked with shivery voice.

"I'm okay, thank you. How are you? I'm in the UK... we're on tour so I thought I'd hear from you... see how both of you are doing," I blurted out so much, that I just hoped it came out right. I was so nervous all of a sudden, my palms were sweating, my heart racing and it felt like I was going through an anxiety attack.

"We're great. Ashley is really excited about the show. Did you wanna talk to her may... oh forget it, she just left," Brooke said frustrated.

"Is she giving you a hard time?" I asked.

"Sometimes," Brooke sighed, "she's strong-minded and very rebellious at times. Kinda like a guy I used to know a long time ago," she finished and giggled.