Maybe We Were Meant to Be (Tay Jardine and Jenna Mcdougall)

Meet the Parents

Jenna:

I was so relieved to know Tay was okay. It didn't seem like there had been any permanent damage from the accident. She was bruised and confused, but she still remembered everything except the accident fine. The doctors released her a few days after she regained consciousness. Since we had canceled the rest of the tour we all headed back home until our managers rescheduled gigs in the cities we had missed; it would probably take a couple months.

I went back to New York with WATIC while the rest of my band went back to Australia. I was feeling a bit homesick. Though I loved spending time with Tay I had spent 20 years in Sydney and nowhere else would fill that spot in my heart, it would be forever my home. I told the boys to send me some pictures once they were back.

Tay and I headed back to her apartment. We spent most of our time there, I didn't want Tay over doing it for a couple weeks. She hated not leaving the house very often, but she didn't seem to mind that I did all the cooking and cleaning. Though I didn't really like doing housework it was all worth it at the end of the day; I got to cuddle up to the sweetest girl in the world. There was nothing better than hearing her soothing rhythmic breathing as she fell asleep and feeling her warmth next to me.

About a week after we had gotten back the boys sent me the photos I had asked them for. First there was one of all of them in the airport making crazy faces. I could see snow outside the window in the background. It made me think back to the snow day I had with Hayley, the memory made me smile. I had decided I should try and remember the good for what it was and not dwindle on the bad, it was in the past and there was no need to deprive myself of the happiness I felt in that time.

The second picture was in the middle of the city the boys had on their winter coats and boots. They were posing on the sidewalk by the busy city street with the snow piled into mountains beside them. It was still strange to think that here it was summer, it was surfing weather, but there it was winter and everyone was snowboarding or skiing.

The third was in front of our favorite bar where more than a few of our band meetings had been held. We had also played some of our first shows there. There was still snow under the boys feet and you could see Cam's breath. I felt chills roll down my spine thinking about the frigid weather.

The last picture was the hardest to see. It was of my mom and dad in front of their house. The house I had spent most of my teenage years in. They were huddling close to each other trying to stay warm, but they were still smiling. I missed them so much. Tears filled my eyes.

"What's wrong?" Tay asked as she walked in to the living room.

"Nothing. I was just looking at some pics the guys sent me of back home." I said casually. I didn't want her to think I would rather be in Australia instead of here with her, that was far from the truth. I was so grateful to be with her.

"Why are you crying?" she asked with a 'don't think you're fooling me' tone.

"Just a bit of 'Heimweh'." I said it in German trying to trick her. I had learned the word when we were doing a show in Austria, we had been on tour for almost a full year and one of the fans noticed I was a little down that evening; they asked me if I had 'Heimweh' which they then translated to homesickness.

"What does that mean?" she was unimpressed, actually slightly annoyed with my bilingualism.

"I'm homesick." I finally said ashamed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I know how that feels." she stroked my hair lovingly "Is there something I could do to make you feel better?"

"No. I'll get over it." I replied glumly. "Do you want to see the pictures?"

"Sure, I'd love to." she squeaked cheerfully. She almost sounded like a talking mouse, it made me smile, which made her smile too and that made me smile even more. Happiness is contagious, especially when you get it from someone you care about.

I showed her the photos. She asked me to tell her what/where everything was. She was also very interested in the 'strange' Australian weather, which I replied to with "Australian weather is normal it's your American weather that is weird." When we got to the last photo her eyes lit up and she turned to me with her mouth partially open, there was something on the tip of her tongue. After a second more of thought she blurted it out. "Let's go to Australia!"

"Just like that you want to go to the other side of the world?" I asked amused.

"Yeah. It would be cool to see it. Maybe I would understand it more. And..." she paused for a second "maybe I could meet your parents?" she said it slowly and cautiously, but then quickly added "or I could just be your 'friend'."

"We almost certainly won't be able to go before we have to go back on tour. It won't be for at least 4 or 5 months."

"We'll need to plan anyway. Can we go?" she asked eagerly.

"I guess so. We'll probably end up there in the middle of the summer. Are you prepared for how hot it will be? It stays above 25 degrees there."

"25 degrees? That's below freezing!" she was obviously confused.

"Oh, sorry hun that's Celsius. I think it would be around 80 Fahrenheit. Plus the humidity makes it unbearable."

"So maybe we'll postpone it to when it's a bit cooler."

"We'll look into it."

"Will you let me meet your parents?" she asked with more audacity this time.

"Yes."

"As your girlfriend?"

"Yes. You wouldn't be the first girl I've brought home before."

"Oh, are you saying you're a slut?" she teased.

Before I could answer someone knocked on the door. Tay got up off the couch where we had been sitting and went to answer it. She looked through the peep hole. Her face turned a ghostly white and her eyes got big. She motioned for me to go away, but I refused. I didn't know what she would have to hide from me or hide me from.

"Who is it?" I whispered

"My parents." she whispered back.

"Let them in!" I said in an urgent whisper.

"They might be upset if they see you." she whimpered.

"Why? I think you'll need me here for moral support and I can't stay away for the whole day."

"It could be too awkward for them."

"Or it could be just what they need to see. They'd know you can be in a committed relationship. Let me stay. I'm worried about you." I pleaded

"Fine. You can stay, but don't push it."

She took a deep breath and then opened the door. Outside stood her mom and dad, there was a long silence. I decided, no matter what, this was going to be awkward so I went over to stand by Tay. I laid my hands on her shoulders and squeezed her slightly to reassure her I was there for her.

"Hi Dad... Mom. Uh... Come in if you want." Tay's voice was shaking and so was she. I could feel her trembling under my palms.