All I Do is Dream of You (Jenlisa)

Chapter 13

"Are you nervous?"

Jennie looks up, meeting Lisa's eyes. They're seated at a table in some restaurant that Lisa picked. The lighting is low and they have a booth in a private corner. Somewhere in New York, Jennie's mother is on her way to them, right now.

"Maybe a little..." Jennie says, "But you'll be here. Right?"

"Of course. The whole night."

"I bought ice cream and stuck it in your freezer in case this whole thing goes south," Jennie says,

"Will you share it with me?"

"Flavor?"

"Banana."

"Count me in." Jennie smiles.

Jennie was shocked when she opened her email and found that she had received something from a new address that belonged to her mother. At first, she was so angry that she didn't know what to do. Lisa had been with her when she realized what she was reading. She calmed Jennie down, and together they weighed her options.

In the end, Jennie emailed back and said that she was willing to meet her for dinner here, in New York. So her mom booked a plane and got a room at a nearby hotel, and now here they are, nearly two weeks after the initial email, waiting patiently for her mother to arrive.

Jennie hadn't stopped thinking about the way her mother spoke of Lisa towards the end of her email. She'd used the word lovely. Could it be that her mother had somehow changed overnight? She'd made no effort to understand Jennie in such a way before. Had she?

"Is that her?" Lisa asks. Jennie follows Lisa's gaze to see her mother approaching, following closely behind the same hostess at the door that had led them to their table. Jennie's heart speeds up the closer they get.

She uses this opportunity to take in her mother. Almost four years had passed since she last saw her mother in person, on the day she sat her parents down and came out to the both of them. There's more grey hairs than Jennie remembers. More wrinkles. But she still looks beautiful. She had chosen a plain black turtleneck that Jennie recognizes from many of their family outings when she was younger. She feels Lisa's hand squeeze hers under the table. And she remembers to breathe.

"Hi, baby" Jennie's mother says as she goes to sit across from the two of them. Jennie's mother offers a kind smile to her, then to Lis, "You must be Lisa. I am Dara, Jennie's mother."

"It's nice to meet you," Lisa puts on that smile that Jennie recognizes as Lisa's professional smile.

"I liked your movie, uh... Wiseguy, right?" Lisa lets out a breathy laugh and nods, "Yes, Thank you."

It's quiet for a few minutes. Lisa and Jennie have already had time to look over the menu, but Jennie's mother takes a moment to look over it as she gets settled in. She doesn't say anything until after the waiter comes by to place their order.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, baby," Dara starts, leaning forward and placing her hands in front of her on the table, "You didn't have to."

"You said you wanted to talk?"

"Yes," Dada nods, "There are a few things I need to tell you." Jennie nods, urging her to keep going. Her mother takes a breath before explaining that her and Jennie's father are getting a divorce, as quickly as possible. She moved out a month ago.

She found out about Jennie's most recent email when Ella came over. Apparently she had run across it when she went onto the desktop computer at their father's place. Her mother had meant to contact her the second she was moved out, but things had been hectic with the lawyers and her move.

When Jennie asks why, her mother tells her that it broke her heart losing Jennie because of Jiyong's persistence that unless she 'changed back,' she was no longer their daughter. She confesses that she had gotten connected with a group of women in their community over two years ago that all had gay children. She went there looking for others who were feeling as she did. Confused, and looking for guidance.

It's because of them that she has been able to open her mind. A few months ago, she tried to get Jennie's father to go to a meeting with her, but he refused. Things between them finally broke that day. By now, both Jennie and Dara are in tears. She holds a hand across the table to Jennie, "I hope you can give me a second chance."

Jennie can see it in her eyes. Love. So she reaches forward and grabs her mother's hand. She doesn't hesitate to get up and hug her, right there in the middle of the restaurant. When they both sit back down, Jennie wipes the tears from her cheeks and lets out a little laugh. Lisa settles a hand on her thigh, giving her a wide, hopeful smile. Jennie returns it.

They talk for a little longer about Dara's situation. Jennie makes sure she is handling her financials okay, and she tells her to contact her the moment she has trouble. Jennie gives her mother her new phone number. Her mother tells her that she knows about her and Ella's secret visits, and assures her they'll no longer have to be secret.

And then, Jennie's mother turns her attention to Lisa. "So, how did the two of you meet?"

"I was at Jennie's art unveiling at The Met," Lisa states proudly, "I bought one of her pieces." We met at The Met, Jennie thinks, smiling to herself.

"Very cute," Her mother says with a big smile, "I was planning on stopping by tomorrow to look at your work in person, baby. Maybe you can meet me there?"

Jennie is a little startled by the question. She hadn't expected things to pick up so quickly with her mother. She nods a yes, nonetheless. Jennie's mother goes on to ask Lisa about some of her films. She tells her that when she found out her and Jennie were dating, she watched quite a few of them. She also tells her that it's not hard to see why she's so successful, which makes Lisa blush.

Jennie finds herself zoning out quite a few times throughout their conversation. She can't believe that her mother is sitting here in front of her right now. She can't believe that her mother let her father keep them apart for so long. It bothers her that her father could have such a hold over her mother's mind. She supposes she should be grateful that her mom was able to get free. There are a lot of women that don't even try to fight against their husbands' beliefs. And there are a lot of husbands, too, in a similar situation. It makes Jennie sad.

She doesn't eat much of her meal. Her brain is too distracted to focus on eating. It won't heal overnight, Jennje reminds herself. But I know you can get there.

-

Two hours later, the three of them are parting ways. Jennie hugs her mother before getting into the car beside Lisa, watching her walk away towards the cab she called to take back to her hotel. Jennie settles in and gets buckled, blowing a raspberry as she turns to face Lisa.

"I think..." Jennie finally says as the driver pulls out onto the city street, "That went well."

"That's good," Lisa smiles.

"She told me she likes you," Jennie tells her, "She told me I should do a movie with you, too."

"Score," Lisa pumps her fist jokingly, "Parental approval. I'm moving up in your life."

"That was never going to be a deciding factor," Jennje rolls her eyes and glances out the window, "Hey, wait? Where are we-?"

"Shh," Lisa cuts Jennie off, "Don't worry."

"What did you do?"

"You're hungry."

"We just ate."

"Correction: your mother and I ate. You just shoved your food around." On cue, Jennie's stomach grumbles. She ends up getting Jennje a burger and fries, which Jennie does not hesitate to gobble down almost immediately. She knows Lisa would never judge her for doing so.

Jennie has never known this feeling. Having someone who is able to anticipate her needs before she herself can recognize them. Lisa is so kind, and thoughtful... Hell, Lisa came to her dinner with her mother, despite how awkward it could have turned out to be for both of them. She stood by her side, held her hand, and promised to help her if things went south.

Jennie thinks she might be a little bit in love with Lisa.