Wildest Dreams

It was now Christmas morning and Meredith had woken up unusually early. She looked at her clock to see that it said 6:30. She was at her parent’s house in McKinney and knew that no one else would be awake yet. She sat up from her bed and went down the stairs to get a bottle of water. She walked into the kitchen and saw her mom sitting at the counter. She went to the fridge, yawned and turned around to her mom.

Meredith: Why are you up so early?

Her mom looked up from the counter and Meredith could see the tears in her eyes that were falling down her face.

Meredith: Mom?
Anne: Meredith…
Meredith: No… no… NO! No Mom! Do not say it. No, no. It’s Christmas morning. NO.
Anne: I just got the call.
Meredith: Dammit Pops! Not Christmas.
Anne: The nurse said it was peaceful. He was asleep and decided it was time.
Meredith: But it’s Christmas. Dammit Pops, why couldn’t you have waited until tomorrow morning.
Anne: Shhh, you’re going to wake your brother and sister. I don’t want them knowing yet. I want them to have a happy Christmas morning. I’ll tell them after we open presents.
Meredith: No, you can’t lie to them Mom! Sarah and Justin have a right to know. Our grandfather just died. You don’t hide that!

Meredith had tears building up in her eyes and was fighting the urge to start crying. She was angry. It came at no surprise that her grandfather would be passing anytime soon, but she was still torn up about it. Her grandfather had been in the hospital for the past few months and kept telling her that he was ready to go be with Mawmaw in Heaven. Pops was Meredith’s best friend and they talked everyday if Meredith wasn’t able to drive to Dallas to see him. He had always been there for Meredith and they grew even closer when Mawmaw died.

Meredith stormed up the stairs not caring if she woke her brother or sister. She quickly changed her clothes, put her hair in a messy ponytail, grabbed her keys and headed back downstairs and out the front door. While she was upstairs her dad had made his way to the couch in the front room by the door with her mom.

Owen: Meredith!
Meredith: What?
Owen: Where are you going?
Meredith: Out.
Owen: It’s 7 in the morning on Christmas. Nothing is open. Where are you going?
Meredith: Anywhere but here.

Meredith stormed out the door and got in her car. She headed towards the Dallas location of Change Up. She knew she would be able to get all her frustrations out there by being alone, blasting the music, and kickboxing. She left her phone at home and had several missed texts and calls, including one text from Tyler.

Christmas morning and all of Tyler’s family was in town. The Stars had a few days off for the Holiday and a home game the day after Chrsitmas that his family would be attending. Tyler woke up to the smell of bacon and pancakes that his mom had gotten up to make for the family. Before he headed towards the kitchen he checked his phone, sent a few texts, and told Meredith Merry Christmas.

When Tyler got to the kitchen he was the only one up, besides his mom who was cooking. Tyler grabbed a plate of food and sat at the island while his mom finished cooking.

Tyler: Are you sure you don’t want to move down here and you could cook breakfast for me all the time again? I know how much you love to cook.
Jackie: As much as I love to cook, I also love Toronto, and my house, and my life there.
Tyler: But you don’t get to see me everyday when you’re there.
Jackie: I thought you preferred that. Besides, if I moved here I would have to move in with you so I could cook for you all the time and then what would you tell all the girls that you bring home? You live with your mom? They wouldn’t like that very much.
Tyler: I don’t bring that many girls home. I’m sure we could work something out.

Both Tyler and his mom started laughing.

Jackie: Speaking of girls though, when are you going to stop this sleeping around and actually find a good girl that could be your wife?
Tyler: Mom, I’m only 22. I’m not getting married anytime soon.
Jackie: I didn’t say it had to be next week, but really, when are you going to at least be in a serious relationship.
Tyler: Hopefully sooner than you think.
Jackie: Did you meet someone!?
Tyler: Maybe, I don’t know.
Jackie: Tell me about her!
Tyler: There’s nothing to tell. I met her a few weeks ago and we’ve been texting every once in a while if I can get her to respond and that’s about it.
Jackie: What do you mean?
Tyler: Sometimes we can have these conversations that go on for hours, and other times she’ll only text me for five minutes and then not respond to my question or finish the conversation.
Jackie: Maybe she’s just busy.
Tyler: She says she is, but I don’t know how busy she actually is. She’s a college student and runs her dad’s athletic training facility and is in a sorority, but its winter break, I thought she wouldn’t be as busy. I even offered her tickets to a game, any game, and she said she was too busy.
Jackie: Sounds to me like she really is busy, but maybe she has more going on than you think.
Tyler: I saw her the other day, and she was on the phone with her mom and she sounded annoyed and a little upset but she wouldn’t tell me what was going on.
Jackie: How many times have you seen her?
Tyler: The night I met and her then last week when I had a night off.
Jackie: You can’t expect her to open up and tell you everything that’s going on in her life if you just met her.
Tyler: I know, but I just can’t help but wonder what’s going on with her or who she really is.
Jackie: Maybe she knows about your reputation and doesn’t want to get involved.
Tyler: Jamie said the same thing but I don’t know.
Jackie: Well are you going to change your reputation?
Tyler: Which one?
Jackie: The one of you sleeping around and bringing home a new girl every night.
Tyler: No.
Jackie: Then don’t be surprised when she doesn’t respond or tell you what’s going on in her life. You need to change your lifestyle if you want to gain her attention.
Tyler: I would like to gain her attention and not change my life. I’m 22 and having fun. You’re my mom, you should understand.
Jackie: Look, I’m just telling you that you can’t have it both ways.
Tyler: I’m trying though.
Jackie: How many girls have you brought home since you met this girl?
Tyler: Mom, I don’t think we should be having this conversation.
Jackie: If you wanted to know this girl, you would stop whoring around. Be the gentleman that I raised you to be.
Tyler: But I don’t want to give the other girls up.
Jackie: Then you need to let this one go. You’re only interested because you can’t crack her. She’s become your project, your game, and your chase. Let her go if you’re not going to keep her when you catch her.
Tyler: Merry Christmas to you too.

It was two in the afternoon when Meredith had finally gone back home. She pulled up her street to see her uncle’s car, her aunt’s car, her other uncle’s car, her cousin’s car and her grandma’s car. She rolled her eyes at the sight and hesitated going in. She sat in her car for ten minutes trying to gather herself and prepare for what she was about to walk into. She walked in the front door and into the living room to see all her family members sitting around talking to each other, talking on the phone, or wiping away tears with tissues. She looked towards the tree and none of the presents had been opened yet. Her family noticed she was finally home and stared at her. Her parents started questioning where she had been.

Owen: Where have you been? We’ve been calling you all day.
Meredith: Sorry, I left my phone upstairs in my room. I went to Change Up.
Anne: What were you doing there? I thought you finished all your work two days ago.
Meredith: Punching and kicking things. I see you didn’t open presents.
Anne: We’ve been waiting for you.
Meredith: Oh, I’m really not in the mood right now. You guys can open your presents though.
Sarah: I’m not in the mood either.
Justin: Well I’m not opening mine if they’re not opening theirs.
Owen: Please kids, I know this is a sucky day, but Pops would want you to open your presents and enjoy this day.
Meredith: Fine. For Pops.
Anne: Meredith?
Meredith: Yes?
Anne: Are you okay?
Meredith: I will be. Are you okay? I didn’t even ask you. Your dad just died and I didn’t even ask how you are. I’m so sorry, Mom. Are you okay?
Anne: I will be.

They all opened their presents and tried to smile through the tears. The entire family spent the rest of the day telling stories about Pops and all the stupid things he made them do. Later in the day they started making funeral arrangements and notifying the people that loved Pops the most.

Meredith finally went to her room to change and check her phone. She went onto Instagram and posted the last picture she took with her grandfather and wrote a caption to go with it that let her friends know that he had passed. She went to her messages and saw a text from Tyler.

Tyler: Merry Christmas! I hope you get everything you asked Santa for and it’s your best Christmas yet.

It had been hours since he had sent the text but she finally responded.

Meredith: Yeah, Merry Christmas to you too. Enjoy your time with your family.

Notes

The song the chapter is influenced by is Over You from Miranda Lambert.

Let me know what you think! Questions, comments, concerns, ideas, thoughts or anything else would be greatly appreciated!