Chapter 16
Jamie rang Jeff’s front doorbell as she adjusted the red blouse she was wearing. She tapped her black-heeled boots on the front porch waiting for Jeff to open the door.
“Hey,” Jeff said, opening the door and going to kiss Jamie, when she backed up in surprise and gasped, “what?”
“Your hair!” she shrieked, surprised, running some of her fingers through his pure blonde hair.
“Do you like it?” Jeff asked with a grin, running a hand through it, “I wanted to take the dye out before meeting your father.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Jamie said, still in awe, staring at Jeff’s hair.
“You can say, gee Jeff, don’t you look handsome,” Jeff joked, “then you can say, I’ll help you re-dye it tomorrow.”
“Gee Jeff, you look handsome,” Jamie said with a laugh.
“What about the other part?” Jeff asked.
“I am not helping you re-dye your hair Jeff,” Jamie said sternly, “that stuff reeks!”
“Fine,” Jeff laughed, leaning forward and capturing Jamie’s lips with his own in a quick kiss.
“Should we get going?” Jeff asked, taking Jamie’s hand.
“Yeah,” Jamie said leading him to her little red Mazda Miatta in the driveway.
“So what am I supposed to talk about with him?” Jeff asked, climbing into the passenger seat and buckling his seatbelt.
“Anything,” Jamie answered, “just be yourself.”
“Myself, right…” Jeff mumbled nervously.
“Are you nervous?” Jamie asked surprised, looking over at Jeff.
“Yeah,” Jeff admitted, looking over at Jamie with a sheepish smile, “why is that so hard to believe?”
“You can go out and perform night after night in front of thousands of people without getting nervous, but meeting my father makes you nervous?” Jamie questioned with a laugh.
Jeff shrugged, but didn’t say anything. Jamie reached over and patted his upper leg with a comforting smile, almost mimicking what happened when Jamie admitted to being nervous about meeting Matt.
“Don’t worry,” Jamie said, “He’ll love you. Calm down and just be yourself.”
“Alright,” Jeff replied, taking Jamie’s hand in his own and kissing the back of it, “thanks.”
“Anytime,” Jamie said, putting her car into gear and backing out of the driveway.
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“Hi Daddy,” Jamie said, seeing her father and walking over to him, letting go of Jeff’ hand.
Jeff stood back as he watched Jamie hug her father. The man looked business like and serious with his gray reseeding hairline and framed glasses covering his blue eyes. It was obvious Jamie was his daughter, both with creamy complexions and their pale blue eyes.
“Daddy,” Jamie said, taking her father’s hand, “I’d like you to meet someone very special to me. Dad, this is Jeff Hardy. Jeff, this is my father Christopher Smith.”
“It’s very nice to finally meet you,” Jeff said with a smile, shaking the man’s hand.
“You too,” Jamie’s father said, shaking Jeff’s hand, obviously looking him over.
Jamie smiled as she looked from one man to the other. So far, so good. She just wanted to make sure that her father approved of Jeff.
“It’s hot as hell out here,” Mr. Smith said, in reference to the hot North Carolinian heat as he fanned himself with his hand, “How about we get into the air condition and get something to eat?”
“Sounds great,” Jamie said taking Jeff’s hand happily and smiling at him as he nodded in agreement.
The two followed her father through the doors of the country club, as Jeff realized this would be the first time he would ever be really entering her world. “Her world” as in the country club, something his father would never dream of, with his tobacco farming and simple happy life. Jeff felt nervous entering the world of the “rich” and sophisticated. Sure he had money, but this was something he wasn’t use to, and he never expected to be doing. His father raised Matt and himself to be appreciative of what they had, and to never take what you have for granted. Jeff couldn’t help but feel like he was going against what his father had taught him as he entered the doors of the exclusive country club, but quickly shrugged it off and squeezed Jamie’s hand as they walked into the door.
Chapter 17