Chapter Three

Aurora gets served with divorce papers and takes a trip down memory lane. Drew's mother contacts Aurora.

Chapter Three

Aurora sat at her mother’s kitchen table sipping hot chocolate.

“Mom, do you remember when I ran away to New York City?”

“Don’t remind me.” Rosemary Mendez did not look up from chopping vegetables.

“Mom, it’s really important. When I called you and Papa to tell you I was okay, you asked if I was in New York. How did you know that? I never told anyone, not even Melanie, that I was planning to go there.”

“That boy said you told him.” Rosemary stopped chopping for a second.

“What boy?” Aurora set her mug down and looked at her mother.

“How should I know? He came to the house looking for you. He said he was a friend of yours.”

It had to have been Drew. She must have told him she was planning to go to New York. If he remembered that, it stood to reason he remembered marrying her.

“Why is that important? It was a long time ago.”

Rosemary continued chopping. “Everything you do is so important. You missed cousin Tara's wedding because you were in Canada for some movie.”

"Mom, you know I didn't want to miss Tara's wedding. I can't hold up an entire movie and cost everyone thousands of dollars."

"You couldn't be in a different movie? One that's not the same time as your cousin's wedding?"

"Mom, we already talked about this. If I turned down a movie every time there was a family function, I'd never work. I have twenty-three first cousins. I may as well move back to Evergreen Gap and start a whole different career."

"It always comes back to your career. Have you ever thought about getting married or starting a family of your own?"

“I got married a long time ago.”

Mrs. Mendez brought her knife down hard so that it stuck in the chopping board.

“Who? When? You didn't tell your father and me?” Rosemary uttered some things in Italian that Aurora was pretty sure were expletives.

“I just found out. It was on that college trip to Las Vegas.”

Rosemary walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. She clutched her chest.

"What do you mean you just found out. I told you not to go on that trip! You were taking drugs, weren't you?”

“No, but I drank that night. Probably too much. I didn't know until now."

“Who did you marry?"

“His name is Andrew Macpherson. .”

“And all this time you didn't know? I don't understand.”

“I know. It doesn’t make any sense. I found some papers in my old room, and my lawyer said his lawyer is trying to serve me with divorce papers.”

“Divorce. Why not an annulment? Are you sure he's not trying to trick you? He probably knows you make a lot of money.”

“My lawyer is looking into it. Making sure there really was a legal wedding and all that."

Rosemary nodded. "Good. Good. Where does he live now?"

“He lives near Evergreen Gap."

*****

Aurora sat on her bed at the Evergreen Lake Lodge. Sassafras had her head on one of the pillows.

“Sass, you think you’re human.” She smiled and patted the dog. There was a knock on the door. Sassafras barked. Aurora went to the door and looked out the peephole. She opened the door.

“Aurora, it's really you. You look good.”

“I’m so glad you could come. Let me put the dog on her leash and we can walk around the lake.”

The lake was two miles around. When they got back to the lodge, she thanked her visitor.

“Was that helpful?”

“Absolutely. Thanks so much. I’ll be in touch. If you think of anything else, here is my private number. It was good to see you again.” She hugged her visitor.

The phone rang in Aurora’s room. She knew the lodge was screening the calls, so she picked it up.

“Hello.”

“Aurora, it's Mom. A man came here looking for you.”

“Was it a reporter? People know I’m in town. They just don’t know where.”

“He wasn’t like the other ones. He had a big envelope and said he needed to get you something. I said he could leave it here and he said no, he had to give it to you in person.”

“Maybe he was just a reporter trying to fool you.”

“I don’t know. Are you staying until Tara’s baby shower?”

“I don’t know, Mom.”

Aurora hung up from talking to her mother and called Cassie Stark.

“Have you found out anything else on my secret husband?”

“A few things. First, he owns a house. He’s has a graphic design business and makes a decent living, especially given the cost of living in Evergreen Gap. His ex-fiancé is a nurse.”

“Was the marriage legal? For sure? ”

“Looks that way.”

Aurora slipped into the covers of her bed at the lodge. Sassafras hopped onto the bed and curled up by her feet. As she began to drift off, she saw Drew. They were at a chapel, and she was wearing the white dress. He was standing at one end of the chapel with his back to her. She tried to get his attention, but he wouldn’t turn around. She saw him walk towards the door and tried to go after him, but her feet stuck.

She sat up in bed and Sassafras peered at her in the dark.

“What a lousy dream that was, Sass.”

The next day Aurora began sifting through the boxes of memorabilia she’d collected from her parent’s home. There were some letters she'd gotten from friends when she was in college. She read over them and chuckled. Many of them mentioned Drew. Aurora realized it had been years since she had written anything. It occurred to her that since she was taking a break from acting she could enroll in some writing classes when she got back to L.A. Maybe she could even try screenwriting.

The phone rang. It was Melanie.

“Some man came to my house looking for you. He had an envelope and said he needed to give it to you.”

“My mom said the same thing. I told her it was probably a reporter. Say, what are you doing today?”

“Taking the kids to the library.”

“Can I take you and the kids to lunch?”

“Sure, today would be good.”

“Tuscano's Pizza? It's the kids' favorite, right?”

“Sure is.”

Aurora arrived at Tuscano's at 12:30 that afternoon. Melanie wasn’t there yet. She asked for a table for four. The hostess had been in her brother’s class in school. She chatted with her for a few minutes. The only other person at the bar was an elderly man who paid no attention to her. Melanie arrived with Hunter and Chelsea just as Aurora was finishing her wine.

“I saw that man again. The one who came to my house looking for you.”

“Where? Do you think he’s dangerous.”

“I hope not. He’s walking this way.” She nodded to indicate a short balding man.

“Aurora Mendez?” he said.

“Yes, that’s me. How can I help you?”

“You’ve been served.” He handed her an envelope.

“What is it?” Melanie said.

Aurora opened the envelope and scanned the contents.

“My divorce papers,” Aurora said quietly.

They were seated at a table and the waiter got Chelsea a high chair.

“Ror, I didn’t know you were married,” Hunter said.

Aurora laughed.

“What makes you think she’s married?” Melanie looked at her son.

“She just said that man gave her divorce papers. You have to be married first before you get a divorce.”

“How do you know that?”

“ Chloe in my play group says her parents are divorced. That means they didn’t want to be married to each other anymore.”

“It’s sad they learn about things like that so young,” Aurora said.

“Who is your husband, Ror? Why don’t you want to be married to him anymore?”

“Maybe you should stop asking so many questions. What you want to eat for lunch?”

Aurora ordered another glass of wine. She couldn’t help but feel rattled by the arrival of the divorce papers, even if they were from a man she had just realized she was married to a few weeks ago.

While they were waiting for their food, Melanie left to take the children to the rest room.

Aurora called Cassie Stark on her cell phone. She told her about the papers.

“I’m going to try and schedule a hearing,” Cassie said.

“Where’s that going to take place?”

“I suppose in Evergreen Gap. I’ll have to travel there for the hearing.”

“A free trip to Western Pennsylvania. Isn’t that just what you’ve always wanted?”

When Melanie and the kids got back to the table, Aurora told Melanie she’d be staying in Evergreen Gap for awhile longer.

“This is the most I’ve seen you in years. You’re usually too busy to be here for long. Why the change?”

“I just talked to my lawyer and she’s going to try and get a hearing set up with me and Drew and our lawyers. I’m not working on any projects so I may as well stick around until then.”

“You’re going to have to see Drew at the hearing. How do you feel about that?”

Hunter looked up from the coloring book and crayons Melanie had given him.

“Is Drew your husband’s name?” he said.

“You’re too smart for your own good, kiddo.” Aurora smiled at Hunter.

“Don’t you love him anymore?” Hunter persisted.

“It wasn't a real wedding, Hunter. We never even lived together like a real husband and wife. I'm sure he wants to marry someone else someday.”

“Mommy, are you going to divorce Daddy so you can marry someone else too?”

Melanie hugged her son .

“No, honey I love your Daddy very much and he loves me. We are going to stay married.”

“Ror, do you wish your husband didn’t want to marry someone else?”

Just then their food arrived.

“Thank heavens,” Melanie said.

“I think Hunter might be a budding reporter.” Aurora gave Melanie a wry smile.

The next morning Aurora was awakened by the ringing of her cell phone. She went to answer it when the room phone began jangling. It was still dark outside. She looked at the digital clock on the night stand beside the bed. It was 6:11 in the morning.

The press. They must know.

She waited until the room phone stopped ringing and quickly picked it up and dialed the front desk.

“Hello, this is Aurora Mendez. Does anyone know I’m staying here? Are there reporters down there?”

“No, Ms. Mendez. I don’t think anyone has figured out yet that you are here. We’ve been swamped with calls asking if you are staying here. Much more than usual. I saw something about you on the news. It must be big.”

“Yes, I’m afraid so. I’m so sorry.”

Aurora checked her cell phone messages. There were calls from her agent, publicist, and Cassie. She decided to call her agent first.

“This is insane. I talked to Cassie. We're on it. You just want us to make an official statement, right?”

“Yes. And I'll be careful what I say.”

“Good. When are you coming back? Your name is out there so you might get a few movie offers.”

“I am staying here until the hearing.”

“No prenup. Suicide.”

“I didn't even know I was married!”

“What, were you on something? That could work in your favor.”

“Yeah, too many cocktails or something. I was twenty-one and in Vegas."

"Well, that explains it. I need to boogie. I’ll be in touch.”

Aurora pressed the off button on her phone. It rang again immediately. It said it was her parents on the screen.

“Hi, Mom.”

“There are reporters all over the lawn. Can’t you make them go away?”

“I’m sorry about all this. I can’t talk to them just yet.”

“What are your father and I supposed to do? We’re afraid to leave the house.”

“Okay, Mom. I’ll take care of it.”

Aurora showered and dressed in a suit. She left the lodge and drove in her rental car to her parent’s house. The lawn was full of reporters. They surrounded her car as soon as she parked. She stepped out and they backed away enough to give her room to speak.

“Why have you kept your marriage a secret?”

“Do you have a prenuptial agreement with Andrew Macpherson?”

More and more questions were shot out at her. Aurora held up a hand.

“I can’t comment at this time. My publicist will be issuing a statement as soon as he speaks with my lawyer. My family will not be making any comments either. Please do not harass my parents. They are afraid to leave their home.” She turned to her car, got in and left. Several of them followed her in their cars.

Aurora twisted and turned the car around the streets of the residential neighborhood. She was beginning to feel panicked. This had happened to her before, but she had been in New York or Los Angeles at the time. Evergreen Gap was a small town. Where could she go? They’d surely follow her if she went back to Evergreen Lodge. Then they’d know where she was staying. Aurora headed for town. She circled around the streets, looking. Then she saw it ahead. The police station. She pulled into their parking lot. Some of the reporters parked along the side streets and a few even followed her to the police station. She jumped out of her car and ran in.

“Well if it isn’t Aurora Mendez.” The officer at the front desk smiled at her. It took her a moment to realize it was the father of a former classmate of hers.

“Hi, how are you? How is Missy?”

“She’s fine, we’re all fine. What brings you to the Evergreen Gap police department?”

“I’m sorry. There were a bunch of reporters following me and I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Does this kind of thing happen often?”

“No, at least not when I’m here. But they have what they think is big news about me.”

“Big news, huh? I hadn’t heard.”

“You must be the only one.”

“Do you need an escort somewhere or something?”

“I don’t know what to do. They’ll just follow us wherever we go and then they’ll know where I’m staying.”

The officer nodded. Aurora sat down on a bench and sighed.

“Lots of folks want to be rich and famous. Tell me, is it worth it? Having people chase you around and all that?”

“It’s not usually this bad. The problem is everyone always wants something from you. Every time someone calls me, it seems they want money. I don’t mind but I wonder if they’d even speak to me if they didn’t want something. And there are lots of people trying to make money off me too. My agent wants me to do a certain movie, designers want me to wear their clothes so other people will buy them, and the list goes on. Sometimes I feel like a commodity instead of a human being.”

He nodded again thoughtfully.

“I can’t say I’d give it up, though. I love what I do. I can use my money and fame to help people and causes I’d really care about. My parents wanted me to be a school teacher. They thought that was a proper career choice for a woman. Gosh, you should be charging me by the hour. I’m talking to you like you’re my shrink or something.”

“Think those reporters will be leaving anytime soon?”

“I don’t know. How many police officers are here? If you let me stick around awhile longer, I’ll buy you all lunch.”

Aurora bought lunch for the Evergreen Gap Police Department. They were all polite and friendly to her. It suddenly occurred to Aurora that she rarely had lunch or dinner with someone unless it was business. She and Greg Garner were friends, but not especially close ones. She didn’t trust most people in the business. Cassie Stark was probably one of the only exceptions. She had friends in New York from when she did Broadway, but they worked long hours and she rarely got to see them or talk to them. There was no one she could talk with like she could with Melanie. And not only did she live across the country from Melanie, but Melanie was busy with her own family. She had a husband and kids now.

Aurora wondered what it would be like to have someone to come home to every day. Someone she could sit down and eat dinner with and talk about her day. She had a lovely house on the beach in Malibu, just like she’d always dreamed. But there was no one to share it with. She sometimes felt so lonely that she imagined Melanie was there, sitting and eating with her. She imagined talking to Melanie about things that were going on in her life and what Melanie would say in return. If it weren’t for her dog, she probably would have lost her mind by now.

Sassafras!

Aurora realized she’d left her dog at the lodge.

Aurora called the Evergreen Lodge.

“We’ll send someone right up to check on her,” the desk attendant told Aurora.

“I know this is an inconvenience, but can you also have someone take her out? She probably needs to go outf.”

After she hung up Aurora noticed she had another voice mail message. She didn’t really feel like dealing with more people, but it could be important. She punched in her pass code and listened.

“Aurora Mendez? This is Kathleen Macpherson. I’m Drew’s mother. I guess technically I’m your mother-in-law. I got this number from your parents. They didn’t think you would mind. I know you probably can’t talk about the divorce or anything, but I really want to meet you. I heard you were in town and I was wondering if you’d have dinner with me. My husband is out of town. I just feel strange, knowing my son has been married to someone I’ve never met. Please give me a call back.” She had left her home number. Aurora knew Cassie probably wouldn’t like the idea of her having dinner with Drew’s mom. She was a little wary herself, but Kathleen Macpherson sounded sincere. And she was also curious to meet Drew’s mom, her soon to be ex-mother-in-law.

Aurora called Kathleen Macpherson and agreed to meet her for dinner that night. She bid the police farewell. They thanked her for lunch. Aurora left smiling. She had a few hours until she was supposed to meet Drew’s mother. There was one place she had been wanting to visit for some time, and almost without thought she pointed the car in that direction.

Aurora parked in guest parking at the Evergreen Gap branch campus. She pulled a knit cap onto her head and put on sunglasses. She took a stroll along the walkways on campus. It brought back so many memories. She remembered walking to the dining commons with Melanie, always hoping to see Drew. She passed the chapel and thought about how many times she'd attended Mass there and how she had imagined marrying Drew in that chapel.

He must have felt something too, she thought.

Maybe going back to Vegas will help me remember something. She’d read somewhere that smell was the best memory trigger of all. Maybe something in the air would bring something back.

It had to. Not only had she somehow lost Drew, she didn’t even have any memories of the little time she had with him. And more than anything, she wanted to remember what it felt like to be in his arms and kiss him.

Aurora checked her phone and realized that if she left just then she should have enough time to get to Drew's mother's even if she got lost. Here goes nothing, Aurora thought as she put the key in the ignition. She turned out of the parking lot and drove in the direction of Drew’s family home.