Chapter Four

Aurora meets Drew's mother and decides to take a side trip. Drew finds some strange information regarding his ex-fiance.

Chapter Four

The Macphersons lived in Pine Hollow, an upper middle class area in the Laurel Highlands about fifteen miles from Evergreen Gap. She had never been exactly sure where Drew lived, but she’d known it had to be somewhere near St. Bartholomew church. Aurora had spent many days wondering what it would be like to go to his house and meet his parents. Now she was finally going to do just that. She couldn’t really muster any excitement about it. Her only consolation would be if Kathleen Macpherson turned out to be a nasty woman. Then she could remind herself what an awful mother-in-law she escaped having. She doubted that was the case. Her impression of Drew’s mother had been just the opposite.

Aurora found Hawthorne Drive and slowed down so she could see the numbers on the houses. When she spotted a mailbox with number 41 on it, her heart skipped a beat. She pulled into the pine tree driveway and nosed her car in a spot in front of the garage. The house was a well-kept Tudor style home. It had hedges on either side and a fence that separated the backyard. She guessed there was a swimming pool or deck in the back yard, maybe both. Taylor Swift's "Teardrops on My Guitar" came on the radio. Aurora could never listen to that song without thinking of the Drew. It even had his name in it, for crying out loud. She was living in New York when the song came out, but the first time she heard it she had nearly broken down and cried. It reminded her so much of how she felt in college with Drew as part of her social circle. It was almost like it was written for her. The part about faking a smile especially hit home. She remembered barely being able to fake it when Drew came to the college winter formal with Megan.

Why did she feel like that insecure young woman all over again? All that happened over ten years ago. Not to mention Aurora had been on Maxim magazine's hot list the past two years in a row.

Howie Dozer saw the car pull up in the Macpherson’s driveway and picked up his camera. He worked for a tabloid called Celebrity Eye and had been staking out the house. He’d been sitting in Tuscano's when Aurora had been served the divorce papers and his editor had been thrilled that he had first scoop on the story. Now everyone wanted a photo of Aurora Mendez’s secret husband. Most reporters had staked themselves at Drew Macpherson’s house with no luck. He was betting on the elusive man showing up at his parent’s home. He adjusted the telephoto lens on his camera and prepared to shoot. What was taking this person so long to get out of the car? Had he been spotted?

The door opened and Aurora Mendez stepped out. Howie began to shoot. This might not be what he came for, but it was good. What was Aurora Mendez doing at her soon-to-be-ex-in-law’s house?

Aurora walked down the pathway that led to the front door. She stood there for a second then pressed the doorbell. She heard footsteps and then the door opened.

“Aurora, I’m so glad you could come.” Kathleen ushered her into the house and offered to take her coat. The black and white photos Aurora had seen in the alumni newsletters had not done Kathleen justice. She was quite attractive with her shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair and petite figure. Kathleen also had a beautiful smile that reminded her of Drew.

“It’s nice to finally meet you,” Aurora said. Kathleen led her down a hall and into the living room.

“Can I get you something to drink? Hot tea, maybe?”

“Tea sounds perfect. It’s getting awfully cold out there.”

“Sure thing.” Kathleen disappeared and Aurora noticed Drew’s portrait along with some others on a shelf. She walked over to get a closer look.

Kathleen reappeared with two teacups. She set them down on the coffee table.

Aurora turned to face her. “Is this Drew's high school senior photo? And one of Drew and his father?” Aurora indicated a photo of Drew standing on a dock next to another man. Both were holding up trout fish.

“Yes, that’s Drew's senior picture and him fishing with my husband, Ian.”

Drew may have had his mother’s smile, but he obviously got his looks from Ian. Ian was like an older version of Drew. He had the same gray green eyes and thick black hair. He was tall like Drew and sported the same dimple.

Aurora noticed another photograph, this one a group shot. Everyone appeared to be dressed for a wedding or similar event. He looked as if he’d filled out a little. His shoulders and chest were broader than she remembered. Drew had his arm around a tall, bony blonde woman. She knew from Facebook that the woman was Stacy. She felt an unexpected stab of jealousy. This woman had time with Drew that she'd never had. She had been to an event with his parents.

Aurora sat down when Kathleen came in with the tea. She picked up the cup of tea Kathleen had set on the coffee table.

“I’m sorry to be so nosy, looking at all your pictures up there. I haven’t seen Drew in almost ten years. I guess curiosity got the best of me.”

“Oh, that’s quite alright. It’s an odd situation, isn’t it? I’ve never met anyone famous before, and here you are in my living room. And to top it off, you’re married to my son who never even told me he was married.”

“When I told my mother she thought I was telling her the plot of a movie I was going to be in. It really does sound almost too ridiculous to be true.”

Kathleen tried to think of the proper thing to say to Aurora. She watched the young woman sip her tea. She hadn’t been sure what to expect, but she was pleasantly surprised. This woman was nothing like her son's most recent ex-girlfriend.. In the looks department she was quite the opposite of Stacy, but it wasn’t just that. She had a grace about her. Sure, she was expensively dressed, but she also seemed warm and genuine. And money couldn’t always buy taste.

“Are you dating anyone special right now?” Kathleen asked.

“No. Why do you ask?” Aurora stiffened in her chair.

“I’m sorry. I suppose your lawyer told you not to say much of anything.”

“In my line of work, you learn not to trust anybody. My lawyer would have my hide if she knew I was here. I guess I’m just not sure what to say. This is a pretty unique situation, you have to admit.”

“It certainly is. I’m just curious, I suppose. How did you end up married to my son?”

“You haven't asked Drew? He must remember more than I do, which is practically nothing.”

“I hate to ask, but were you drinking that night?”

“I was, and I wasn't used to it. The whole thing is pretty much a blank for me. I just found out about it, and I'm still in shock.”

“I guess so. Had you two been dating? I know he broke things off with his high school girlfriend around that time, but I don't remember the details.”

“I think they broke up just before the Vegas trip. I seem to remember Megan talking about it at the airport. One night towards the end of the trip, Drew and I were talking at a night club. That's all I remember. I know I went back to my room, and I don't think Drew came with me. I may have hit my head. My friend Melanie woke me for our flight home. The guys weren't on the flight home. I had an audition in New York and left right after we got back. ”

“Did you say New York City? Drew insisted on going there that summer. Drew's dad is a contractor and Drew was working for him that summer. None of his friends were able to go with him and we really didn't want him to go alone, but he said he needed to visit a friend. Was that you?”

"No. He may have looked for me, but he didn't find me. I didn't tell my parents where I was staying, so they wouldn't have been able to tell Drew.

Aurora’s eyes filled with tears. She sniffed and Kathleen handed her a tissue.

“I was friends with Drew for two years, but there was always Megan,” Aurora told Kathleen. “I never would have married someone and then just run away. If I thought it was a mistake, I would have gotten an annulment or something. I had that audition, which turned out to be my big break. My parents didn't want me to go to main campus, never mind New York City. I had to go without telling them first, or they would have stopped me. They sheltered me so much. They didn't even want me to go on the Vegas trip.”

“I also found this recently. I was with some mail that came after I left Evergreen Gap for New York.” Aurora dug in her purse and pulled out the photo of her wedding with Drew. She handed it to Kathleen.

“Oh, my. It's one thing to know it happened, but to see it. I just can't get over it.”

“I still have that dress, but I don’t know where that shawl came from. I don’t even remember having one like it.”

“Excuse me, just a moment.” Kathleen stood and walked down a hall. Aurora could hear her walking upstairs. She returned a few minutes later. She was carrying a white shawl.

“I think this is it,” she told Aurora. "I found it in Drew's old room."

Aurora took it from her and ran her fingers along the soft fabric. It looked as if it had handmade details. It wasn’t something one could buy in a shopping mall. She held it up to her face and breathed in the scent.

“It smells like cedar,” she said, disappointed.

“It’s been in the closet in Drew’s old room since before he left for college. I found it once and asked him if it belonged to an old girlfriend and what I should do with it. He said he wasn’t able to return it to the owner, but he would never let me donate it to charity.”

“It looks like the one in the photo. It must be mine.”

“You can have it, then. Excuse me again. I need to check on dinner.”

Kathleen returned and told her dinner was ready. She followed her to the dining room and took a seat at the rectangular walnut table.

“This looks delicious. I don’t get many home-cooked meals,” Aurora said.

“Do you live alone?”

“Yes, I’ve lived alone for a few years now.”

There was salad, rolls, baked chicken, roasted potatoes, and mixed vegetables. Aurora sampled everything. It was all very good.

“Do you cook?”

“Some, but it’s not worth making a big meal for just me. I have friends over for dinner parties a few times a year.”

“It sounds a little lonely.”

“I guess it can be. I spend a great deal of time on location filming. I have the whole cast and crew to eat with me then. I also have a dog.”

“Where is your dog now?”

“She’s here in Evergreen Gap with me. She’s at the place where I’m staying right now.”

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Kathleen got up to refresh their drink glasses.

“Will you be staying in town for the holidays?”

“I’m planning to. I’d like to be with my family and besides, we may have a hearing sometime soon. It will take place here.”

“A hearing? Drew didn’t mention it.”

“My attorney is trying to get one set up. That way we can determine whether to go to court.”

“That’s something I wanted to tell you. I know my son is planning on trying to get a divorce settlement. I told him I’m against that. Even before you told me your half of the story, I felt the marriage wasn’t really valid. He has no right to take anything from you. He seemed...hurt by what happened. I think his exact word he used was abandoned. If there’s any way to explain to him that you didn’t know, maybe he would change his mind.”

“I doubt he would believe me. He’d just think I’m trying to look out for my own interests.”

“I don’t know that he’ll listen to me either, but I can try to talk to him.”

*****

Drew hadn’t left his house since he heard the story broke. He knew there were reporters around his house. It didn’t matter. He had just finished a job, and since he had his own business, he could take some time off. He couldn’t believe all the phone calls he was getting either. People from magazines, tabloids, even TV stations. Since he wasn’t answering his phone he decided to check his E-mail. At least no one had gotten his private E-mail address.

There was a message from his mother telling him to call home. He picked up the phone and dialed his parents’ number.

When his mother answered she told him she’d just had dinner with Aurora Mendez.

“You did WHAT?”

“She’s a lovely woman, Drew. I wanted to meet the woman you saw fit to marry and not even tell me about, so I invited her to dinner. She agreed to come.”

“What on earth did you talk to her about?”

“Drew, that woman had no idea she was even married until a few weeks ago. She was quite upset over the whole thing.”

“What do you mean, she didn’t know she was married?”

Kathleen told her son about her conversation with Aurora.

“She was probably lying! She's scared I'm going to get half her money.”

“She started to cry whenever I told her you went to New York that summer. You were looking for her, weren't you?”

“She’s an actress, Mom. She can fake any emotion she wants.”

“ Well maybe she fooled me but you're my son and I know you. You are way too emotional about this whole thing. I think you have unresolved feelings for her. ”

“I was engaged to Stacy. Did you forget that?”

“But you broke it off with Stacy. You know she wasn't the one.”

"Of course she wasn't the one! She cheated on me with a doctor at the hospital!"

Drew hung up from talking to his mother and flopped onto his couch. He stared up at the ceiling for a long time, lost in thought. Was his mother right? Had he not gotten over her after all this time? And if that was true, what was he going to do about it?

Aurora left the Macpherson house carrying the white shawl. Howie picked up his camera and zoomed in his lens. What was she carrying? Some kind of a scarf? He clicked a few quick photos. Somehow he doubted she was visiting her soon-to-be-ex-in-laws just to pick up a scarf. He watched her get into her rental car and decided to follow her.

Aurora had driven a few blocks when she suspected she was being followed. She made several turns onto side streets and her feeling was confirmed. It was only one car, so she felt confident that she could lose him. She may not know Evergreen Gap that well anymore, but surely she could lose this car. She geared up and circled around. She left Pine Hollow and headed down the mountain towards town. She cut through some alleys and sped past the Evergreen Gap Community Hospital. She checked in the rearview mirror and the car was gone. She picked up the bypass and headed back to Evergreen Lodge.

Sassafras dove on her and covered her with kisses when she got back. She checked her messages and there was one from Cassie. The hearing was set for just after the new year.

Aurora decided to go to New York for a few days to do some shopping. Her brother came home from college only to leave again for a skiing trip with his friends.

“What do you need to go there for?” her mother had asked. “We have stores in Evergreen Gap. You could go to Pittsburgh, too.”

“I feel like visiting some friends in New York. I feel like getting away for a few days.”

“You get bored if you’re not in a big city, that’s what it is,” she clucked at her over the phone.

Aurora decided to drive since it would be easier to take Sassafras with her. Sassafras loved the hotel they usually stayed in while in New York because she got the star treatment. She called Cassie to tell her she would there.

“That’s perfect,” Cassie said. “I have to go to the New York office anyway so I can meet with you while I’m there.”

Aurora kept the suite at Evergreen Lodge so no one else was able to take it while she was gone. She packed some bags and loaded her dog and luggage into the rental car.

She was checking into her hotel when she heard a voice behind her.

“I’ve been trying to get hold of you for days.”

She turned and saw the boyish smile of Greg Garner beaming at her.

“Greg! I’m sorry, I haven’t been answering the phone. Too many nosy reporters.”

“Have you had dinner?”

“No, I just drove here from Pennsylvania.”

“Would you have dinner with me, then? You must be totally stressed. I'll bet you could use a friend.”

“That would be great, Greg.”

Greg and Aurora met for dinner and she told him about finding out she was married and everything that had followed.

“Unbelievable. Who do you think leaked the story to the media?”

“I have no idea. I was definitely being followed a few days ago. That was the evening after the story got out, though.”

After they left the restaurant Aurora said she wanted to walk around and see the city all decorated for Christmas and Greg said he’d go with her. They stopped to gaze at the tree in Rockefeller Center when Greg turned to her.

“You’ve been awfully quiet since we left the restaurant. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Aurora looked up at Greg and shrugged.

“That’s not an answer,” Greg said. He put his arms around her.

“It just stirs up all these old feelings,” she whispered.

“Do you still have feelings for him? I mean, you made it sound like it was all an impetuous mistake. Did you love him?”

“It was just a crush, really. We were friends but he was never available. But even before I found out about our whirlwind marriage I thought about him a lot. I’ve never been able to get him out of my head. I guess I should, though.” Tears fell down Aurora’s face and she leaned on Greg’s shoulder. Greg stroked her hair.

A photographer in the crowd saw Greg and Aurora and starting snapping photos.

*****

A few days later Kathleen Macpherson was having her morning coffee when her son burst into the back door.

“She doesn’t look lonely to me,” Drew said to his mother and set a tabloid down in front of her. It was open to a page with a huge photo of Aurora and Greg Garner. In huge letters a caption read, “Is Greg helping Aurora Get Over Her Bitter Divorce?”

Kathleen looked it over and frowned at her son.

“You can’t take this tabloid seriously. That doesn’t prove she’s involved with him. She told me herself she isn’t seeing anyone.”

“It was taken at Rockefeller Center just recently. And how do you know she wasn’t lying to you?”

“Why do you care so much who she sees, anyway?” Kathleen looked steadily at her son.

Drew didn’t reply but walked down the hall to his old room. He came back into the kitchen a few minutes later.

“What did you do with that white shawl that was in the closet?” he demanded.

“I gave it to Aurora. She said she was going through some old things at her parents’ home recently and came across some old mail that must have arrived after she moved to New York. There was a photo of the two of you at your wedding. She said she still had the dress but she didn’t ever remember even owning a shawl like the one in the photo. I realized the one in your closet must be the same one.”

“Why did you give it to her?”

“It just seemed right. It was hers, after all. It must have had some sentimental value to you if you kept it all these years.”

“It doesn't. She may as well have it.”

“I wish you wouldn’t take any money from her. It just isn’t right.”

Just then Drew’s cell phone rang. He looked on the caller I.D. and saw it was Stacy.

“Drew, can you do me a favor? I left my wallet at my apartment and I really need it. Is there any way you could get it from my apartment and bring it to me at work?”

"Why are you calling me for this?"

"Wayne is in surgery right now and you are the only other person who has a key."

He told her he would do it and hung up.

“I have to go, Mom. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Think about what I said, will you?”

He nodded and walked out. He drove to Stacy's apartment and let himself in with his key. He found her wallet on her kitchen table. There was a letter from the Pine Hollow Country Club. He wondered if she was joining the country club courtesy of her new boyfriend. He knew he shouldn't look, but it was already open.

What the ... it was paperwork to hold a wedding reception at the country club. The date was one Stacy had been pressing him to set with her for next June. They had never agreed to this venue. She had a menu chosen; something else they'd never agreed on. It didn't make any sense. It was like she was planning a wedding with someone else. He scanned the papers and saw his name listed. He read on and saw it was due by January fifteenth or else she'd lose her reservation. Okay, so why was she hanging on to it? Was she hoping to get him back or convince her new boyfriend to tie the knot in just a few months?

He decided to look around a little more. He knew she kept a file folder full of important papers in a drawer in the kitchen. Drew began looking through the file folder when he came across a section labeled “Wedding.” He opened it and saw a receipt for a down payment on a gown. It was from Nordstrom's wedding shop in King of Prussia. Why would she go all the way there for a gown? He looked further down the page at the price. The gown was nearly four thousand dollars. There was something very weird going on, and he didn't know what.

He searched through the file folder some more and came to a section with his name on the front. He flipped through it. It was full of information on him, including financial statements.

He spotted another folder labeled with just a star. He thumbed through it as well. It had extensive information about Aurora’s finances and photocopies of divorce laws. Drew closed the folders and binder and carefully put them back in their places.

*****

Aurora’s family was gathered around their living room on Christmas Day. Her parents were there, as well as her brother. Her Aunt Maria and Uncle Pablo, and cousin Tara and Tara's husband were there as well. Tara had recently dyed her hair a bright cherry red shade.

“Tara, are you sure it’s safe to use that dye in your hair? It won’t hurt the baby, will it?” Maria looked at her daughter worriedly.

Tara rolled her eyes. "It's fine so long as you wait until the second trimester. What to Expect said so."

"What do they know? You should listen to your elders about these things.

Tara ignored her mother and turned to Aurora. “What happened to your highlights? Your hair looks different.”

“I didn’t like that style. I got it dyed back to my natural color. I’m going to let it grow out, too.”

“She had to go to New York City to get her hair done and go shopping,” Rosemary said. “Nothing in Evergreen Gap is good enough for her.”

“Oh, Mama. I wanted to see some friends and meet with my lawyer. You know that.”

“What kind of friend?” Tara looked at her quizzically.

“Some of my friends from when I lived in New York.”

“I hear Greg Garner was there too,” Tara said.

“I’m not dating Greg,” Aurora said. “He was just being a friend. I’ve been stressed out lately, what with this divorce and all.”

“I heard about your secret marriage. It’s been big news. It sounds just like a typical Hollywood marriage, over before it started,” Tara said.

“I married Drew when I was eighteen. I wasn’t even an actress then.”

“Maybe, but you haven’t even come close to getting married again. It’s probably a good thing. Those celebrity marriages never last, and if you had a kid it would probably end up in therapy and write a tell-all book about you.” Tara patted her round stomach smugly.

"Maybe I don't want kids," Aurora said.

Rosemary and Maria gasped and Rosemary crossed herself.

"Don't ever say that. It will come true," Maria said.

"Yeah, sure. I have to go get something."

Aurora went off in the direction of her old bedroom.

"Don't pay any attention to her. She's just jealous," Maria said to Tara. "Her last boyfriend was on the drugs and the one before that was a cheater."

Aurora flopped onto the twin-sized bed. She lay her head on the red-and-white quilt. She stared into the closet for a moment and something caught her eye. She had cleaned all of her things out of it, but there was the edge of some pale purple paper sticking out. She walked over to the closet and picked it up. It was addressed to her at her parent’s home. Another piece of mail she’d never gotten because she’d gone to New York and left no forwarding address, but that wasn’t what struck her. It was postmarked for several days before her birthday, a few months after she’d gone to New York. She tore it open. An old, pressed flower fell out of a card. She began to read the card.

Aurora, I wanted to wish you a happy nineteenth birthday. I know our getting married was a crazy, impulsive thing to do. I understand if you regret it, but I can’t understand why you left without me. I don’t even know where you are. I hope your parents somehow get this to you. Please call or write when you get this. We really need to talk. I hardly got to be with you and I’d like to at least try to work things out. Love, Drew

She grabbed a phone and dialed Kathleen and Ian Macpherson’s phone number. Kathleen answered.

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Macpherson. This is Aurora Mendez. I’m looking for Drew.”

“No, but they’ll be coming here later today. Do you want me to have him call you?”

“No, please don’t. I’ll just have my attorney call his. It’s probably better that way.”

Aurora hung up and tossed the card aside. Sentimental fool, she told herself. He wrote that a long time ago. She noticed the fallen flower and picked it up. She inhaled, and the scent gave her a funny feeling. She felt nervous and excited, but also warm and happy. It looked like one from the bunch of flowers she’d been holding when she and Drew got married. He must have saved it.

The hearing was a little over a week away. She had just enough time to take a little trip.