Chapter 4 #2
I rolled my eyes. It was just like my mother to try and pull information out of me. She’d never even asked me how that trip had gone. It didn’t matter anyway because she was the last person I’d tell anything about that trip.
“Is that so? Did she say anything else?” I said, fishing to find out if she’d told my mother about my lack of judgment on that trip.
“Nothing,” she answered, looking at me. “Did something happen on that trip between the two of you that you’d like to talk about?”
I almost choked on the lemonade as those words fell from her mouth. I wasn’t sure if it was the fact she asked or the fact that she actually thought I’d talk to her about it. Regardless, I grabbed a napkin, wiped the lemonade from my chin, and shook my head.
“No, Mom. All is fine. We’re just on different paths. So why don’t you tell me where you met Joe?”
I sat there listening to her every once in a while, zoning out as I thought about my friends.
Since we’d returned, I’d only kept in touch with Lorelai, but then we were the only ones who were finishing up our classes at the University of Victoria.
The others had gone to the University of Toronto, but I’d heard through the grapevine Willow had dropped out of her program because of family issues and had returned to Vancouver.
“So that is why you are here,” my mother said loud enough to pull me away from my thoughts.
I hadn’t heard a word she said, but judging from her smile, I was sure I’d find out without having to ask again.
“I see.”
The sliding door to the patio opened and out walked Joe and Walker, both talking up a storm. Mom smiled while I shifted in my seat. Walker looked like he was walking on cloud nine.
“God, I can’t believe I’m actually going to meet him,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Thanks for showing me all that stuff. What a rush,” Walker said, coming and sitting down beside me.
“He should be here any minute,” Joe said, glancing at his watch.
“Excuse me, but I need to use the washroom,” I said, standing up.
“Sure thing. Just make a left down the hall from the kitchen door. It’s the first door on your right.” Joe smiled, opening the door for me.
I pulled my phone from my pocket once I had locked the door to the bathroom and quickly texted Lorelai. I’d told her I’d let her know what was up the moment I found out.
Aurora: So, Penelope’s big surprise…she’s married to a man whose son is a Dominator
Lorelai: WHAT???? Aurora, what are you talking about?
Aurora: My mother married a man who’s the father to one of the Vancouver Dominators
Lorelai: Oh god. Your brother must be beside himself. Have you met him yet? Who is it? I’ll have to tell Phil.
Aurora: Nope, have not met him yet. He is apparently on his way over.
Lorelai: What’s your new surprise stepfather like?
Aurora: Little different from the others.
He lives over in the ritzy part of Vancouver.
My car looks like a sore thumb in the driveway.
Oh, and he actually wears full shirts, not wife beaters.
Penelope has officially stepped up. He made drinks for everyone instead of standing over Penelope and demanding she do it. It’s like an alternate reality.
Lorelai: Sounds like a complete 360.
Aurora: You think? Something has got to be wrong with the entire picture.
Lorelai: Maybe she has changed.
Aurora: Do you remember Penelope? LOL
Lorelai: Your mom, despite her faults, all of her faults, deserves to be with a decent guy, you know.
I tapped the side of my phone as I recounted the steps of the events so far tonight. I hadn’t been able to remember anything being out of place in this picture, except for my mother.
Aurora: I’m sure the whole thing will blow up once this guy doesn’t treat my mother like trash.
Lorelai: Maybe she is looking for a change.
I heard some footsteps in the hallway and a murmur of voices. I bet my new stepbrother was here.
Aurora: Got to go. I think the stepbrother is here. I’m hiding in the bathroom, and before they get suspicious, I need to make an appearance.
Lorelai: Text me later. I want to know who it is, and I want to hear all about the evening. I don’t think I can wait until you get home.
Aurora: Okay, I’ll let you know the instant I find out. Then you can ask your brother about him and let me know if he is a decent guy.
Lorelai: Will do. Have fun.
I pocketed my phone, flushed the toilet, and opened the door a crack to see the hallway empty.
I shut the light off and made my way into the kitchen where I could see my mother standing beside Joe and Walker, talking with someone I couldn’t see.
Certain that must be him, I grabbed my drink from the counter where I left it and opened the back door.
They were chatting away when my mother finally noticed me.
“Ah, and Dylan, this is my daughter, Aurora.”
I looked up just as Joe stepped to the side and caught sight of a pair of blue eyes I’d have known anywhere. Heat filled my body, and everything fell away until I heard the glass I’d been holding shatter as it hit the stone of the deck.
“Oh, my god. I’m so sorry,” I said as the realization of what happened hit me.
My mother ran into the kitchen to get the broom, while Joe assured me that accidents happen. Walker and he bent down to pick up the large pieces of glass, while I stood there, my eyes locked with Dylan’s.
I’d barely heard a word any of them said because I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the guy standing in front of me.
How on earth was it even possible that the man I’d had a one-night stand with would end up being my stepbrother?
This seemed like a cruel joke the universe had played on my one and only spontaneous moment.
Dylan didn’t miss a beat though and acted like we’d never seen one another before.
“Aurora,” he said, bringing his hand out for me to shake.
I could see nothing but laughter in his eyes as I slowly brought my hand to his and swallowed hard. The second our hands touched, my body heated, and the room spun.
“Aurora, you don’t look very good,” I heard my mother say as she reached out and grabbed my shoulders. “Are you feeling alright?”
“I, uh, I don’t feel so good,” I mumbled. My mouth had gone dry, and I could barely swallow.
“Come inside with me,” she immediately said, pulling me away from the situation.
Once inside the kitchen, she had me sit down.
She grabbed a cloth and wet it, placing it on the back of my neck.
Then she poured me a glass of juice, placed it in front of me, then leaned on the counter in front of me, looking me directly in the eyes.
“What is going on?” she questioned, studying my face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. I know he is famous and all, but please.”
“It’s not that,” I mumbled, taking a drink of my juice.
“Well then, what on earth is it? You don’t act like this when you meet someone new. So spill it.”
I drank the rest of my juice and looked at my mother. I wondered if this whole new situation she found herself in would make her act more like a mother. I needed to tell someone what had happened. I let out the breath I was holding.
“Could we go somewhere a little more private?”
My mother shook her head, let out a breath, and smiled. “Of course.”
She led me down the same hall I’d gone down to the washroom, and we stepped into a large office. She shut the door and turned, crossing her arms over her chest.
“What is it?” she questioned.
“Mexico.”
“What about Mexico?”
I paced back and forth, my stomach actually spinning as I tried to form the words that I wanted to say.
“Alright, don’t get angry.”
“Aurora, please just tell me what is going on.”
“I had a one-night stand in Mexico with a guy. I never got his name.”
“Okay, I don’t understand what that has to do with tonight, though. Is it something you just felt you needed to tell me, because you could have told me when you got back. You didn’t need to wait until tonight, nine months later” she said as she went to pull open the door.
I closed my eyes. I could feel my heart beating hard in my chest, and I was getting dizzy again. My stomach turned as I tried to muster up the words. Penelope stepped out into the hall, and I knew I had to stop her from going back out there. “It was Dylan,” I said loud enough she could hear.
I could feel the tears building, and I knew my face was probably as red as a tomato, but I mustered up the courage to look my mother in the eyes. She was quiet for a moment, studying me, and just when I thought she was going to come and comfort me, she burst into laughter.
Horrified, I wiped my eyes and glared at my mother.
“What is so funny?”
“Oh god, this is too much,” she said, still laughing.
“Mom, it’s not funny,” I said, horrified.
She wiped at the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.
“Oh, Aurora, lighten up. It’s not that big of a deal.
So what? So, you two bumped uglies. Do you realize I’d actually slept with my divorce lawyer before my last divorce?
We’d met one night at a bar, and he’d taken me back to his place.
Eighteen months later, I walked into his office to hire him to get me out of the mess I was in. ”
“Mom! This isn’t about you and some lawyer,” I cried.
“Aurora, how many times do I need to tell you? Life is about experiences! I bet he was a great experience for you.”
I literally wanted to die. This was exactly like her. Why I thought she’d care was beyond me, and I’d been right. She didn’t give a shit.
“Mom, this is embarrassing.”
“Oh, Aurora, how many times do I have to tell you, life is to be lived, to take chances, to have fun? That was what you were doing. Nothing wrong with it.”
She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into her.
“Mom, can’t you see I’m a mess?” I questioned.
“I can, and you know what I say is an excellent remedy for that. Drinks. So, let’s go get some and join the guys out back.”
She rubbed my shoulder before opening the door and laughed again as she glanced back at me. “My uptight little bird finally spread her wings,” she muttered.
I followed her back into the kitchen, where she poured each of us another drink, adding an extra shot of gin to mine. I made eye contact with her as she screwed the cap back onto the bottle. Why I’d ever wanted to be like her, I’d never know.
“Come on now. Time to act like nothing has happened.”
I let out the breath I was holding as my stomach continued to turn. “What if I can’t?”
“You can! Although, you will never know what might happen later on.” She winked as she made her way to the patio door and slid it open.
“Is everything alright?” I heard Joe ask as we stepped out onto the patio.
“Oh, heavens yes. I’m sorry about that. Aurora and her issues,” she said, giggling as she stepped outside.
I was ready to kill Penelope. I held my breath as I stepped out onto the back deck.
My brother and Dylan sat talking. Immediately, Dylan looked over at me while Walker continued talking.
I was going to go over and sit beside my mother when Dylan grabbed the chair beside him and pulled it toward him, slapping the seat.
“Come on over here and sit with us.” He grinned.
If I were going to get through this night, there was one thing I was going to need, and that was a lot more gin.