Chapter 4
Aurora - 9 Months Later
I waited impatiently,standing just outside the airport’s departure area, watching people exit as I waited for my brother. His plane had come in late, which was making us late for our next stop, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t really all that excited about the next stop anyway. I let out a huff, sat down, and checked the time on my watch. When I looked up, I finally spotted Walker, his large green duffel bag flung over his shoulder, looking over the crowd for me.
I stood up, waving my hand in the air and smiling. This was the longest we’d ever been apart, and I’d missed him a lot. I’d struggled a lot this year after returning from Mexico. It wasn’t just the actions on the trip, either; it was school. This last semester had been hard, and losing my friendship with Willow, Adalyn, and Hannah hadn’t helped matters. I hadn’t even been able to call my brother while he’d been away, so to have him home for a weekend meant a lot.
“Walker! Over here!” I shouted.
He glanced in my direction, waved, and made his way through the crowd to me.
“Hey, sis,” he said, throwing his arms around me.
“Walker!” I cried, hugging him back. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You too. You look good. Thanks for coming to pick me up. I figured Mom would have wanted to be here as well,” he said, looking around as if he were hoping she was going to jump out of some undisclosed location.
“Ah, yes, our mother. I offered to pick her up, but since Mr. Romance appeared, she’s been… preoccupied.”
“Ah, yes, Mr. Romance. Have you met him yet?” Walker asked as he held the door open for me.
I shook my head. “No, not yet. Not sure I really want to, given her track record. We’ll just get used to him and he’ll be gone, just like all the others.”
“Can’t say I blame you there… I feel the same way, although she told me in her last email that this one was different,” Walker replied, giving me a funny look.
I let out a laugh. “Oh yes, different. I think we have heard that before, haven’t we?”
Walker nodded. “We have. I think it was guy two, five, and eight, or maybe it was five, seven, and twelve.”
“No, I know it wasn’t number eight. He was the one with that crazy laugh that she couldn’t stand.”
“No, that was seven. Number eight was the fire investigator that she met the night of the bar fire, remember?”
“Oh god, yes. How did I forget that? She was sure he was going to be the love of her life, and yet here we are, a new one again.”
Walker laughed. “Do you know anything about him?”
I shook my head. “Not much. She’s been unusually tight-lipped about him, but she did let it slip that this one comes with a new stepbrother. Apparently, he’s about your age.”
Walker looked at me with the same curious, annoyed look that I was sure had crossed my face the first time I’d heard about this man and had told Lorelai. It was just like Mom to drop this announcement on us. After all, she hadn’t lost her freedom, and even though I’d always wanted to be like her, after the events of our girls’ trip, I’d changed my mind. The shame from that night had been enough to stop me from dating since. I’d decided I was happy being boring old Aurora.
I popped the trunk on my car while Walker threw his duffel bag in, and then we climbed in. We were going to meet our new stepfather today. Apparently, Penelope had met him four months after I returned from Cozumel and had accepted his proposal a few weeks later. It was fast. She’d surprised me with a call only a couple of weeks ago and dropped the news that they had gotten married while on a trip to Vegas.
When I’d found out Walker would come home during my spring break, I made sure to be available to be here. It was the perfect opportunity for us to meet this man, and I was happy to not have to do it alone.
“So do you know much about the stepbrother?” Walker questioned.
I shook my head as I pulled off the highway. “Nothing really. Mom said he isn’t around much. He travels a lot. Other than that, she has said nothing to me about him. I’d almost hedge a guess she’s probably never met him herself, given the rush of the entire relationship.”
“That figures.” Walker shook his head.
“Can you check the address on that piece of paper in the middle console?”
Walker picked up the paper. “69 Fletcher Cresent.”
“Okay. I was sure that was what it was.” I said, turning into one of the wealthiest areas of Vancouver.
As we drove through the neighbourhood filled with houses as big as we’d ever seen, Walker let out a whistle.
“Looks like Mom finally did something right.” He chuckled. “This neighbourhood is filled with a lot of doctors, lawyers, and I’ve heard the occasional sports stars.”
I giggled. “Maybe it’s her divorce lawyer from husband number four.”
“Ha, that wouldn’t be funny. That guy hated me.” Walker chuckled.
“Well, you’re different now. You’ve cleaned up your life.”
We both looked at one another and laughed. I turned onto Fletcher Cresent, and within seconds we spotted number 69. I slowed my old beater of a car down and pulled into the driveway.
I’d just cut the engine when I saw Mom wave from the front door. Then she pushed it open and ran out into the driveway. She looked radiant in a white dress, especially with her dark tan.
“You ready?” Walker questioned.
“Not really, but there is no turning back now. She’s already spotted us.”
Walker chuckled and pushed his door open at the same time I did, and we both climbed out of the car and walked around to the front of it where we met Mother. She immediately threw her arms around both of us, pulling us in for a hug.
“Gosh, you two look great. I’ve missed you both so much,” she said, now hugging us individually. “I’m so glad you are both here.”
When she grabbed me, she pulled me against her. “Come on, come inside and meet Joe,” she said, pulling us toward the door.
She hadn’t even asked Walker how his first nine months had been. She hadn’t asked me how school was going, if I was passing or failing, or worse, had dropped out. It shouldn’t have surprised me. It was just like her; nothing had changed. She was and always would be solely focused on herself.
We stepped inside the house. I slipped my shoes off and then followed Walker, who followed Mom. I could tell he was just as uncomfortable in this house as I was. As Mom entered the kitchen, Walker glanced over his shoulder at me.
“Are you as stumped as I am?” he whispered.
I gave him a crooked smile. “Sure am. This is effed-up,” I said through clenched teeth.
We stepped into the kitchen. “Aurora, Walker, this is Joe,” Mom said, introducing him as Walker came to stand beside me. He was a very attractive, well-built older man, and it surprised me to see him at the counter making a tray of drinks. It was usually my mother doing those things.
“Walker,” he said, shaking my brother’s hand, “nice to meet you.”
Then he turned to me. “Aurora, nice to meet you as well. Your mother has told me lots about both of you, and I look forward to getting to know each of you better. I also look forward to being your stepfather,” he said, coming over and hugging me.
He smiled at me and then went back over to finish making the drinks while Mom started going on about how proud she was of both of us. We looked at one another as we listened to her go on like she was the one responsible for our schooling and career decisions, when the truth was, if you asked her, she’d barely even know what I was in school for.
“My dear, how about the four of us retire out back by the pool?” Joe said. “Dylan will be here shortly, I’m sure. Then I’ll get some food on the barbeque. I know he’s looking forward to meeting you both,” Joe said, putting his hand on Mom’s lower back and guiding her toward the back door.
Mom grabbed the tray of drinks and carried them outside while we followed. The backyard was amazing. A huge in-ground pool sat in the centre of a very well landscaped backyard. Walker and I took a seat at the table and helped ourselves to a drink.
“Oh, I know the two of you are going to love Dylan. He’s been looking forward to meeting you both as well,” Mom said, giggling as Joe tapped her behind.
I glanced at my brother, who gave me a look of disbelief before taking a drink.
“We are looking forward to meeting him. What does he do?” Walker asked.
“Dylan is the centre for the Vancouver Dominators,” Joe announced.
“Holy hell. Seriously?” Walker asked. “Now I’ll know two of them.”
I shook my head. It looked like Walker was going to be pulled to the dark side with our mother, leaving me to fend for myself in this nightmare. Lorelai’s brother played for the Dominators as well, and since they were and had always been Walker’s favourite team, I could only imagine how excited he was.
“Yep.” Joe smiled. “Who else do you know?” he questioned.
I cleared my throat. “Phil Anderson is my best friend’s brother. He plays for them as well.”
“Ah, yes, he plays right defense. He’s an excellent player,” Joe said.
Instantly, my brother began asking him questions, and his eyes lit up at every answer. He was beaming by the time Joe invited him inside to show him some things, leaving me alone outside with Mom.
I stood there looking around the backyard, tension building between us. She’d been on me for the past few months about dating. I let out a sigh as I looked at the gardens, praying for Walker to return, when she cleared her throat.
“So, have you met anyone at school?” she asked, pouring me another drink.
I shook my head.
“You know, you really should take some time to get to know some guys in your classes.”
“I’m just trying to focus on getting good grades, Penelope.”
“I ran into Willow the other day. She asked how you were doing. She says you’ve been distant since Cozumel.”
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 pulledmy 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 tappedthe 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 heardsome 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.