Mr. Fratzenberg started to look intrigued as he said, “Continue.”
“Well, if she had known about DAIS,” Aurora said, “maybe she would have reached out to them to get help sooner.” If only he knew I was talking about myself...
“But she got help eventually?”
“Well, yes,” Aurora said. “She did eventually, and left the loser.”
“But why DAIS?”
“Why not?” Aurora said.
“Okay. Today I am in a good mood,” he said as he put his fingers through his gray hair. “Whatever you like then, Ms. Tousey.”
“Also,” Aurora said, “I have seen some of these women at DAIS and I have heard their stories. This shelter would be an amazing thing.”
“Okay. Okay. I get it,” Mr. Fratzenberg said. “Let us go with that one then.”
“Thank you.”
“So,” Mr. Fratzenberg said. “What will they do with the money we raise?”
“Well,” Aurora said, “they have mentioned to me that they are looking for money for a new abused and battered women’s shelter they were hoping to open.”
“Okay then. Anything else you would like to talk about?” Mr. Fratzenberg said as he looked down at his Rolex to check the time.
“No.”
“D-A-Y-S it is.”
“It is D-A-I-S.”
“It’s okay,” Mr. Fratzenberg said. “You know what I meant.”
“Since you are here, I have one more thing to talk about,” Aurora said. “I thought I would mention a pay raise.”
“Well,” he said, “let us not get ahead of ourselves.”
“Right.” Things would be different if I were a man asking for a raise. I will just keep writing and editing about fake happy lifestyles while you make all of the money for it. I just want to write about something real.
Chapter 9
Talking about the abuse at DAIS and telling them about my story indirectly made me realize how bad I want to move on with my life and get on with the divorce. Aurora, this is consuming your life. She wanted to file the divorce jointly, but Gannon refused to sign the papers. She had to file for divorce on her own. She probably didn’t need a lawyer for that, but she didn’t have time to deal with all that drama in between work. She had his divorce papers served to him when he was at a work meeting. That will get his attention.
Before meeting with Gannon and his lawyer, Aurora met the lawyer at his office a few minutes earlier. Her lawyer, Erik Wulfblitzen, had a monotone voice. It seemed as if all of the emotions he had were drained from him. He was tall, and had gray wispy hair that resembled strands of silver thread.
“Why do divorces in this state have to be so messy?” Aurora asked.
“So lawyers have a job.” Aurora gave him a stern look. Erik said as he hid his smirk, “Just kidding.”
“It’s fine,” Aurora said. “I just feel this is dragging on forever.” Once you filed the divorce papers, you had to wait one hundred and twenty days until your court date.
“So, when I am divorced, I have to wait six months before I can marry anyone again?”
“That is correct.” She didn’t expect to get married any time soon after divorcing Gannon. She just didn’t want that looming over her head. She wanted to have him out of her life completely.
“That law is a bit outdated. Don’t you think?”
“Maybe,” Erik said, “but that is the law.”
“So,” Aurora said, “is there anything I should know beforehand?”
“No, this is pretty straight forward.”
“He barely made anything in our marriage. I made and paid for everything. I know he has money, but he will not get it until his parents pass,” Aurora said.
Erik opened his binder and looked through his notes and flipped through papers. Then he looked back at Aurora.
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” he said.
“I am sure,” Aurora said. “He treated me like crap. I don’t want anything from him. I feel it will all be tainted.”
“Okay,” Erik said. “You realize there is no going back, right?”
“I know. I’m sorry to spring this on you,” Aurora said. “I didn’t know that I wanted this until I just walked into your office.
Erik’s assistant knocked and came in. “Your three o’clock is here.”
“Okay,” Erik said. “Send them in.”
Aurora saw Gannon walk in, and she felt as if a black hole sucked all of her soul from her body. She gulped down a breath of air.
“So,” Gannon’s lawyer said. His name was Maxwell Redding, and Aurora thought he was similar to her lawyer, but he was younger and had blonde hair gelled and combed to one side. “Are we here today to discuss financial matters?”
“No,” Aurora said.
Aurora’s lawyer glared at her and whispered, “Aurora, let me do the talking.”
“So why are we here?” his lawyer said. We are here so I can prove to Gannon I am serious about divorce.
“Well,” Erik said.
“I have one question,” Gannon said. Aurora’s chest got tight as she took in a deep breath. “I want to know if in those six months, if Aurora and I decide to get back together, will that cancel the divorce?”
“Are you delusional?” Aurora asked.
“No, I just…” Gannon said.
“We are here today just so I can prove to you I am serious about divorce. I want to show you that you lost the best thing that has ever happened to you,” Aurora said as she turned to her lawyer. “Are we done here?” Gannon’s eyes grew big as he became shocked that Aurora was sticking up for herself.
“Well, I guess we….” Erik said.
“Okay, good,” Aurora said as she got up to storm out of the office.
“Wait, Mrs. Tousey,” Gannon’s lawyer said. “We have further things to discuss.”
“What do you mean?” Aurora said.
“Why don’t you take a seat?” Mr. Redding said.
“I’d appreciate that you wouldn’t tell me what to do,” Aurora said.
“Fine,” he responded.
“So,” Aurora said as she sat down. “Do you mind telling me what you would like to say?”
“I would like to talk about the dowry clause in your pre-nuptial agreement,” Gannon’s lawyer said.
“The what?” Aurora said as she looked at her lawyer and whispered, “What does he mean? A dowry?”
“Why didn’t you tell me this?” Erik said as he whispered to Aurora.
“I didn’t know!”
Mr. Redding handed them all copies. Aurora read over what was in front of her. In despair, she sank back in her chair. I feel like such an idiot. I thought this was a marriage license…
“Look on page 8,” Mr. Redding said as everyone turned to page 8.
“As