The Scene Stealer: A Hollywood Romance

“Fine,” Dan huffs as he leans over the table, Sky’s poised hand resting on his forearm. The forearms I used to admire when he would help me roll out dough when we first got married. I loved the way they would flex as he pushed the rolling pin outward. Now as I stare at them, I want to throw up in my mouth a little.

Sara nudges my shoulder as she hands me a stack of papers to sign. As I finish each one, she places them in a manila folder then hands the pile to the mediator to make copies.

“These will be filed today, and you’ll receive your copies in the mail in the next week or so. We will send your copies to your lawyer, Mrs. Sanderson,” the mediator explains as he stands from the table. The look on his face shows how grateful he is that the meeting has adjourned.

I hang back in the room with Sara as Dan and Sky file out behind his lawyer without a backward glance. He got everything he wanted and more. The big house, the expensive car, the young pregnant wife – all of the things he once wanted with me.

The truth doesn’t hurt as much as the intensifying burn knowing that at the age of thirty, I’m now divorced with two young children to take care of.

Turning toward Sara, I wince at the forceful gaze in her eyes instead of sympathy.

Her attitude toward me is like a Queen addressing her subjects. Strong, powerful, confident. “We need to discuss two other issues at hand now that the divorce is finalized.”

A headache that was already forming turns itself into full blast at her words. We had been in talks about my biological father’s home for the last couple of weeks, since his death. I didn’t know him well, but he left me his home in his will, and it was his only possession. It is the perfect solution for me since I now have nowhere to live and the kids and I are tired of staying in an extended-stay hotel. We want a home.

“Okay. What’s up?”

“Do you want the good news or bad news first?”

“Bad?” I ask hesitantly, because really, how much worse can my day get?

“So, while I’ve been working with a real estate lawyer to get the house switched to your name, we’ve come across an issue with the property.”

The fear surges up inside me and I have to force myself to push it down. I blink at Sara in bewilderment and then ask, “What kind of issue?”

“There is a lien on the house due to a home equity loan used to pay off debt. It had been taken out with a bank outside of our area, that’s why it wasn’t listed on the paperwork. Being that the house was willed to you, it looks like you now have the burden of the lien unless you want the bank to take it over. And unfortunately, I think they may fight you on it. It’s a good piece of property in a growing neighborhood, and I think you may be able to work with the amount.”

“How much?”

She squirms in her seat as she flips through some paperwork. “It’s, uh, significant. Almost as much as the house is worth.”

“What am I going to do, Sara? I just gave Dan almost everything I have,” I groan as stars dance behind my eyes. My clothes suddenly feel too tight, too constrictive.

I need air.

She reaches out and grasps my hand on the table; her friendly hold is my lifeline.

“You’re going to use some of the trust that you have left to pay it off. That will still leave you some money in the bank for a rainy day. You’re going to try to sell the car if you want to put even more in your pocket, but I don’t think that’s necessary. And you’re going to continue baking to your heart’s content because you’re amazing at what you do and your business is starting to take off.”

Her words fuel me, and I feel the strength in each sentence. She’s right. I’m not through. I’m not six feet in the ground yet. I’ve made it this far and I can do the rest on my own.

I smile over at her in thanks for the confidence she has in me and then she asks if I want to hear the good news.

“I’ll take anything right about now.”

“Well, I just need your signature here,” she says, shuffling a piece a paper over to me. “Then I can file this for you with the social security administration. You will then have the pleasure of returning your last name to Knight.”

“That’s the best news I’ve had in weeks.”