***Willow Pond***
Jonathan and Jennifer were sitting on the couch, having a cocktail.
Jonathan was filling Jennifer in about his latest business venture, with Seaver Unlimited. Jonathan was giving them a bail out, in return for a significant amount of stock.
She refilled his cocktail, and then sat on the couch again.
"Darling, did you get the mail today?"
"No, did you?"
"Nope. Guess I will walk down to the mailbox and get it".
"I'll walk with you, darling".
They linked arms and walked to the mailbox, grabbed the mail and headed back to the house.
They came inside and Jonathan headed to change clothes, while Jennifer opened the mail at the table by the steps.
Jonathan was on his way back down the stairs when he saw the look on her face.
"Darling, what is it?"
"This letter….says that the minister who married us, died a couple weeks ago".
"Oh, that's sad".
"Yeah, but that's not it. Darling…they discovered that he wasn't a real minister. So that means that you and I aren't really married".
"What? That's preposterous!"
He took the letter from her and read it for himself.
He walked over to the phone and began to make a phone call.
"I am calling the church that sent this letter. Maybe they can shed some light on what is really going on".
She took him his cocktail. He took it from her, took a sip, and set it down. He wrapped his arm around her and tried to comfort her. She still looked so crestfallen.
After talking with the minister, he hung up and turned to face Jennifer.
"They confirmed that he wasn't a real minister. They think he made up the persona and the documents to avoid the draft. And they regret not discovering it sooner. He offered to marry us for free if we want to stay together".
"If?"
"His words, darling. Not mine".
She nodded.
"I am going to go get dinner started".
She headed to the kitchen.
He followed her a few minutes later.
She was busy making grilled chicken on the indoor grill, and a chopped salad to go with it.
She was quiet, and he could see she was unhappy.
He went over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"We are going to fix this. This doesn't change the way I feel about you, darling. Nothing ever could".
"I feel like I have been living a lie".
"Darling, he didn't do it to you. He did it to us".
"I know that."
"And this isn't your fault, it's mine. I picked him, I should have had him checked out".
"Jonathan, I am not blaming you".
"I know that".
"Then tell me what you are thinking".
"I am thinking that I was raised better than to shack up with someone who I'm not married to. I am thinking that my father would be so disappointed in me. I am thinking that I wish I had never known he wasn't a real priest".
"Jennifer, we aren't doing anything wrong. We haven't done anything wrong. And we haven't been shacking up, we were in love and we thought we were married. I think your father would understand this".
She nodded.
"Guess we'll never know".
He helped her finish making dinner and they ate out on the patio, and then he helped her do the dishes.
Later that night, they were upstairs changing into their pajamas.
He could see that she was anxious.
"Jonathan-"
"Yes, you can still sleep in my bed, but only if you can control yourself".
"Jonathan! That's not funny".
She turned to go away from him.
He pulled her back to him.
"I was kidding".
He started kissing her neck.
"If you sleep anywhere else, I will have to follow you because I cannot sleep without you".
They climbed into bed together.
She was so exhausted and was yawning. He knew she wouldn't be awake much longer.
As she drifted off to sleep, she was talking to him.
"Darling, see if you can call and figure out what we can do about this tomorrow ok? I really think we need to…."
He kissed her softly and wrapped his arms around her and fell asleep.
***The next morning***
Jonathan woke Jennifer up when his alarm went off.
"Good morning, darling".
She rolled over and kissed him.
"Morning".
She snuggled down into his chest.
"Darling, what do you have planned for today?"
"I am working on an article. That will probably take up most of the day. What about you?"
"I have meetings this morning, and a conference call this afternoon. And then tonight, I am taking you on a date".
"A date? Just the two of us?"
"Yep. Just the two of us."
She sat up on one elbow.
"No distractions? No interruptions?"
"None whatsoever".
"What time should I be ready?"
"5:30. And wear something formal".
"You got it".
She kissed him nice and slow.
"Now, we need to decide what we are going to do about this minister thing".
"No, today, we are just going to be Jonathan and Jennifer. Tomorrow, we will figure out the minister thing".
"Deal".
He kissed her and then got up and got ready. She went and made them breakfast and met him downstairs.
After a nice breakfast, she kissed him goodbye.
"See you at 5:30, darling".
"I can't wait".
She cleaned up the kitchen and then went to work on her article.
She was trying to write an article on some nuns who had spent their whole lives working at an orphanage in Downtown Los Angeles. One of the nuns had been dropped off at the orphanage as an infant, raised there without ever being adopted, and went and joined the sisterhood as soon as she turned 18. This orphanage had been her second placement, and she had been there almost 50 years.
Jennifer was trying to write a nice article about all the service Sister Patricia had done, but she couldn't focus.
She went and got the letter from the minister, and she started researching him.
He had called himself Father O'Malley. According to the letter, the church knew him as Father Collin O'Malley, however they discovered upon his death that he was actually Tyler Jacob Robinson. While they did discover that Tyler Robinson had gone to USC, and majored in business, Father O'Malley had been created shortly after graduation. There seemed to be a time gap of about 6 years. He had told everyone he had gone to seminary during those 6 years, but he really had not.
Jennifer called the church and spoke to the head priest, whose name was on the letter.
She asked several questions, and then got down to the nitty gritty.
"Father, how was this discovered?"
"We have an agency that we have to report to when a priest dies, and there is a particular protocol that must be followed in order for us to replace that priest at the church. And I went to report him, and they didn't have him in the system. Turned out, he had never registered with them, and they had no idea that he was even here."
"That's very interesting. So, as one of the couples that was married by him, is there anything my husband and I can do to preserve our marriage without having to completely get married again and start over?"
"I'm sorry, but in the eyes of the church, there is not. He was never legally or formally ordained, so that means your marriage in the eyes of the church never took place".
"I see. Well, thank you for your time".
"Very well. Peace be with you".
"Thank you, Father".
She hung up.
She continued to research him. She found a birth certificate for him, and his parents' names. She looked them up, and found death certificates for them. She found a legal document that stated he was going to be sent to the Sisters of Angels Orphanage, in San Jose.
She found a few more documents about him, and printed them off.
She glanced up and saw that it was almost 2.
She decided to take a break and went to get ready for her date with Jonathan.
She took a long bubble bath, and used the relax and destress bath salts. She tried to put the whole Tyler Robinson thing out of her mind, and just focus on her evening with Jonathan.
After her bath, she rinsed off and then put her robe on, and went to pick out her evening gown. She decided to call Jonathan and see if he would give her another hint.
She picked up the phone and called his office.
"Hello Kelly. Can I have Jonathan please?"
"Right away, Mrs. Hart".
Hearing people refer to her as Mrs. Hart was bittersweet.
Jonathan picked up a few seconds later.
"Hi darling".
"Hi. Listen, I know you said to wear something formal, but I need more specifics. Long dress, short dress? Will you be in a suit or a tux?"
"What does it matter what I am wearing?"
"Well, because…if you are in a tux, then I can be more formal. But if you are in a suit then I can be less formal".
"Less formal? Jennifer, you are either formal or you aren't. Just pick something, ok? You are gorgeous in everything you wear, you know that".
"Jonathan, what is going on? You don't sound like yourself".
"I am too busy to deal with your wardrobe problems, I have to go. I will see you later".
He hung up. She was stunned. He had promised her that nothing was going to change them, not even this. But, not even 24 hours later and he's snapping at her and being all rude.
She decided to not put too much thought into what she was wearing. She picked a bright pink strapless dress, and paired it with black, strappy heels. She took off her wedding rings, and put on the ring he gave her for her birthday, right after he had proposed the first time. She was ready by 5, and made herself a caprese salad to snack on. She had made herself a cocktail and was standing by the bar when he got home.
She went to him as he came in the door.
"Hi".
He gave her the tiniest peck of a kiss.
"You ready? We have reservations at 6".
"Yes, I'm ready".
He opened the door to the house and she stepped through.
She turned to him as he was locking the house.
"What car are we taking tonight?"
"The Bentley".
She started to walk over to it. Jonathan walked past her, went to his side, and got in the car. For the first time since she had known him, he hadn't opened her door for her.
She opened her own door, and got in.
He took off before she had put her seatbelt on.
She couldn't figure out what was going on with him, but something was.
He wasn't acting like himself. He was distracted and not being kind towards her.
They had a very quiet ride to the restaurant. When they were about ½ way there, his car phone rang. He answered it, and talked on the phone the rest of the way there. So much for no distractions or interruptions.
They pulled up to La Scala, and parked. He hung up the phone and then they got out and headed inside.
They were walking in, and he let the door slam in Jennifer's face. Now, she was furious.
They were seated right away, and the waiter took their drink order.
She was still hurt, so she was being very quiet. She was just waiting for him to start acting like himself again.
As soon as they had placed their orders, a waiter appeared.
"Mr. Hart?"
"Yes, that's me".
"You have a phone call, sir". The waiter handed him the phone.
Jonathan proceeded to take the phone call, right there at the table. Their food came and he was still talking. Jennifer ate her entire plate, and he was still talking. Finally, she had enough. She reached over and got his keys from his jacket pocket. He didn't even notice. She grabbed her purse, and his keys and went out to the car. She tried to get the car started but couldn't.
So, instead, she left a note in the Bentley for Jonathan, and then she flagged down a cab, and took that back to the house, leaving Jonathan at the restaurant.
About 45 minutes after she got home, Jonathan came outside. He got in the Bentley and saw her note. The keys were in the ignition. The note said"
"Car wouldn't start. Perhaps when you are done with your phone call you can try and fix it? I am going home-J".
He balled it up, threw it on the floor and tried to start the car. He had to pump the gas a few times, but he eventually got it started.
As soon as it roared to life, he drove straight to Willow Pond.
