A few weeks after Chloe's surprise encounter with Beca, she was surprised to get a text from the woman.
Beca: Hey, I hope you don't mind me contacting you. Any chance we can talk again? I could use a friend
Chloe: Sure. When and where?
Beca: Your place
Beca: If that's okay
Beca: Not big on being seen in public
Chloe: Okay. I'm on a break a work right now, but I'm off at 2 am. Tomorrow is my day off, so whenever.
Beca: I didn't realize you worked late hours.
Chloe: I'm a vet at an emergency animal hospital. I generally work the 6 pm - 2 am shift. That's why I was at the store at 3 am. I'd just gotten off of work.
Beca: What time are you up for the day?
Beca: I don't want to wreck your sleep schedule
Chloe: Would you like to come over at 1 pm?
Beca: Okay
Chloe: Do you need a ride?
Beca: I'll drive myself
Beca: I need the address, though
Beca: I don't remember where you live
Beca: I'm sorry. Rough night
Chloe: It's cool
Chloe texted her address to Beca. Part of her had wondered, at least on some level, if she'd somehow imagined the whole encounter. However, she had a Venmo transaction from Beca Mitchell, and the woman was still in possession of a tee shirt and sweatpants of hers. She figured when she let Beca wear them, she wouldn't get them back. That was okay with her. She was just happy to help someone in need.
The next afternoon, Chloe's doorbell rang at 1 pm on the dot. Even though she'd expected Beca, the celebrity standing on her doorstep still took her by surprise. She stood still for a moment, just blinking until she got her head together and took the neatly folded shirt and sweatpants from her outstretched hands.
"These are yours, right?" asked Beca.
"Yes, thanks," said Chloe. "Why don't you come in?"
Beca followed Chloe into the living room. She gestured for the woman to sit on the couch.
"Are you hungry? Thirsty?" asked Chloe.
"I'm fine, thanks," said Beca.
Chloe got herself a glass of water before sitting next to Beca on the couch.
"I'm sorry. A part of me still can't believe you're here. In my apartment. That same part of me still isn't quite sure that the whole grocery store encounter happened."
"It's just me. I'm just a regular person. I mean, I think you finding me in...well, that state...shows that I'm not some superhero."
"Right. Sorry. I've just been a fan of yours for a long time. It's...I can't explain it."
"I get it. When I got my recording contract, I'd run into people at the studio and I'd walk around, wide-eyed. But I guess I got used to it."
"I suppose so. So, what did you want to talk about?"
"I took the first step today. I filed for divorce. I'm currently staying in the hotel until I can find somewhere else to live. I tried moving back in temporarily but the pain is too fresh for both of us."
"Oh. How do you feel?"
"Okay, I guess. Weird, though. Jesse and I have been together for a long time. But I'm not as sad as I thought I'd be. I loved Jesse. Well, I guess a part of me still does, and always will. A bigger part of me knows it's over, though. The more I worried about my period being late, the more excited he got. He knew I didn't want kids, but I guess he figured an 'oops' baby would be just fine. I don't even know what I would have done had I been pregnant, honestly."
"Well, you're not. So, don't even think about it."
"Right. Anyway, I need your help with the next step. God, I feel so weird asking. Would you mind serving Jesse with the papers?"
"What?"
"Okay, he knows I'm filing. And I'd rather not pay a process server to serve him with the papers. I don't want all of the details leaked to the press. Nobody ever found out about my grocery store meltdown, so I know I can trust you. Anyone over eighteen and not involved in the case can serve papers."
"So, that's why you came over?" asked Chloe. "So I can serve your soon-to-be-ex?" She felt her fists clenching and her face getting hot.
"No," said Beca, quickly. "You were so good about listening to me before. I don't really have friends of my own out here. Everyone who I spent time with in LA, I met through Jesse. You knew who I was, but you treated me like a regular person on what was probably the worst night of my life. I'll be forever grateful for that."
"Oh. I guess I can."
"Thanks. So, did you ever tell your mom what I said?"
"About what?" asked Chloe.
"That she did a good job. Teaching you to respect others, and all that."
"Oh, well, no. Not yet anyway."
"Why not?"
"Well, for one, I haven't totally come to terms with that night. I still can't believe I met you, and I can't believe you're here."
"I'm here and that night definitely happened. Was there something else?"
Chloe sighed. "Well, I haven't been to her bench in a while."
"Her bench?"
"Mom died four years ago. Breast cancer. Sometimes I go to a park bench that my dad and I dedicated to her memory and talk to her. There are two, actually. One in LA and one back home."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's okay. I didn't want to say anything before because you were already in a state," said Chloe. She reached over to the end table next to the couch and grabbed a framed picture to show Beca. "That's us. My dad took it when I graduated from vet school. It was a month before we found out she was sick."
Beca took the picture from Chloe. "No mix-up at the hospital, that's for sure. She looks so proud of you!"
"She always told me she was," said Chloe, her voice starting to break.
"I didn't mean to make you sad."
Chloe wiped a tear that had fallen down her cheek before taking a deep breath and letting it out. "I'm okay. I just miss her. That's all."
"I'm seriously fucking up this friendship thing. I already made you cry."
"You're not and you didn't."
"Is your dad…?" Beca didn't finish the question, but her crumpled face gave away the rest.
Chloe smiled. "Yes, Dad is alive and well. He lives in Portland where I was born. That's where the original bench is."
'What brought you to LA?"
"Old girlfriend. We met at UC Davis and I followed her when she got a job in LA. We split soon after, but I'd already found a job here at the emergency animal hospital. So I got my own place and adopted Billie."
"How long ago was that?"
"Almost three years ago."
"Do you regret following her here?"
"Not really. Okay, maybe following my ex wasn't my brightest idea, but I love taking care of animals. I feel bad for the owners that I'm seeing at their worst, but I also like making them smile when I take care of their furry friends. I'm not sure if I would have ended up at an emergency animal hospital otherwise. It was the first job I could find. The crazy hours probably contributed to the end of the relationship, but that's fine. I just figured that we could get past conflicting work schedules if things were really meant to be."
"That's a good attitude to have."
"It's worked for me so far. When I was sure I was staying in LA, I had a duplicate park bench dedicated to my mom. It's the place I feel closest to her. She'd never been to LA, but I'm sure she would have visited me as much as she could."
"Does your dad visit?"
"Once a year. He doesn't have a ton of money for a plane ticket, and it's a 14-hour drive. When Mom got sick, her treatments ate up their savings. They had medical insurance, but it didn't help as much as we'd hoped. He does okay now, but he doesn't have much for extra things like plane tickets. I'm lucky that I got a full ride to vet school. Otherwise, I'd have had to drop out. I fly up a few times a year, and I generally fly my dad here for my birthday. It's kind of my present to myself, I guess."
"You said you have a sister, right?"
"Her name is Brooke. She's two years younger and lives in Portland too. She hasn't come down here with the kids, but I always visit them when I'm in town. She's a stay-at-home mom, and my brother-in-law doesn't make enough to pay for five round-trip plane tickets. And I can't imagine making the drive with three kids."
"Neither could I. How old are they?"
Chloe screwed up her face in concentration for a minute. "Katherine - we call her Kate - is eight, I think. Matthew - Matt - is six, and Charlotte - Charlie - just turned four."
"That's a handful."
"Definitely," said Chloe. "So, how does the serving work?"
"I'll make arrangements through my attorney. They'll tell you where to serve him. My attorney will try to make it as painless as possible. I'll give him your number if that's okay?"
"Sure," said Chloe.
"He'll tell you what to do next."
Chloe stood on the porch of the house formerly shared by Beca Mitchell and Jesse Swanson. She chewed on her bottom lip as she stood there, waiting for someone to answer the door. The house was huge. She remembered seeing photos of the outside and the inside on Beca's Instagram page when the couple purchased it around the time they'd gotten married. Standing at the front door felt like an out of body experience.
The shock continued when Jesse himself answered the door. He asked, "Can I help you?"
Chloe stood in shock, not saying anything.
"Look, I'm not sure who you are, but if you're here to get a photo or an autograph-"
"No!" exclaimed Chloe. "I mean...are you Jesse Swanson?"
"Yes," said Jesse, furrowing his brow.
Chloe handed him the manila envelope in her hand. "Here. These are court papers."
She turned to leave, but not before seeing the expression on his face. It looked like someone had just kicked his puppy.
She went to her car, filled out the form Beca's attorney had given her to show that she'd served the papers correctly and texted Beca to let her know she'd served him. She left out her description of the expression on Jesse's face, knowing that no good could come of sharing that information with her.
She dropped the papers off with Beca's attorney before heading to the emergency animal clinic.
She checked her phone during her dinner break to see a text from Beca.
Beca: Thanks for helping me
She responded when she saw it wasn't too late in the evening.
Chloe: You're welcome
Beca: How's work?
Chloe: Not bad. Relatively slow night
Beca: That's good
Chloe: I stitched up a cut paw on a dog, and my other case didn't need my attention
Beca: Why not?
Chloe: A family brought in their cat. The vet tech confirmed he was gone. 😢 They declined the autopsy.
Beca: Does that happen a lot?
Chloe: Depends on the family. This one looked like heart failure. My tech told them that this wasn't their fault, and it happens sometimes. They chose to have him cremated and have a few keepsakes of his fur and paw prints instead of paying for an autopsy that wouldn't bring him back. Their words, not mine.
Beca: They must be devastated.
Chloe: That's one of the hardest things about my job. Seeing the broken hearts of the family members of the pets who didn't make it.
Beca: I'm sure.
Chloe: My dinner break is over. Thanks for checking in. Talk to you later.
Beca: Later
Chloe was surprised to see another text from Beca when her shift was over.
Beca: Hey, I know you're working, but text me when you're off. I'll be up.
She replied once she got home, wondering if the singer really was awake.
Chloe: I'm off. What's up?
Beca: Hi!
Beca: Told you I'd be up
Chloe: You did
Chloe: Anything you wanted?
Beca: I'd like to take you out as a thank you for your help
Chloe: When and where?
Beca: What works with your schedule?
Chloe: Any day between 1 and 4 if I work, a little later if I don't
Beca: I know a diner that's a little off the beaten path
Beca: Paparazzi haven't found it yet
Chloe: Sounds great
Chloe: Text me the address
Chloe: I have to walk Billie and get to bed
Beca: Sure, send her my love
Chloe: Will do
The next day, Chloe arrived at the diner. She was about to tell the hostess she was meeting a friend when she spotted Beca at a corner table. A part of her still couldn't believe she'd struck up a friendship with her favorite celebrity. She took a breath before walking over and greeting Beca.
"Hey! Is this seat taken?" she asked.
"Hi, Chloe!"
Beca passed her a menu as she sat down.
"What's good here?"
"Haven't had anything here that wasn't. I'm partial to the mac and cheese, though."
"Sounds good."
"Thanks again for helping me out. I hope it wasn't too much trouble."
"No real trouble," said Chloe. "Just a little weird for me, though."
"Celebrity thing?" asked Beca.
"Yeah," Chloe said, blushing.
"You're going to have to get used to it if we're going to keep hanging out."
"Right," said Chloe.
A waitress took their orders.
"How did he react to the papers?"
"Well, I left as soon as I handed them to him. But…"
"But?"
"He kind of looked like I'd kicked his puppy."
"Yeah, I'm sure. Believe me, I know that look. Once he realizes he's more in love with who he thinks I am than who I really am, he'll realize we're better off this way."
"It's hard for both of you, I guess."
"Did you tell him who you were?"
"No, but I didn't exactly give him the chance. I took your attorney's advice and left as soon as I handed him the papers. I guess if I hadn't been wearing my scrubs for work, he might have thought I was a process server."
The two continued to chat for a bit while they waited for their food. Chloe entertained Beca with stories from college and vet school, and Beca told Chloe all about growing up singing in different youth choirs.
"Here's the first time I was on TV," said Beca. She pulled up a YouTube video on her phone. "My parents have the original broadcast on VHS. A fan must have converted it and put it on YouTube."
Just over a minute in, Chloe pointed to the screen. "That's you in the interview, right?"
"Yeah," said Beca.
"How old were you?"
"Fifteen."
"Too cute."
"Thanks," she said, grinning.
Their food arrived just as the video ended.
"So, what happens next?" asked Chloe. "With Jesse, I mean."
"Well, it depends on how he responds. I guess he could just not respond, and then it's up to the judge. My attorney said that almost never happens, and I don't think he'd try it. He'd get a ton of bad press."
"Right."
"I'm not exactly sure what's next. That's why I hired an attorney."
The two of them finished their meal, exchanging a little small talk. When they were done, Chloe gave Beca a hug but pulled back when she felt the other woman tense.
"Sorry, I'm a hugger."
"Oh, you're fine. I just wasn't expecting that," said Beca. "It was nice; it just took me by surprise."
"Right. So, we'll talk later?"
"Definitely."
Beca and Chloe spoke frequently over the next few days by text, and Chloe made sure to go to her mom's bench and talk to her about her amazing new friend. She sent Beca a selfie while she sat on the bench at the woman's request.
It had become a habit recently for Beca to text Chloe while she knew she was at work. Due to the unpredictability of working the evening shift at the emergency animal hospital, the vet couldn't always be sure when she'd get her break. Beca was usually awake and up for a chat whenever Chloe had the time. She wondered whether or not her friend was staying up on purpose.
One night, Chloe checked her phone while on her dinner break as usual to find a text that was more than a little small talk.
Beca: I got served today
Chloe: Is that a normal part of the process?
Beca: Yes, but it was weird
Chloe: How so?
Beca: Well, first off, it was Benji who served me.
Chloe: Who's that?
Beca: Jesse's personal assistant. He does all of his schedules and everything. Jesse is a total scatterbrain, so we hired Benji several years ago to help him.
Chloe: Well, that makes sense that he'd have Benji do it.
Beca: Yeah. But I could tell he hated having to do it. Benji and I are friends. Or were. I don't know anymore. He and Jesse met in college, but Benji and I were close too once Jesse and I got together.
Chloe: I'm sure you can still be friends
Beca: I'm not sure how that would really work. He's too close to Jesse.
Beca: At least I have you
Chloe: Awwww….thanks
Chloe was glad to be alone in the break room because she was sure she was blushing.
Beca: I told you that you're my only friend
Chloe: Can't say I have a ton either
Beca: Seriously?
Chloe: It's the weird work hours
Chloe: I'm almost always working when other people want to get together
Chloe: It's a bitch finding a date too
Beca: How long has it been since you've been on a date?
Chloe: So long, it's embarrassing
Beca: 😮
Chloe: Sad, I know
Beca: Have you tried online dating?
Beca: There have to be people who maybe work late hours
Chloe: I don't know
Beca: Just think about it
Beca: You'd make some woman really happy
Chloe was sure she was really blushing this time.
Chloe: I guess
Beca: Give it a shot
Beca: Just because my marriage didn't work out doesn't mean you can't find love
Chloe: When are you getting back on the horse?
Beca: I will
Beca: But right now I'm still married
Beca: Maybe when things are finalized
Chloe: I'm holding you to it
Beca: I said maybe
Chloe: I'll try online dating if you promise you'll try dating again after the divorce
Beca: Fair deal
Beca: But don't you wait until my divorce is final
Chloe: Yes ma'am 😂
Chloe hadn't tried online dating. Maybe Beca was right. After all, there had to be some women in the area who were available when Chloe was. She figured she'd sign up the next day so she had time to focus. Her dinner break was nearly over.
Chloe: Okay, I'll make a profile tomorrow. It's my day off. Duty calls! Talk to you later
Beca: I'm holding you to it 😏
Beca: Bye
