Chapter 22- OLD HABBITS DIE HARD

As much as Aurora would have liked to listen to her husband, she was well aware of how upset her mother in-law had been the night before. Clearly, mother and son were at odds with many things in their life but Aurora had wanted something else.

Not being able to sleep last night, she had gone to see her mother in-law and they had agreed to leave early in the morning before Leonardo nor his father got up. Even as she sat in the limousine with her mother in-law, chatting away about the women at the club, all Aurora could focus on was the above her knee dress.

Signora Meta had made sure to pack most of what Avena liked wearing rather than Aurora's old and worn out cloths. She was not used to this kind of dressing, her nerves rose as she tried keeping the dress as clean as possible.

Growing up around Avena, Aurora was well aware that Avena had only worn designer dresses… dresses that cost a fortune a piece.

'Are you okay, mi hija?" her mother in-law asked, concern written over her face as she placed her hand onto Aurora's knee.

'Yes mother in-law, it's nothing" she lied, quickly smiling with the hopes of hiding the uncomfortable feeling she felt whilst wearing the dress.

'Okay but you just seemed so—so not yourself I guess" signora Carina told her.

'No mother, I am simply nervous"

'No need to be, the ladies at the club will love you!" signora Carina assured Aurora who still had her doubts. Living with the Russo's almost all her life, she had served at dinner parties and functions at the clubs, where the rich would dress up under the pretense of missing one another and then use the opportunity to bad mouth another.

The car came to a complete halt, Aurora's nerves heightened. The driver of the car who Aurora had come to know as Toby, unlocked the vehicle door and her mother in-law walked out, followed by Aurora. Stepping her white minimalistic-chained stilettos onto the soft green grass, Aurora looked at her surroundings.

'This is The Dallas Gold Anchor club" Signora Carina spread her hands wide, almost slapping her hand against Aurora's face. Even as signora Carina had her back facing Aurora, she could still tell that her mother in-law was proud of this club.

Aurora studied the area and it was grand, just as the private and prestigious clubs in Sicily. The property stretched out further than what Aurora could see, the grass was green, more evidence of professional landscapers, and a barn not too far away as riders walked past them, holding onto their horses reins and in front of them, a glass building.

'Come on in, let's go in before we miss out" her mother in—law told her, the excitement in her tone of voice, one that could not be mistaken for anything else other than pure joy.

Walking behind her mother in-law, up the steps towards the building, Aurora could not help but notice the cars parked outside. Once again, she was reminded that this was a different world, one that she was not meant to belong in.

'Oh thank you" her mother in-law's voice grabbed her attention as she thanked the doorman, holding the glass door open for them as he wore his suit and hat in the hot Texan sun.

'Thank you" Aurora smiled at the older man who smiled back, even as she walked into the grand interior of the Golden Anchor Club, her heart still ached for the doorman.

'My sweet friends!!" signora Carina sang, which came out more like a shriek than her singing, her hands wide, ready to hug a group of older and well dressed women. Her speed increased, leaving Aurora to run after her.

She stopped, watching Signora Carina interact with her friends in a private section of the booth, while she stood a few feet away, watching them and feeling like the outsider she always was.

'Ladies, I have someone for you to meet. Here is my daughter in-law, Avena Russo" her mother in-law introduced her, her face happy as though she was a proud mother meeting her daughter for the very first time. Her friends on the other hand, looking at her from head to toe which only made Aurora feel insecure with herself.

'So this is the famous Avena Russo, nice to meet you. Although we have never met you before, you are welcome to our club. I am countess Alia" she introduced herself, reaching her hand to greet Aurora who took it with a smile, doing slight curtsy"

'It is my pleasure to meet you too, Countess Alia" she responded, asking sure that her voice was not shaky as it had been a while. Aurora turned her head as another woman walked towards her, this one much older and angry looking than the rest.

She wore her red cartwheel hat, her drink in her hand and she walked towards Aurora. Everyone stood silent as though awaiting her approval.

'She looks, how do I saw it? dark skinned, more than should be" her remark stung Aurora, although her mother was dark and she's heard stories of her father being a white man and she being mixed, she did tend to take on a bit more of her mother than her father.

'Well she is adopted, Lady Sue" Signora Carina stepped in, although not confident in the way she stood up for Aurora, she was at least thankful that someone did. One last look at Aurora and Lady Sue shrugged.

'Welcome to the club" she said and walked away, Aurora quietly followed all three females to the private booth as they all sat down. Choosing to sit next to her mother in-law, the only person she trusted at this moment.

'Don't worry, they will warm up to you" her mother in-law leaned in and whispered into her ear. Even with the reassurance coming from signora Carina, Aurora still felt uncomfortable as the older women carried on speaking.

'I heard that Lady Beth's husband has filed for bankruptcy, again" Lady Sue told them and all the women rolled their eyes at the same time.

'Honestly, I always ask myself why we allow these low class people into our prestigious clubs. I swear if we keep doing this then our values will decrease" Countess Alia chimed in.

'Agreed!" all the women agreed in unison, whilst Aurora sat in her seat, shrinking every time they mentioned some unknown person's name was mentioned. Suddenly the room felt smaller and her dress tighter and Aurora deposited her drink onto the round table.

'Mother in- law I have to leave" she whispered into signora Carina's ear.

'Oh, you want to go to the ladies room? Sure, it's straight down the hallway and the first door on your left" signora Carina directed her and as quickly as she turned to face Aurora, she turned her attention back to her friends.

Aurora excused herself and walked towards the bathroom, only to see an exit and she walked out. The slight breeze hit her as she stepped outside and the feeling of relief washed over her.

Not knowing where she was going, Aurora walked towards a fenced training area where a young man trained his horse. She watched, hypnotized by the horse's care free galloping movements as the trainer held onto its reins.

'You like horses!" Someone called out to her, as she raised her head, Aurora could see that it was the trainer walking towards her with his horse, his face slightly covered by his white cowboy hat.

Ashamed of being caught out, Aurora stepped back and was about to turn and runaway for the fear that she might get into trouble.

'Please do not leave!" Aurora stopped in her tracks and she turned to face him. Her lips trembling, fearing that the older women might find more reasons as to hate her.

'Saw you were looking at my horse" his tone husky as he asked her, slowly taking steps towards her, his hands holding onto the horse's reins.

'I apologize, I did not mean to stare at your horse" she apologized, hoping that the young man might be more forgiving than the Lady Sue might. To her surprise, the young man smiled at her, flashing his pearly whites but never showing his face.

Aurora stood on the spot, stunned as she expected a different reaction from the equestrian. He removed his cowboy hat, the sun shorn on his perfectly blond hair and as he looked at her, the most perfect silver eyes stared back at her.

There were very few moments where Aurora was speechless and this was one of those times, her brain stopped thinking and the only person in her line of fire was the handsome Texan man looking back at her.

The cold sweat breaking from his forehead, dripping down as and he mopped it away with his forearm and he smiled at her one more time. Aurora's mouth watered for him and her body heated.

'Hello!" he clapped his hands before her face, snapping Aurora out of her daydreaming and the entire time, he did nothing other smile at her.

'I am sorry" she apologized one more time, embarrassed that she had made a fool out of herself more than once in a small space of time.

'No need to apologize miss, I should be the one apologizing to you"

'Why would you apologize to me? I was clearly the one who over stepped my boundaries" Aurora clarified, only to have the sweet cowboy smile at her. His smile always getting a reaction out of her as her cheeks heated.

'You are too sweet and you are not steeping any boundaries, in fact, the training ring is open to all who want to see us train the horses"

'Oh… I see, I have to leave now, bye" Aurora turned on her heel, just about leaving.

'Ma'am please do not leave, I swear I won't hurt you. Best you believe that I am a man of my word" she slowly turned to face him, he had his cowboy hat in his hand crossed over his heart and a smile on his face, with pure innocence.

'I—I have to be somewhere" Aurora stuttered as she tried explaining her reason for leaving but the cowboy kept staring at her as though he was looking at a distant land, marveled by its existence.

'It's okay pretty lady, my name is Cory… Cory Willow and May I have your name?" he asked her, Aurora froze as he asked her. A million thoughts went through her head before she could answer him.

'Aurora!" she answered but as quickly as she answered, she wanted to take back her words.

Stupid, stupid. She mentally slapped herself as she realized that she was now Avena Russo and none other than Avena Russo. It was too late to retract her words, so she nervously stared at him as he mouthed something under his breath.

'Did I say something wrong?" She nervously asked, hoping that she was not caught out in the lie that she was maintaining.

'How can a beautiful woman like you ever say anything wrong? I was actually saying your name over and over"

'Why?" She asked. Once again, her nerves taking over her and making her act out.

'Well for one, it is as beautiful as you are" Cory confessed to her, leaving Aurora speechless. Her mind boggled, her mouth moving but she was lost for words.

'I have to go!" Aurora told him, before turning on her heel and bolting away.

'See you pretty lady!" Cory called out to here as she ran back inside.