Open Door Marriage (35 page)

Chapter 3
8

Saturday, June 8
—
3:30 p.m.

Dallas, Texas

Dallas stood next to his father at the front of an archway at the exclusive Towers Club. The place was forty-eight floors above the streets of downtown Dallas, which provided a dramatic backdrop for the type of elegant wedding that Tori had wanted.

Though Reverend Braxton welcomed Dallas back to the church with open arms, Dallas had only set foot inside the place long enough for Tori to ask him to perform their ceremony. The good pastor had tried to talk Tori and Dallas into pre-marital counseling.

“
Every couple should have it,
”
the pastor said.

Tori had nodded.
“
Let
’
s do it, baby.
”

“
No!
”
Dallas had exclaimed and then softened his voice.
“
We don
’
t need it.
”

Tori had only nodded again and agreed and for a moment, Dallas felt bad.
Tori had to know.
She had to know that he wasn
’
t marrying her because he wanted to.
It was because she had been there to pick up the pieces when Alicia had shattered his belief in true love.

“
Well, big man, are you ready for this?
”
Paul Alexander asked, clasping a hand over Dallas
’
shoulder. He looked dapper in a black tux, lavender shirt and bowtie.

“
It
’
s a little late for second thoughts, don
’
t you think?
”
Dallas answered solemnly.

Paul
’
s smile disappeared.
“
Never too late for that. If you
’
re having them.
”

“
Second, third, but it doesn
’
t matter,
”
Dallas said, focusing on the flowers that had been placed in the ballroom.
“
Tori signed the pre-nup. She gets the wedding she wants, the husband she wants. I get a wife and a family. Fair exchange ain
’
t no robbery.
”

“
Provided the exchange is really fair.
”

Dallas didn
’
t have an answer for that. Tori had changed in a lot of ways, and he believed that she was happy.
That was all Dallas needed since he
’
d given up on the idea that he would ever find happiness again.
All of his energy went to making sure Tori would have what she wanted.

That morning, though, he
’
d had to pray.
Before he even got out of bed, he prayed that God would help him to be the husband he should be, the father he would be and a good man overall.
He asked God to bless his heart with the kind of patience, compassion and love that would sustain him for the rest of his life.

And then, he had rolled out of bed and got on his knees when he prayed a special prayer of love and protection for Alicia, that wherever she might be, that she was happy.

“
I want to thank you, Son,
”
Paul said, pulling Dallas away from his thoughts.

“
For what?
”

“
For acknowledging me publicly.
You didn
’
t have to do it.
”

“
Yes, I did,
”
Dallas said, nodding.
In interviews since the season ended, Dallas had told the story of finding his real father to the press.
It had been received well enough, it didn
’
t seem like anyone was going to dig too deep in his past.
All the stories had been about how much Dallas looked like Paul Alexander.
And now today, during the ceremony, everyone
—
including Paul
—
would learn that not only was Dallas telling everyone that Paul was his father, but today, Dallas Avery was now Dallas Alexander.

“
Well, it
’
s about that time,
”
Paul said.

Dallas nodded as Paul walked away.
When his father cast a worried glance over his shoulder before he took a seat next to Anna, Dallas gave him a gentle smile.

A scraggily looking reporter had been steadily working the room, but was getting closer to the front with each pass. He kept an eye on Dallas, and for some reason, Dallas didn
’
t get a good vibe from the man. Why had he been given roving privileges when all the rest of the press had to remain in the rear of the Tower
’
s main ballroom?

Dallas left his spot next to six of his tuxedo-clad teammates.
“
I think it
’
s best if you leave,
”
he said to the cagey man.

“
I wanted to speak with the bride, but they won
’
t let me near the anteroom.
”

Dallas frowned down at him.
“
Why do you need to see her?
”

“
Because we have a little business transaction,
”
the photographer said in a hushed tone.

“
What kind of business?
”

The photographer first looked left, then right.
“
I
’
d rather not say, but she owes me some money.
”

“
If you want your cash, you
’
d better start talking.
”

The man held up a manila envelope.
“
She owes me for taking these.
”

Dallas honed in on the words
Personal and Confidential
stamped on the front.
“
How much?
”

“
Two grand.
”

Dallas reached into his inside pocket, snatched out a pen and scribbled on the blank side of a business card he pulled from the opposite inside pocket. He slipped it to the man and said,
“
Send the invoice to my accountant. You
’
ll get your money.
”

“
Cool. Thanks. The name
’
s Bill,
”
he said, reaching into his jacket and handing a card to Dallas.
“
She said if there were any new developments, she wanted me to come right away, and I
’
ve been trying to get ahold of her for the last week.
”
He kept his grip on one of the edges of the envelope.
“
These are sealed and they
’
re for her eyes only.
”

Bill walked away, stuffing Dallas
’
card inside his camera bag. Paul walked up to Dallas.
“
What
’
s wrong?
”

“
I
’
m not sure,
”
he answered with his gaze following Bill
’
s journey to where all the other photographers had congregated.
“
Dude just handed these to me. They
’
re for Tori.
”

Paul held out his hand,
“
Why don
’
t you let me hold those for a minute?
”

“
Naw. I need to know what
’
s going on now.
”
Dallas pivoted and went to the private area right off from the ballroom. His father was right on his heels and closed the door behind them.

Dallas broke the seal and slid out a set of photos that made his heart stop.
Picture after picture.
Photo after photo.
All of Alicia. A
pregnant
Alicia. He shuffled through each one, then shuffled through them again before he pivoted and dashed toward the door.

“
Dallas, wait—
”
Paul began, but Dallas was already out the door.
He went to the arch and scanned the group of photographers, though he couldn
’
t see the man who
’
d given him the photos.
Whipping out his cell, he dialed the number on the photographer
’
s card.
“
Meet me in front. Now!
”

Bill broke through the crowd, threading his way up front saying,
“
Excuse me. Pardon me. Let me through
”
along the way. When he finally stood in front of Dallas and Paul, he asked,
“
What can I do for you?
”

“
You can tell me where these were taken,
”
Dallas demanded, holding up the stack of pictures.

Bill drew back, his beady eyes darting from Paul to Dallas as he said,
“
How much are you willing to pay?
”

“
How much are you enjoying your teeth?
”
Dallas growled.

“
She
’
s in Chicago,
”
he answered right away.
“
But she won
’
t be there long,
”
he added.
“
I saw her schlep in some boxes. The packing kind. That
’
s why I wanted to get the pictures in.
”

Dallas turned the moment he felt a hand on his shoulder. Anna glanced at the photo in his hand and covered her mouth. She looked up at him, taking in his thunderous expression.
“
Son
...
”

“
The woman is carrying my child, Mom. And Tori knew!
”

Her hand slipped down to his arm.
“
There
’
s no guarantee that she
’
ll take you back.
”

“
I
’
m not looking for guarantees. I
’
m just looking for what
’
s mine. It
’
s as simple as that.
”

“
So what are you going to do about today?
”
his mother asked.
“
What about the wedding?
”

“
What do you think?
”
he asked.
“
The wedding
’
s off!
”

“
Dallas, wait!
”
they chorused, as Dallas stomped through the ballroom.

There was no way to stop his determined steps and within seconds, he was
standing
under the arch where he and Tori were to recite their vows in just minutes. Dallas held up a hand to silence everyone.
“
People, I
’
m going to say two things. First, thank you for coming out to support what should have been a beautiful day. And second, I apologize, because there won
’
t be a wedding today.
”

Chatter filled the room and the reporters stepped forward.

“
Does it have anything to do with the pictures your holding?
”
one bold, crew-cut sporting reporter asked.
“
Did you catch your fiancée in a compromising position?
”

The many cameras in the room started rolling.

“
Dallas,
”
Paul whispered his son
’
s name and gripped his arm,
“
speak to Tori.
You have to go to Tori before you say anything else.
”

He nodded and turned toward his guests,
“
Please, everyone,
”
he said, raising his voice to speak over the loud din.
“
Stay, enjoy the food and party
‘
til you drop.
”
He gestured to the table in the rear overflowing with beautifully wrapped boxes.
“
Please be sure to take your wedding gifts back with you. Once again, I apologize.
”