The Barter System (57 page)

Riya invited her father but
there had been a response.  Every subject from her dissertation had been
invited, as well as the people she’d grown close to in their lives.  Every
member of the ménage club had been invited.  They were a close-knit group and
both women had made friends easily. 

The guests would begin
arriving soon.

Aunt Maggie had flown in the
day before and fussed over ‘her girls’ between laughter and tears.  All of them
missed Riya’s mother bitterly.  When Riya asked about her father, then become
inconsolable, there was an unspoken agreement to not bring the subject up
again. 

They had intensive spa
treatments, including Blythe and Melody since they were their best friends
other than each other.  Two hours before the ceremony, they were all buffed and
polished. 

Riya wore a stunning Vera
Wang gown Tawny had picked for her.  Strapless brushed silver silk that trailed
out behind her.  Her hair was braided and twisted into a gorgeous up-do that
had curls strategically trailing down her back and at her temples.  Makeup was
minimal.  Four-inch heels and a bouquet that held white roses and calla lilies,
her mother’s favorite. 

The bridesmaids each wore a
different dress, picked by the woman wearing it to accentuate her specific body
type.  All were floor length in a darker shade of silver.  They carried similar
bouquets to Riya’s, missing only the calla lilies.

Her beautiful husbands and
their groomsmen were wearing charcoal gray, classic English tuxes, complete
with ascots.  Max and Micah wore single calla lilies on their lapels as well as
waistcoats with swirls of silver.  Riya told Tawny and Maggie it signified her
mother’s approval, even if she couldn’t have her father’s. 

Waiting to walk alone down
the aisle, she had a moment of complete sadness that her father wasn’t beside
her.  Max and Micah smiled at her from the altar and she took a deep breath
before starting forward. 

She heard whispers about how
pretty she looked as she passed the rows of their family and friends but she
paid attention only to the men waiting for her just ahead.  They held their hands
out and she took them gratefully.  Unlike a traditional wedding, Riya stood in
the center of her two men. 

On a lower step, Tawny stood
directly behind her, Blythe and Melody on either side.  All their partners, six
between the three bridesmaids, were lined up on either side of Micah and Max.

The ceremony itself nearly
had her crying.  She definitely heard the women behind her sniffling.  Her men
each slipped a tiny silver band over her engagement ring.  After the ceremony
all three rings would lock together as they’d been designed to do.  She gave
them bands designed to match her own ring, which pleased and surprised them. 

She’d given each diamond
platinum cufflinks and a square link platinum chain that when it was laid flat
duplicated the inscription on her wedding ring, one letter on the back of each
link.  Truly a piece of art.

The moment all three said,
“I do” the room erupted in clapping and whistling.  True to form,
rock-paper-scissors had given Micah the first kiss.  After she’d been thoroughly
kissed and hugged by her men, they turned to accept the congratulations of
their guests.  She could say honestly she’d never felt so right about anything
in her life.

They danced for hours.  She
danced with her husbands, spinning from the arms of one while the other
circled, before being spun into the arms of the other.  They had her dizzy by
the end of one song and she laughed as she hugged them tightly. 

Riya was passed from one of
her subjects to another, happy that all of them had been able to make it to her
special day. 

Malina was swept across the
floor by Micah, so Ricardo had no qualms about requesting a hot salsa from the
DJ and flying Riya over the floor to the catcalls of everyone watching.  She
was breathless by the end and shook her finger while he grinned at her.  He
bowed and kissed her hand then gathered up his very pregnant wife.

Sean danced with her to
Whole
Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
and they couldn’t stop laughing as he spun her
through the dances popular in the fifties.  His mother and brother were dancing
not far away.  Diana was planning a trip up to help Riya with another book. 
They’d realized they truly were kindred spirits and talked regularly about
Riya’s non-fiction ideas. 

Sean was smiling as he
kissed her cheek and handed her off to Victor while he went in search of a
newly engaged Alyssa. 

Victor picked a country
tune, telling her the entire time how good she looked and that no one deserved
happiness more than her.  Aunt Cyndi was dancing with one of two older ménage
males who were quite captivated with her. 

Shay was dancing with Max
and telling him he had to bring Riya back to Georgia soon.  She and Victor had
been married a few months before and were working to get pregnant.

Lucas danced a slow number
with her, asking her about everything and telling her to bring her husbands out
to Montana when they could.  She’d danced with his sons and his friends.  Becca
and Sharon were in heaven, spun from one good-looking man to another.  Their
laughter was musical. 

As the song ended, he told
her Amelia was going to marry him and had just found out she was pregnant. 
Riya ran to her friend screaming and soon they were crying and hugging.

Joshua and Jessica insisted
on a grind number and dancing with her together.  It was very hot and they were
all laughing by the end.  They’d just graduated college and were figuring out
what to do next together.  Max was trying to hire Jessica as an accountant for
his company, while Micah had an analyst position he wanted Joshua to take.  Riya
loved that her men saw their potential.

Tawny’s men danced with her
and her mother.  Maggie couldn’t be happier with Zach and Quinn; they loved her
baby and took good care of her.  They’d proposed and been accepted less than
six weeks after they met, none of them willing to risk what they’d found
together. 

Tawny had finally moved to
Manhattan permanently, to Riya’s joy and relief.  Her men were shopping for
apartments ten blocks or less from Riya, as instructed.  

The sun was beginning to set
and there were hours of celebrating left.  After another song ended, Max
dancing her ass off to a classic waltz, they escorted her to the bridal party
table, surrounded by old friends and new ones, everyone laughing and talking. 

Suddenly, the DJ said, “May
I have everyone’s attention please?”  Riya heard Tawny gasp.  She followed her
gaze to see her dad on the stage.  Her hands were quickly seized by her
husbands’ and held tight on either side of her.  “The bride’s father would like
to say a few words.”

She hadn’t seen or heard
from her father in eight months.  She’d written, called, texted, and emailed
without response.  Aunt Maggie was no longer speaking to him, had in fact
cursed him with her blistering Irish tongue when he told her he wouldn’t be attending
his only child’s wedding ceremony or giving her away.  Tawny had no clue what
to say to him. 

Riya was devastated,
whispering, “Please don’t hurt me, Dad.  Please don’t make me hate you.”  Micah
and Max tightened around her, sealing their bodies against her sides for
strength.  She could feel her friends’ eyes on her as she waited, terrified,
for what was coming.

“For those of you who don’t
know, I’m Riya’s father, Archer O’Connell.  Riya is my only child.”  He cleared
his throat.  “I had some…misconceptions about a research project she did last
year.  I’m afraid I handled it badly.  Very, very badly.  When she told me she
was in love with Max and Micah, I thought she was childish and weak and
foolish…certain she was being taken advantage of.

“I did every background
check I could think of on both of them…medical, credit, criminal.  I called in
favors with every agency on the planet.  CIA, FBI, Interpol, even the IRS.  I
had them followed.”

Looking down, he added
quietly, “I had my own child followed, have had her followed every day since
she left her home in South Florida last August.  I’ve had every known associate
interviewed.”  He lifted his face and found her gaze across the dance floor. 
He gave her a half-smile. 

“Imagine my surprise when I
found them to be clean…cleaner than me, actually.  That was a pretty huge shock
to Riya’s daddy.  Over the last eight months, I’ve lost my daughter, I’ve lost
her closest friend who’s been like another daughter to me since her birth. 
I’ve lost my best friend, the only person who knew Riya’s mother longer than
me.  I’m an older man with tons of money and no one in my life.  I’d imagine that
soon enough, my little girl is going to have babies.  She always loved
children.  If I don’t pull my head out of my ass, I’m going to be alone for a
lot longer than I have been. 

“Riya, your mother would
have beaten me with a broom and cursed me out in Portuguese, making me sleep on
the couch until I swallowed my pride.  But we lost her a long time ago and I
wasn’t man enough to come forward before now.  She would hate how weak I’ve
been.  She would likely hate
me
, if she could see me now. 

“I see people here today who
seem like better men for having known you, happier than they ever would have
been if they hadn’t had the chance to participate in your project.  I watched
them dance with you, with appreciation and true
respect
…something I
honestly didn’t expect to see.  Watched the love and gratitude on their wives’
and girlfriends’ faces for what you’ve obviously made possible. 

“So though I may not fully
understand your relationship, I can vouch that Max and Micah are the most
upstanding men I’ve ever had investigated.  I should have known you’d know
that, instead of dropping a quarter million trying to prove you wrong.  I want
you to be happy.  That is the only thing I’ve ever wanted, since the day you
were born. 

“Riya Charlize
Scottsdale-Chadwick, I could not ask for a more beautiful, talented and loving
daughter.  I’m proud of who you are, the stunning woman you’ve grown into.  You
have so much love to give, I guess it makes sense you’d need two men to absorb
it all.  I love you so much and I’m sorry I didn’t walk you down the aisle at
your wedding like I always promised I would.  But I’d sure love to dance with
you now, Riya.”

Riya was up and running for
her father, crashing into his arms as he whirled her around and around with her
feet lifted behind her.  Everyone was cheering and whistling and clapping. 

Tawny and Maggie were
hysterically crying.  Archer said something to the DJ and he started to play
Imagine
by John Lennon, her mother’s favorite song. 

Her father guided her around
the floor, wiping her tears and kissing her, until he finally made her laugh. 
He danced well and took his time spinning her out, watching as her wedding gown
flared around her.  As the song was ending, he pulled her close in a crushing
hug and whispered, “Forgive me, baby.  I will try so hard to never hurt you
again.”  She nodded in his shoulder and they cried together, missing her mom. 

Before long, they were
surrounded.  Lucas took her aside and whispered, “There you go, Riya.  No more
looking back now, baby, you hear?”  She nodded as he pinched her chin and gave
her a wink. 

Riya was dancing with Tawny,
watching her husbands shake her father’s hand.  He walked with them for a bit
and they blocked him from view with their broad shoulders when he started to
cry. 

Maggie was dancing with Zach
when Riya signaled her.  She kissed Riya’s cheek on her way off the dance floor. 
When Maggie approached, Max and Micah bowed and stepped away.  She took Archer
in her arms and held him like she had for years, because she’d been in love
with him since her own husband died. 

She had loved Riya’s mother
too much to ever admit it, even to herself.  And then she was gone and Maggie
found herself fighting the memory of her best friend. 

Riya watched, Tawny at her
side, as Maggie shook him hard for a few seconds, slapped him, and then kissed
him.  He staggered for a moment, just staring at the woman who’d been one of
his best friends all his adult life, closer than that since Riya’s mother
died.