Attraction Page 12

  and needs of the other. You’ll just continue to steamroll over everyone and force them to your

  way of thinking, won’t you?”

  Caroline begged weakly, “Please, Riley. This is really unnecessary…”

  “Oh, no, Mom, he needs to hear this. He needs to know why his fiancée ran out on him,

  because I don’t think he’ll ever be able figure it out on his own.”

  His eyes on Riley, Heron slowly nodded his head. “Yes, Caroline. Let her go on, since

  the best she can do, even at a time of a crises, is to make me look the bad guy instead of the

  victim.”

  Riley gave him a look of disdain. “Hah! You, the victim? I’ve never seen in my life a

  person who is less likely to ever be a victim. Robbie never wanted this three ring circus that

  you’re putting on, and she told you that from the beginning. And she never wanted it in a grand

  theater like the Grace Cathedral with the whole wide world watching. She wanted a small

  wedding, at the beach, with just hers and your relatives and friends attending. But, you had to

  make it into a major state affair, and invite all these famous and important people that Robbie

  had never met and would probably never meet again. And she wanted to wear her mother’s

  wedding dress and the family veil. But you and that wedding nazi overruled her on that, as well,

  telling her that she would look cheap and laughable and be an embarrassment to you and your family’s standing to the public. You never once asked what Robbie wanted, or asked what she felt. That’s because, to you, it wasn’t a wedding that you were putting on. You were putting on a show for the whole world to see, something for the national newspapers and magazines to write about and to critique. And all because you have money and power. You cared more about those things than you did about your fiancée. That’s why I thought you weren’t good enough for

  Robbie, because you could never really love her…”

  “Riley, that’s enough,” Caroline interjected sharply.

  Riley closed her mouth, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist. For several seconds,

  no one spoke, the tension heavy in the room. Heron looked at Caroline and Lawrence, then

  directed his eyes at Riley. Then he stalked out of the house without another word. A few seconds

  later, they heard his car screech away.

  After another moment of silence, Riley offered, “Does anyone want some coffee?” “No, no,” Caroline said. “I think we better go home. I would rest easier there, if there is

  every a chance that I will be able to rest after this.”

  Riley put her arms around her and hugged her tightly. “Oh, Mom, it will be alright.” “How can anything be alright ever again? My God, Riley, your sister jilted Heron Wait

  and ran off with another man, only days before their wedding. And he, such a rich man with

  important standing in the community.”

  Riley wanted to point out to her mother that Roberta, while jilting one rich man, had

  married another man who was just as wealthy. But she didn’t think her parents would appreciate

  that just now.

  “And Heron’s parents had been so kind and warm to us, and so welcoming at that dinner.

  What they must think of us now,” Caroline wailed.

  Riley carefully said, “I think, in the long run, that they will come to realize, as I think all

  of us will, that this might be far better for Roberta than having her marry Heron” Lawrence said, “I’m not quite sure I am ready to settle so positively this unexpected turn

  of events in my mind so quickly, Riley. But I’m willing that I hope you’re right.” An hour after her parents left, Riley received a phone call from Beth Anne, Tanner and

  Heron’s sister.

  “Oh, God, what a mess,” Beth Anne said. “We don’t all quite know what to say to each

  other over here. How’s it over on your end?”

  “About the same. How’s Heron?”

  “We have no idea. We’ve tried to call him, left messages all over the city, but he’s not

  returning our phone calls. Have you heard from our two runaways?”

  “No. Have you?”

  “No, the idiots. Listen, I called to let you know that all of us over here are going to be

  calling the guests and letting them know that it’s off. I just called to advise you to do the same.

  We’ve even involved the servants because we’ve got close to a thousand guests who were

  invited.”

  “Oh, God, that’s right. The guests. We’ve got to tell ours.”

  For the next two days, Riley spent the time at her parents house, helping them to call one

  guest after another to tell them that the wedding was off. When she felt her voice horse and her

  fingers numb from dialing, Riley helped her father pack up several of the gifts that had arrived

  and send them back.

  Two days later, Caroline finally managed to get up the nerve to make a phone call to

  Alana. To her relief, Alana was warm and conveyed the same shame, apprehension, and

  indignity towards the runaway marriage that Caroline was feeling.

  “And I’m so sorry about all the money that your family and Heron spent on the

  preparations,” Caroline said. She took a big breath. “I feel that in light of my daughter’s most

  imprudent behavior, I must extend our assistance to smooth over the costs that has already been

  incurred.”

  “Mrs. Calderon, there is certainly no need for you to do that, especially now.” “But the costs…I just wouldn’t feel right if we laid all the cost at Heron’s door. What he

  must have put out from his own pocket, and you and your husband’s as well. Please, I must

  know how much has been spent.”

  “The last I heard, the budget had risen to nearly nine hundred thousand dollars.” For several seconds, Caroline could not breath.

  “Hello? Are you still there, Caroline,” Alana queried when silence from the other end

  was close to a minute.

  “Nine hundred…” Caroline croaked out. She cleared her throat. “That’s nearly one

  million dollars. How are we to ever pay back that sum of money?”

  “There is no need for you and your husband to pay anything back.”

  “But that’s a fortune.”

  “I know it’s a lot of money to most people. But, I’m afraid, for our family…well, let’s

  just say it amounts to spilt milk.”

  Tanner and Roberta were not heard from by either families for close to two weeks. On

  the first weekend of the elopement, Riley went to her parents house for dinner. Caroline revealed

  that she had finally talked to Alana.

  “For the first few minutes, both of us were trying to outdo the other in apologizing, her

  for Tanner’s behavior, and me for Robbie’s,” Caroline said a little ruefully. “I was so relieved

  that they weren’t angry at Robbie for doing what she did to Heron.”

  “Why should she, when it was their other son who stole her away.”

  “That’s exactly what Alana said. I’m just thankful that she and Roy are not taking it upon

  themselves to punish Tanner for this. I even thought that they might disinherit him and banish

  him from the family forever.”

  Riley smiled, “Thank God that this isn’t Victorian eighteen hundreds.” “Oh, I don’t mean it quite that way. And, you know, Alana seemed rather to take a

  positive view of this whole development. I’ve a suspicion that she wasn’t nearly as shocked as

  the rest of us over Tanner and Robbie. Do think, Riley, that she thinks as you do, that Tanner

  might, indeed, be a better fit for our Robbie than Heron was?�
��

  “Well, she knows her two sons better than anyone else. Only she could be the best judge

  of their strengths and weaknesses.”

  Caroline shook her head as she reached for the mashed potatoes, a giving a little sigh. “I

  just wish Robbie and Tanner had managed this whole affair in way that caused a lot less trauma.” The following Tuesday afternoon, Riley heard a knock on her door at her home. When

  she opened it, she saw her sister and Tanner standing there, both looking anxious and sheepish. “Oh, God, Robbie!” She threw her arms her and the two sisters hugged while laughing.

  “And Tanner.” Riley threw her arms around him, as well. “Come on in, you two.” “Are you sure it’s alright,” Roberta asked.

  “Sure, why wouldn’t it be?” Riley led them into her kitchen. “Would you like something

  to drink? Coffee? Tea? Juice? Oh, I know, champagne. What better time than this to open a

  bottle of champagne.” She pulled out the bottle and unwrapped the foil. She stopped when she

  saw the uncertainty on their faces. “What’s wrong?”

  “Well, should we really celebrate, with the way things are,” Tanner asked. “Not unless you two didn’t get married. Did you get married?”

  “Oh, yes, we are definitely married.” Roberta and Tanner held up their left hands, each

  wearing a simple gold band on the wedding finger.

  “Then it’s a perfect time for champagne. Have you seen anyone else since you came back

  from Las Vegas?”

  Roberta answered, “No. We didn’t dare. You’re the first. And we weren’t even sure of

  that.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I would have wanted to see you. Here, Tanner, you pop

  the cork. I hate doing that.”

  She handed him the bottle, then turned and brought down three champagne flutes. Tanner

  pulled the cork with a loud pop and poured the liquid into the glasses. Riley raised hers. “Here’s

  to the newlyweds, may your life together be filled with happiness and satisfaction that you both

  deserve.”

  She was appalled when Roberta burst into tears. “Robbie, what is it?” She drew her sister

  into her arms, while Tanner set his glass down, ran his hands through his hair, turning away, just

  as upset. “What’s wrong, you two? Oh, no, you’re not regretting getting married, are you?” Roberta pulled herself out of her sister’s arms and slipped her arms around Tanner,

  grabbing for the tissues that were on the counter. “No, no, we don’t regret that at all. It’s just, it’s

  all a mess. And we don’t know if we can ever face Heron, even Tanner’s parents, or Mom and

  Dad?”

  “Look, do you love each other?”

  Roberta and Tanner looked at one another, their love for one another shining from their

  faces.

  “Oh, yes, I love him very much. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.” Tanner bent his and planted a kiss on top of his wife’s bright blond head. “And I’m mad

  about her. I have been ever since I first saw you on my first day at work.”

  Riley lifted her champagne and sipped from it. “Then that’s all that really matters. As

  long as you both realize how much you love one another, then everything else is secondary.” “But we still have to face the music, though,” Tanner pointed out. “I don’t know if my

  family will speak to me, ever again. Not after the embarrassment I handed them” Roberta’s lips trembled as the tears threatened to fall again. “Oh, and your father might

  fire me. And you, darling.”

  “Stop that,” Riley said severely. “No one’s going to get fired. No one’s been banished.

  And no one’s going to get banished. Now, you two must get a hold of yourselves, because both

  of you will have to face your families again. And Heron. First thing is to realize that you’re

  married, and that what’s done is done. Nothing can change that. The only thing that makes what

  you two did to Heron bearable is your love for each other. Both of you must cling to that,

  because it will be what gives you strength for the next few weeks. Now, pick up your glasses and

  let’s start making amends by forgiving yourselves and christening this marriage of yours.” The couple hesitantly picked up their glasses.

  Riley raised her. “To both of you, and to your love. May you find the best and be able to

  weather through the worst with that love.”

  They drank to the toast. Tanner and Roberta looked at one another, and smiled into each

  other’s eyes, their smiles silly and passionate of the newly in love. They kissed, their lips

  lingering.

  “Now, I do have to ask, how did this all come about,” Riley said, refilling each of their

  glasses. “Robbie, you never gave me any indication that you ever had any feelings for Tanner.

  All this time, I thought you were madly in loved with Heron.”

  “I don’t quite know what I was with Heron. He’s about the most amazing man I’ve ever

  met. I guess I was enchanted by him. I mean, look at him, what woman wouldn’t be so entranced

  by a man like that. His looks and body alone spellbounds a woman, doesn’t he? And then there’s

  his frightening intelligence, his powerful presence, his towering self assurance, that dark,

  brooding sexuality about him.”

  Riley smile was more of a grimace. “Not to mention his domineering ways, his

  arrogance, his disregard for the feelings of others, his superciliousness, his intolerance of what he

  perceives as weakness in others.”

  Roberta reached her hand out to Tanner, who took it and kissed it. “And then I met

  Tanner, the first day he walked into the office, fresh from Harvard, so handsome, charming,

  boyish, kind, generous. And funny. My heart didn’t skip a beat the way it did when I first met

  Heron. It just stopped, and I couldn’t figure out, for the longest time why it stopped.” Tanner planted a comforting kiss on her cheek. “I knew the minute I saw her that I was

  done for it. I was in love and that was that. No other woman would do for me as long as I took a

  breath.”

  “But, I could hardly think myself in love with one man when I was in love with another,

  now could I?”

  “So, she denied it,” Tanner said. “And since it was completely inappropriate that I should

  be in love with my brother’s fiancée, I tried to ignore it, as well.”

  “And it for worked, for awhile,” Roberta explained. “But, then, things were coming to a

  head. You know, like the wedding, that horrible Hildegaard, all the flowers that I had to choose,

  the polka bands, over a thousand wedding guests, the expensive wedding dress. And I was

  beginning to realize that once I walked down the aisle towards Heron, that I was going to have to

  spend the rest of my life with him.”

  “That day, I found her in her office, having a nervous breakdown again, her face white,

  sweating,” Tanner said. “I took her in my arms to comfort her, and, suddenly, holding her in my

  arms, I knew I could no longer keep silent about how I felt about her. And, so, I told her. I laid

  my heart out to her.”

  Tanner opened his arms and Roberta, her face shining with love and gratitude, walked

  into them.

  “And I knew I could no longer ignore what I had been trying to deny for so long,” she

  said. “I was in love with the right man but was going to marry the wrong one. And I found

  myself in the biggest dilemma of my life.”

  “We felt so desperate, that day,” Tanner continued. “Robbie knew she had to back
out of

  the engagement, but she felt she couldn’t, because the wedding was less than a week away and

  so much preparation and money had gone into it.”

  Roberta shuddered. “All those flowers. The wedding dress had just arrived from Vera

  Wang and it had cost nearly a quarter of a million dollars. And then there were all those guest

  gifts, each at one hundred dollars. I think I started to get hives when I thought about all that

  money that was being spent. And then poor Tanner, here, knew he couldn’t let me marry Heron,

  but he couldn’t bear the thought of betraying his own brother.”

  Tanner said, “So, we felt we had no choice, but to run. And run we did.” “And I know that I should have realized a lot earlier that I didn’t really love Heron, but,

  well, he’s Heron. No woman in her right mind wouldn’t want him, or turn him down when he

  chose her to spend the rest of his life with, now can she?”

  Riley said with some bemusement, “What I should have done from the very beginning

  was to take a pin and prick his skin to show you that like any human, he bleeds.” Roberta sighed, picked up her champagne and sipped. “Yes, I’m afraid you’re right,

  Riles. And you were right about him being all wrong for me. He was completely wrong for me,

  and I should have seen that from the very beginning. I was never really comfortable around

  Heron. Whenever I was around him, I was always afraid of saying the wrong thing, or doing the

  wrong thing. Sometimes I would laugh at something, or tell him something that I thought was

  funny, and he would give me that patient look of tolerance, and made me feel like I was some

  backward country girl. And I felt that he expected me to play the society wife, one who

  entertains all these big and important people, and always says the right things, and is always in

  control of the situation. I knew I could never be that, even if I tried. I’m afraid Tanner here is

  more of my speed, a man who appreciates a woman of less sophistication, who isn’t really into

  living the grand life, and one who prefers to sit at home with her family, curl up with her

  husband with a good book or watch TV.”

  “And Tanner is not a man who runs roughshod over your gentle and kind nature and is

  dismissive of your simple ways,” Riley pointed out.