by Linn Young
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.