“You can tell me on our ride. Change and say hello to our fella. Our babysitter is here and I’m ready to go.”
“I’ll hurry. I’m looking forward to some special time with you.”
* * * *
“I love the decorations.” Averil hugged Sara when she met her at the door. Kira and her parents followed Averil inside.
“It’s so nice of you all to have this dinner party, before the wedding tomorrow.” Averil glanced around. They were the first to arrive. “You’ve gone to a lot of work for us.”
“She and Tessa love to plan these parties.” Daren put his arm around Sara. “Don’t you, darlin’?”
“We certainly do. And weddings are such happy times. We needed this to lift all our spirits.”
“I’m glad we could be of service,” Cody teased. He and Payton had arrived and walked straight to Averil’s side.
“We’ve missed you.” Payton took hold of her hand. “I don’t like this idea that the bride needs to stay with her parents or friends several days before the wedding.”
“I went to Mom’s house yesterday afternoon. It has not been several days.”
“It seems like a week.” Cody pretended to pout and had everyone laughing.
As the room filled up, Averil tried to make sure she introduced Kira to anyone she might not know.
“These two ladies are Sara’s best friends. Ellen you’ve met and her husband, Jack. Sahale’s her other husband and he’s one of our veterinarians. Morgan is Sara’s other close friend. Ethan and Justin are her husbands.”
Sahale took her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Ellen and Jack have told me quite a bit about you, and I’ve been curious.”
Kira looked at him, puzzled. “You remind me of someone I’ve met.”
Jack spoke up. “Dr. Rexford is Sahale and Lang’s cousin. Lang will be here soon. Rex’s dad and Sahale’s mother are brother and sister.”
“How interesting. You don’t seem anything like your cousin.” Kira’s words had the group around her laughing.
“No,” Sahale said. “He is his own man and a brilliant one.”
“Well, look who just arrived.” Jack nodded to the door.
Dr. Rexford, an older couple, and a tall, brown-haired man were being greeted by Sara and Mitch.
“That’s his parents and his brother. There’s no love lost between those two.” Jack glanced at Kira. “You’re pasty white. Do you feel faint?”
“I’m fine, really. But I will go over and sit in a chair. I haven’t gotten all my strength back.”
“I’ll join you.” Averil walked across the room, where they sat in two leather chairs, side by side. “What’s wrong? You have all your energy back. You’ve been whizzing around all day.”
“Dr. Rexford’s brother was the flight attendant on the plane.”
“The overly curious one?”
“Yes.”
“What a coincidence.”
“Or not. I had disturbing vibes about him. I’d rather he not see me. Not yet. Walk me out the back. Let Mom and Dad know I’m all right. But I’m going home.”
“You’ll miss my party. He’ll see you tomorrow anyway.”
“I know, but I want to keep him unaware of me for a little longer.”
Kira stood and Averil walked with her to the back door. With the crowded room and all the talking and laughter, no one noticed.
“I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.” Kira waved and took off walking back to her parents’ house.
Averil turned and rejoined her group. She was introduced to several people she hadn’t met before, and she met Cody’s mother for only the second time. Averil liked his mom. Cody got his teasing manner from her.
Sara announced dinner, and they all started walking toward the dining room.
“Why, I recognize you.”
Averil turned to find the flight attendant behind her.
“You look vaguely familiar, but I don’t think we’ve been introduced.”
Dr. Rexford stepped up beside his brother. “Averil, this is my brother, Pearce.” He turned to the older couple at his side. “And my mother and father.”
“How nice to meet you.” She deliberately smiled and shook his parents’ hands but only nodded her head toward Pearce. “Have you met Cody and Payton?” She took hold of their hands and drew them to her side. Pearce’s hard stare made her shiver inside. She didn’t like the man, not at all.
Rex looked around the long table where most of the guests had seated themselves. “Where’s Kira?”
“She wasn’t feeling well and left to go home right after we got here.”
“Has she been checked by a doctor?” Rex’s brow furrowed.
“She’ll be fine with rest. I want her on her toes tomorrow for my big day.”
When they moved on down the table to their seats, Averil gave a sigh of relief. She, Payton, and Cody were the last to be seated.
Mitch stood at the end of the table and lifted his wineglass. “To our wedding trio. I hope they will be as happy as Daren and I are with our lovely Sara.” He smiled at Sara, and Averil saw the love in all three sets of eyes. She looked around at all the smiling guests until she got to Pearce.
His mocking smile and glittering black eyes sent a chill down her spine.
Who was he really, and want did he want?
* * * *
“Wake up, sis. This is your wedding day.” Kira shook Averil.
Averil opened one eye. “It’s dark outside.”
“I knew you’d be hard to wake even on one of the most important days of your life.”
She sat up on the side of the bed. “What day’s more important?”
“The day you make me an aunt. Now get out of bed. We have to make you beautiful.”
“We hardly have time for that.” Averil grinned at Kira. She walked across the room and into the bathroom. “I’ll shower and be right out,” she said, shutting the door in Kira’s face.
Leaning close to the mirror, she groaned. She was definitely not an early-morning person. But as the excitement began to course through her veins, she got more awake. Payton and Cody would be waiting for her at the end of the aisle. She’d truly become their wife today.
After a quick shower, Averil put herself in her sister’s hands. Kira did her makeup and arranged her red hair in long waves down her back with a ribbon that matched her dress intertwined in the fiery strands.
“I’ll help you get your gown on without smearing it with makeup or messing up my fancy hairdo.” Kira lifted the gown over Averil’s head and carefully worked it down to her neck and shoulders. Averil put her arms in the sleeves and the gown rippled on down her body.
“Goodness, there are a lot of buttons back here. I’d love to see how your guys handle getting you out of this dress without tearing off some of them. My guess is they’ll be in too big a hurry to bother with being careful.”
“Stop. You’re making me blush. Anyway, you know I’m going to change here before our flight.”
Kira laughed. “Let me get Mom so she can see how beautiful you look.”
Averil walked to the mirror as Kira left the room. The bluish-green gown did make her look extraordinarily beautiful.
A warm glow filled her insides. She was happy and all the old fears about marrying again were gone. She was very lucky to be alive and to be loved by two such wonderful men. Her family liked them and had accepted them into their family, as she’d been wholeheartedly received into Payton’s and Cody’s families.
“Oh my. You look wonderful.” Her mom and Kira stood in the doorway.
“Then let’s go before I wrinkle my dress or this beautiful hairdo falls down.”
“I’ll have you know I’ve got your hair secured very well. But you’re right. It’s time. Dad’s getting the car warmed up for us. The early morning is chilly.” Kira took Averil’s arm and they followed their mother outside.
Sara greeted them at the door. “I’ll take care of her, Mrs. Bevyns. You and your husband can meet us inside the circle of trees.” Kira and Averil went with Sara to a back room.
“Do you have any questions?”
“No, I’ve been to many weddings. I suppose you all have the same ceremony as my third tribe.”
“We do. I checked with your Priestess. Both Priestesses will do the ceremony as they did at Jewel’s. I understand you’ve requested our Priestess, Elle, do the civil ceremony right after the other.”
“Yes, we want it all done before anything else happens. I’m fine with our ritual wedding. I know what to expect.”
“You both look beautiful. Kira, I’d have never have believed you could wear that color, but it’s perfect on you, and I like the style of your gown. The heart-shaped neckline and the fitted skirt shows off your curves.”
“I know she may take all the attention off of me, the bride. But that’s all right. The main people I want watching me are Payton and Cody.”
“They always have eyes only for you,” Kira said. “But don’t worry. No one will notice me. This is your day. You’ll be the center of attention whether you want it or not.” Kira looked at Sara. “Averil can be a bit shy until you get to know her or unless she’s shooting in a contest. Then she’s out to win.”
Sara peeked out the window. “It’s time for your grand entrance. Kira and I will meet you just inside the ring of trees.”
Averil watched out the window as Sara and Kira disappeared behind the trees. She opened the door and stepped onto the white satin runner. A slight breeze ruffled her hair. Slowly she began to walk, and then she slipped in between two trees.
It was dark. She heard the rustle of people and saw them as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. Sara handed her a bouquet of white roses and purple orchids. Then Kira came to stand beside her on the left side, and their parents stood in front of them. Cody’s mom and Payton’s parents stood at her back. She was surrounded by family.
A long, wide aisle stretched in front of them to the white pavilion. Gradually the dark lightened until the sun shone across the horizon, flooding the area with light as their guests’ voices rose up in song.
The pavilion glowed in the sunlight. Averil saw that the columns and the frame were covered in a mixture of white roses and orchids to match her bouquet. At the front stood the two Priestesses in their red-and-gold gowns, a symbol of happiness and prosperity for the wedding threesome.
But most importantly, Cody and Payton waited for her. They’d both dressed in blue suits with white roses in their lapels. Payton’s blond hair that was just growing back in shone in the sunlight, and Cody’s dark-brown hair was much neater than usual.
Slowly Averil followed her parents as they walked forward to the music of the flute and guitar. When they got to the front, her parents stood on either side of her. Cody and Payton smiled, and she saw their love reflected in their eyes.
“Averil Stanwic, have you come to be joined with Payton Camilius and Cody Jessup?” Elle asked.
“Yes.” Averil answered in a soft but firm voice. She smiled back at her men, and the glow inside her grew warmer. This felt so right.
Her mother placed one of Averil’s hands in Payton’s and her father placed the other in Cody’s hand. “Take good care of her,” her father said before he and her mother stepped back.
Both Priestesses looked at the parents. “Do you all agree to this union between your children?” the Priestess from the third tribe asked.
“We do,” they said and went to sit in the front row together.
Averil looked from Cody to Payton. They held her hands tightly. “We love you, darlin’,” Cody whispered, and Payton nodded.
Elle raised her hands and began to speak in their lovely ancient language while she swayed back and forth and moved her hands over their heads. The beauty and sanctity of the moment had always touched Averil’s heart. This time, being her own wedding, it brought tears of joy to her eyes. She blinked quickly to keep them from rolling down her face.
Cody and Payton moved closer to her side. From their expressions, Averil realized they didn’t understand her tears. She tightened her grip reassuringly on their hands.
When the chanting stopped, the Priestess from the third tribe came forward to begin the regular ceremony, much like any wedding except the words were repeated with each man. At the end of the vows, the Priestess put out her hand for the two rings, each part of a whole. She blessed them before Cody and Payton slipped their section of the ring on her right hand. The two halves formed one wide band. On the top, a round ruby was set surrounded by small diamonds glittering in the gold band. On either side, Cody’s and Payton’s initials had been engraved.
Payton leaned down to whisper, “The brown diamond in your engagement ring represented your eyes, and this is for your beautiful red hair.”
“Thank you.” She kissed his cheek and then Cody’s.
The Priestess was smiling as she wrapped the gold cloth around their wrists and clamped her hands on the top and bottom of theirs. “Go forth forever bound to each other.” She raised their hands and she and Elle sang more of the beautiful ancient words. Their guests joined them.
When they were finished, the Priestess unwrapped the cloth and hung it around Averil’s neck. Elle stepped forward, and they both said, “
You are the center, the one who holds the whole together.
”