"Choose?" Weston asked. "You don't have to."
OLIVIA
An hour later we were in the home of Uncle Allen's close friends Roger and Belinda Tannenbaum. If they were surprised to see us with three burly men in tow, they did not show it. When Uncle Allen announced I would wed all three of the men, they didn't blink an eye, which seemed quite odd. Was it because it was so late an hour and they were not fully awake? That was doubtful, since they sent one of their servants off to fetch the minister. It wasn't until then that I began to panic.
"I can't marry three men!" I cried, glancing between the formidable trio standing in the Tannenbaum's comfortable living room. "It isn't done."
"Actually, Olivia, it is," Uncle Allen replied.
I frowned, confused. Was I hearing him correctly? Had I hit my head in my rush to leave the burning house and I didn't remember?
He stood and went over to where the Tannenbaums sat across from us on a wide sofa and sat down with Belinda between the two men, placing his hand on top of hers in a surprising move. "This was what I wanted to tell you earlier before that damn rock was thrown." He took a deep breath, and then said, "Belinda is my wife, too."
He looked at the woman I'd known my whole life and gave her a sweet smile, then turned to me.
I stared at their joined hands, confused. "How can you be married to...to them? You live with me."
I could feel Mr. Rhys, Mr. Cross and Mr. McPherson watching the conversation unfold and they did not seem the least bit horrified by what my uncle was sharing. It was as if they already knew.
Nodding, Uncle Allen continued. "I do. When your parents died and you came to live with me, you were too young to understand the dynamic of two men claiming a bride and besides, the townspeople would not be forgiving. It was important to maintain appearances and give you a comfortable home, yet Roger and I, together, are married to Belinda. Those nights when I went out of town for business and Hattie stayed with you? Remember?"
It was as if a veil had been lifted off my face. "You came here, didn't you?"
"Yes. Do not be mad, or at least do not be mad at me just yet. Think on this for a little while. It's been a long night. These three men," he lifted his hand and indicated the men from Bridgewater, "will be your husbands. You felt a connection, what some call chemistry, with the two at the dance. It's all right to be enamored and attracted to more than one man, as Belinda can tell you. As I said, you don't have to choose one of them. You will have all three."
I glanced at the men. They were all so handsome, so big, so...breathtaking that the idea of belonging to all of them only made me panic more. I stood, shook my head and paced back and forth in front of the cold fireplace. "No, no, this is insane! I would have known, I would have—"
"Olivia," Belinda said, standing and coming before me. She was in her late forties with very pale hair, now pulled back in a simple braid for sleep. She'd donned a modest dress after our surprise arrival and I'd never seen her so simply put together. She took my hands in hers and gave them a squeeze. "I love them. I love them both. I love being married to both of them. Remember what your uncle always said about the man you are to marry? What I've always told you?"
She stood so close I could see the blueness of her eyes, the earnestness there. She'd always been kind to me, like a surrogate mother, involved in my life for as long as I could remember. Even as just a family friend, she'd answered all of my questions about becoming a woman. Even though Uncle Allen had been there for me regardless of my need, sometimes a girl needed a woman to confide in. She smiled softly. "What is it?" she prompted.
I pulled my hands free and wrapped them around my waist, as if I could keep myself from falling to pieces. "When I find the right man, it will feel like I've been struck by lightning." I sighed, then glanced over at the three men and I felt it again. They were not dressed as expected out in society, but none of us were. They wore no jackets, only their shirts and Cross' wasn't tucked in, Rhys' buttons weren't done up to his neck and Simon's sleeves were rolled up to show off tightly corded forearms dusted with dark hair. All were tall, serious and handsome. One fair and two dark haired men who intended to marry me. The idea was exhilarating and absolutely petrifying, as I'd never really felt the true interest of one man, let alone three, until now.
"I felt it when I met your uncle." Belinda's words had me turning back to her and I saw the love bright in her eyes, in the wide smile. "And again when I met Roger. I wanted them both and they wanted me."
"But it's so...wrong." I covered my face with my hands, and then pulled them away as I realized my blunder, tears sliding down my cheeks. "Oh, Belinda, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean your marriage was wrong—"
She held up her hands, a simple gold ring on her left ring finger and a similar one on her right. I had never known what the one on her right hand was for until now. She had one for each one of her husbands. "It's all right. This is overwhelming for you. Quite a terrible night, but look." She waved her hand toward the three Bridgewater men. "They are here for you."
"I...I don't even know them," I admitted.
I felt even worse now, for the men just looked at me with seriousness, yet a hint of concern shone in their eyes. While one I'd never even spoken with, the other two had been remarkably kind.
"How can you give me to strangers?" I asked Uncle Allen as I wiped the tears on my cheeks
"You said you felt a connection, a spark with them, that you were worried about being attracted to two men at the same time. Your head my be telling you it is wrong, but your heart will always tell the truth."
I chanced a glimpse at Mr. Rhys and Mr. Cross, one's eyebrows went up, the other smiled broadly.
"Is that true, love, that you are attracted to me and Cross?" Rhys asked. I noticed the term of endearment he used and it didn't feel dirty like it had when Mr. Peters had called me ‘sweetheart.’
"It's all right," Melinda said, urging me to share my feelings.
Reassu
red by her smile, I nodded.
At that, the three men stepped forward. "May we have some time alone with Olivia before the minister comes?" Cross asked Uncle Allen.