“Archer, you’re meant to be in the picture along with your bride,” said Athena with a chuckle from somewhere behind him. She was walking towards them with a beaming smile, and the glisten of tears still shining in her eyes as she took them all in with love in her heart. “Get over there and I’ll get the three of you, shall I?”
While she was busy snapping, one of the ushers stepped up to Athena’s side. “Pardon me, ma’am, but I believe the undesirable person that you mentioned has arrived and she’s refusing to leave until Archer acknowledges his child.”
“Of course,” said Kady with a sigh. She knew this would happen. Archer had spent weeks trying to convince her that she wouldn’t be a problem now that Archer was back, and they had proven without a doubt that Mia had been lying and scheming against them the whole time. But Kady knew what type of person Mia really was, and she also knew she wasn’t going to just give up her crazy quest to ruin them, to get Kady out of Archer’s life and steal him for herself. Kady sent a look at Archer from under her lashes, watching as he smiled down at their precious baby boy. The only thing Mia could never understand was that their love for each other was stronger than any insane scheme. She gave another annoyed sigh before continuing. “Bring her here, and instruct her to behave herself along the way or you have my permission to throw her right out again. This is one day I refuse to let her ruin for us.”
“As you wish, Mrs. Devonshire.”
Kady sighed with contentment, hearing him call her that. She and Archer shared a pleased glance before they were forced to bring their attention to Mia Chong. She was dressed in a wedding gown as well, and she kept waving at everyone as if she’s the one who had just gotten married.
“What are you even doing here? This is mine and Kady’s wedding day.” asked Archer irritably as he took her appearance in.
“I’ve brought our baby along to the wedding, my love,” she said, moving as though she intended to kiss him. The tone of her voice gave Kady the chills, and it was like she was completely disconnected from reality,. She could only believe all the lies she had been spreading over the past year until all that was left for her was her lunatic fantasies all revolving around her husband. She felt a secret thrill at the thought of Archer Devonshire as her husband, but this woman’s presence dampened her present happiness. Kady insinuated herself in front of the woman and placed herself right on Archer’s lap.
“What do you think you are doing?” Mia hissed, her eyes widening in outrage and hatred.
“Sitting on my husband’s lap,” Kady replied calmly. “Look, Mia, I don’t know what your problem is, but you really need to get some serious help. It’s time to come back down to reality land now. Didn’t you come in here to show off your baby, by the way? I don’t see one with you.”
“She is waiting in the car,” Mia explained.
“I’m rather surprised they let you have a baby in your possession at all,” Archer pointed out. “And Mia, I did get back the results of that paternity test with its negative results. You know very well that the child doesn’t belong to me. Don’t you think you should be going after the real father instead?”
“That test was wrong!’ she shouted desperately. “It had to be.”
“Mia, not for lack of you trying, but we’ve never had sex,” Archer pointed out. “The only possible outcome had to be negative where I’m concerned. I don’t know who got you knocked up instead, but that doesn’t especially concern me. But I’m with Kady, and that’s how it’s going to stay. So if you’re not here to celebrate that fact, you have no place being at our wedding.”
“You’ll regret this, Archer!” she shouted angrily. “You and your little wifey are gonna pay someday. You just wait!”
“If you will kindly remove this woman from the party, Reed, it would be much appreciated,” said Archer as he stood and took one of Kady’s hands. Athena took her grandson while Reed dragged Mia away, and the newlyweds cast each other a smile, already lost in each other’s eyes, both shining with love and happiness. “Well then, everyone, isn’t it about time for that first dance?”
A general cheer went up among the six hundred people in attendance, and then Archer led Kady out into the center of the floor. Someone turned on the strobe lights and lowered a huge globe that slowly revolved, casting little bits and flashes of soft light that swirled around them, and then a slow song began to play. Archer took Kady into his arms, and they began to dance the night away.
“Now I’m glad we chose the buffet style,” said Kady with a grin. “Isn’t it much better with everyone eating whenever they like?”
“It is, my dear, but I do believe this crowd is still waiting for you to toss your bouquet.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Kady chuckled. “I’ll get up on the stage and you can have them announce it.”
“No, I’m going on the stage as well,” Archer said. “I want to throw your garter.”
Giggling, Kady agreed, and they danced, holding each other impossibly, somehow closer as the last few chords of the soft, romantic song played to their end. Archer leaned down and placed the sweetest kiss on her waiting lips, and she sighed in complete bliss. Kady couldn’t believe that she would get to do that forever.
Archer held up his hands to get everyone’s attention, announcing that they were going to be tossing the bouquet and the garter belt, and the crowd started clapping and whistling as the men and the women separated into two different groups. Soon the two of them were side by side looking out on the sea of faces. Archer twirled Kady around a few times, then faced her away from everyone, and she threw the flowers behind her head. Athena caught them with a surprised look on her face.
“Oh, my, looks like I’m getting a new daddy,” Archer cooed, and everyone laughed.
Then Kady turned her leg so Archer could remove her garter. She giggled as his questing fingers lingered beneath her dress a bit longer than necessary, and then finally the little fabric ring was in his hand.
“Okay, so who’s the lucky guy?” he grinned, throwing it out into the crowd. A man who looked to be about sixty caught it in his hand, and grinned hopefully in Athena’s direction. She blushed furiously at his regard and began to fan her face.
He sauntered over to her. “May I join you?” he asked, offering Athena his arm.
“Um, sure,” she said as she took it.
The crowd went wild, laughing and teasing the pair of them mercilessly. Dee returned to Athena’s side with little Eros and asked, “Did you want him back yet, miss?”
“Oh, not quite,” she said with a chuckle. “I do believe someone was about to ask me to dance.”
Bowing slightly, the man at her side replied, “Your wish is my command, my lady.”