Chapter Fourteen
After lunch, Tyler received a call from one of his hotels in Frankfurt, Germany. For half an hour, he agitatedly spoke on the phone.
Disconnecting his call, he strode towards River, "We've got to visit Frankfurt now. One of the hotels there is having serious legal issues that need my interference. Lucas's phone is switched off," he said in urgency.
"What will River do there? You fix the problem and return in a day or two, " suggested Tyler's mom, Amanda Parker.
"No, I'll take her along," he said, stubbornly.
"She'll get bored the whole day while you work. Let her stay here with me and help with Carmella's wedding. I could do with the help," said his mom, more stubbornly.
Tyler was very displeased with the idea. "Mom, please, don't be absurd. River will come with me," he stated.
"Leave the girl for two days here, son. Go and finish your work," said his dad, Ethan Parker.
"Fine," he said and stomped away to the door to go to his house and pack up. River felt bad for him. She wanted to go with him but she couldn't say anything to his parents.
She felt sad that he went away angrily without a word to her. She would miss him so much. The whole afternoon she felt a vacuum in her heart, missing Tyler already. Today was supposed to be her wedding night. She and Carmella went to her apartment to get her stuff for two days. They went to the seamstress to get their wedding dresses stitched.
They bonded like old times. She met Carmella's fiancé, Jaxon Craddock and they had dinner at a nice upscale restaurant. She and Carmella returned to Tyler's parents house to sleep. She slept in Tyler's old room amidst his stuff. She remembered it all distinctly. It was just as it used to look nine years ago. She missed him more, seeing his things. She called him on his mobile but it was switched off.
The next morning, Tyler's mom chalked out a plan to go to the wedding decorators office for a discussion. With only twenty days remaining, all the bridesmaids were coming over to discuss the dress code for the wedding. Jaxon and his groomsmen were invited to dinner.
"I'm so glad that Tyler married you, River. We had always wanted you to be our daughter-in-law. If you wouldn't have shifted away, we would have approached your parents and fixed your wedding with Tyler the conventional way," said Amanda, Tyler's mom.
"Yeah, you would have been married with five babies already, " said Carmella, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"She's just 22, how could she have five babies, so soon? Silly girl, " said her mom, smiling.
Tyler's dad joined them for breakfast. He and his younger brother Eric Parker had started their hotel business forty years back. Today it was a billion dollar venture spanning the entire globe.
With Tyler and Lucas looking after the business, Ethan Parker had completely retired but Eric still looked after the business with the boys. While Carmella had no interest in the business, Eric's daughter, Serenity who was two years older than Carmella was actively involved with the interior designing and furnishings of the Parker Suites all over the world. Lucas's youngest brother, Liam was in his third year studying hotel management while working as an intern at one of the Parker Suites in Las Vegas.
"This is too good," said Tyler's dad, stuffing a forkful of pancakes into his mouth. "Who made it?" He asked.
"River did," said Carmella.
"I thought so," he said, smiling appreciatively at River. "So how do you manage being a PA to that son of mine? He never tolerated a PA in his entire life," he asked, chuckling.
"Oh, he's bowled over by this PA, dad. He watches her through a camera fitted over her head," said Carmella, grinning like an idiot at her gaping expression. Now, this was news to River. Tyler watched her? How creepy was that! She should have guessed it before. No wonder he knew that day, that she just had coffee before going to his room. The other day when Lucas had come to meet her, Tyler must have been watching them.
Tyler's mom too chuckled,"Poor thing, he wouldn't be able to get any work done. We didn't allow River to accompany him," she said and Carmella agreed.
"Yeah, he never behaved this way with Meredith, " confessed Carmella.
"Oh, she was a bitch. I'm glad we could get rid of her," said Tyler's mom.
"Why did Tyler marry her then?" Asked River in confusion.
"Oh, that's a long story. He was forced to marry her. He himself will tell you, someday," said Amanda.
The whole day was gone amidst fun and pulling legs and lots and lots of planning. Still River felt her heart ache for a glimpse of Tyler. She didn't know how she lived without him for nine years but now she just couldn't live a day without him.
Everytime the doorbell rang, she raced to open it with the hope that Tyler was back. Tyler's mom had started repenting restraining her, seeing her sad eyes constantly going towards the door every now and then.
She called him but he was upset with her and didn't respond to her messages or picked up her calls. She helped with the wedding half heartedly, aching for him.
A week passed by, yet there was no sign of Tyler. He was angry with his parents and didn't even take their call. So, Tyler's dad called his brother Eric and asked him about Tyler's whereabouts. He informed them that he, Lucas and Tyler were in Frankfurt. Lucas and Tyler had a big fight and he saved them from killing each other and took them to the hospital for first aid.
They were both better now and would be home by evening. River sat like a statue after hearing that Tyler had been to the hospital. Why did they have to fight? She had to clear the misunderstanding between them and fast. She was giddy and ecstatic that he would be home by evening. She couldn't wait to see him.
She fidgeted around the whole day, unable to concentrate on anything. She just wanted to hug Tyler and go home with him.
