Page 48 of A Private Affair
Tobias’s words played over and over in Chaz’s mind throughout the night and the celebration for their show and into the weekend when celebrations continued, but Chaz’s heart still ached.
Tiny flakes of white confetti rained down over the crowd as ten models wearing the first wedding gowns in the Golden Bride Collection traipsed the runway for a second time to a standing ovation. Following right behind them and walking like supermodels themselves were the three women designers and Riley.
They’d grabbed her backstage and insisted she come out with them to celebrate what her vision had created. The designers wore all-white ensembles while Riley had selected a wine-colored pantsuit and gold pumps for this evening’s show. Her smile was genuine, spreading across her face until her cheeks hurt and her heart thumped wildly as her mind screamed,You did it!
Lifting an arm to wave at everyone in the audience, Riley and the designers took a bow before turning and walking back. Her father and RJ were up next. Both dressed in dark suits and walking as if they, too, owned the runway, the Gold men gave the crowd their handsome smiles and appreciative waves.
But the moment Riley stepped down into the backstage area she was pulled into a tight embrace.
“I am so damn proud of you, Riley! So very proud!”
Riley pulled back and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you so much!”
The Gold women hugged once more and then Marva eased her daughter away from the cheers, high fives and other celebratory reactions going on backstage. They stopped in front of one of the model tables all the way toward the back door and Marva took both her daughter’s hands, bringing them up to kiss.
Her mother was a beautiful woman with a glowing tawny-brown complexion and thick silver-streaked hair that fell to her shoulders in big, heavy curls. Marva wore a cream-and-gold organza gown from the RGold couture collection.
She smiled brightly at her daughter. “I knew you would find your space and shine as brightly as the star you were meant to be.” Marva’s eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“Thank you, Mom, for always believing in me. I couldn’t have done any of this without knowing that you were in my corner.”
Marva shook her head. “Yes, you could have. You were meant to do this. Your father may be the designer in this family and RJ the face that can sell anything we produce, but you, Riley, are the brains behind this company. Your analytical mind is what brought this entire collection to fruition. You saw the need, carved out a unique niche for our brand and soared with it. You, my baby, have done well.”
For the first time in days Riley felt full. Warmth spread from her chest to her cheeks and she squeezed her mother’s hands to hold on to all the emotion brewing inside. This was the moment she’d been waiting for—the validation she hadn’t realized she’d fought so hard to receive. While it wasn’t her father or even RJ for that matter, this was so much better. For some reason it meant more to have her mother—the woman who had always been Riley’s role model—say she’d done well.
“You know what would make this moment better, my darling?”
Oh no, Marva had slipped in a “my darling.” The nicknames her parents used for her had at one point seemed endearing. Now, as she knocked on the door of turning thirty, she’d learned those endearments usually came with pieces of parental advice she either didn’t want to accept or just didn’t want to hear. Tonight, Riley feared both were about to come.
“What’s that? All the champagne we’re going to drink at the after-party?”
As much as Marva loved good champagne, Riley knew that wasn’t what her mother was referring to.
“If you could celebrate two major accomplishments in your life at the same time.”
When Riley would have turned away, her mother held on to her hands. “Oh no, that’s enough running away, don’t you think?”
“I’m not running away. That’s not what I do, remember?” Riley had stood taller, squaring her shoulders as she stared back at her mother. The actions had come instinctively.
Marva could only shake her head. “My brave, cautious little girl. You’ve always fought for every inch, haven’t you?”
Riley resisted the urge to shrug but said, “I had to.”
Her mother pursed her lips and gave Riley a knowing nod. “That was your father’s fault for making you feel like you had to be even better than the boys. And my fault for not cutting Ron off earlier with that foolish behavior.”
“It’s nobody’s fault,” Riley said. Her father’s apology had come on Tuesday evening, after her mother had apparently spent the better part of that morning yelling at him for the way he’d yelled at Riley. In addition to being fashion royalty, her parents were pretty good at yelling and then making up later.
“Nonsense. If we hadn’t let you believe that all you needed to be happy in life was to succeed in your career you wouldn’t be in the predicament you’re in now.”
Riley attempted another smile. “I’m not in a predicament, Mom. I’m actually in the most wonderful moment of my life. We should get out front—I’m sure the reporters are swarming.”
That last remark completely gave away Riley’s fake bravado and she saw the moment her mother basked in the small triumph. Riley could do nothing but sigh.
“It’s okay to love him.” Marva’s voice was softer now, but Riley could still hear her over all the celebrating going on around them. “You don’t have to feel like you’re going against some ridiculous family honor.”
“I should have known better.”
“Nonsense. You should have done exactly what you did, reached for the love you deserve. If you love him, Riley, and he loves and respects you, that’s all that matters. None of this—not the accolades at work, my or your father’s validation or any amount of money—is ever going to be worth it if you don’t have someone you love to share it with.”
