Pushing the Envelope: A Prequel from "The Barter System" World Read Free Page A

hall, her friend peered around the corner of her bedroom. 
    “Who else is here?” she barked.
    Confused, Riya pointed to Archer’s study.  “Dad’s home working.  Do you need him?”
    She knew that her best friend was about to experience something awful and she wanted more than anything to stop it, to make it not happen. 
    “Riya.  Get your dad.  The police are here.”
    Laughing, Riya said, “You sure they’re not looking for you , Red?  Did you fuck with those guys at the gym again?  Flash the retirement home?”
    Marta, their long-time live-in housekeeper, came from the kitchen, passing to address the officers as Tawny walked to Riya. 
    Taking her shoulders, she took a deep breath.  “Archer!”  The good-looking man appeared in the doorway of his home office but Tawny never took her eyes off her friend’s face.  “The police are here.  You need to come.” 
    A frown formed between Riya’s eyes.  “What is it?”
    “I don’t know yet.” 
    Taking her hand, they returned to the foyer where Marta waited with the uniformed men. 
    The officer wasted no time once Archer introduced himself.  “Sir, your wife’s car was hit at the intersection of Federal Highway and Hillsboro Boulevard.  She’s at North Broward Medical Center in critical condition.” 
    The other officer added, “Another car ran a red light.”
    Riya began to slip to the floor but Tawny held her upright.  Shaking fingers dug into her bare forearm but she wouldn’t notice the bleeding crescent marks made by terror until much later. 
    Archer stared at the man.  He never blinked.  Not a muscle in his body moved. 
    “You’re lying,” he finally growled.
    “No, sir.  I’m sorry to bring you such news.  You need to get to the hospital immediately.  We’ll escort you.”
    “Drive me and my girls.”
    “No, Archer,” Tawny told him.  His face whipped around to stare at her.  “I have to get Mom.”
    The way his face contorted in agony would remain etched in memory for the rest of her life. 
    “Of course.  Oh my god, of course.  You’ll be careful.”
    Nodding, she turned to Riya and whispered, “I’ll be right behind you.  Stay with your dad and I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
    “Mom…?”
    “Breathe.  It’s going to be alright.  Just breathe.”  Tawny knew Dalia wasn’t going to be alright but she needed Riya to keep it together while she went for Maggie.
    The three days that followed were the worst she’d ever experienced.  When Edward Ratliff died, it was sudden and he looked almost peaceful as they ran to his body lying on the cobblestone driveway.
    Dalia’s body was all but destroyed. 
    It was impossible to connect the woman who had always been so beautiful to the broken patient on stark white sheets. 
    Less than an hour after arriving at the hospital, the neurosurgeon on call told them that there was no activity in her brain. 
    Riya and Maggie collapsed against each other.  Archer and Tawny held them up. 
    There was no question that Dalia would not want to be kept on life support.  She’d made her wishes clear.
    When the initial shock wore off around midnight, Maggie tried to call family but couldn’t hold her phone steady enough to dial.  Tawny took it and spoke to Dalia’s relatives in New York and Columbia.  She talked to a couple of Maggie’s as well.
    For three days, she kept Riya beside her. 
    Allowed her to hold her fingers hard enough to bruise.  Wiped her face of tears she didn’t know slipped over her cheeks.  Forced her to eat and drink.  Pushed her to sleep when she couldn’t keep her eyes open. 
    Visitors came to pay their respects, to cry, and to hug those closest to Dalia throughout her lifetime. 
    On the third day, Archer told the doctor that it was time and one by one, they kissed her goodbye and whispered at her ear about how much she was loved.
    Then they let Dalia O’Connell go. 
    
    The days following the death of Riya’s mother were