Chapter 3
Charlotte Current Day
5 days until the wedding.
Song: Dangerous Woman by Ariana Grande
For the first time all day that pit of anxiety that was embedded in my core has dissolved, and I feel at peace. I adjust the blanket I am snuggled up in, and take another sip of my wine. I love the chaos of a summer storm in Lana'i. I stare out at the ocean from the back porch watching the colors of the storm and dusk collide, the rain pelting the sand, the wind wiping the foliage, and enjoying the scent of fresh rain, a spicy musk, and honeysuckle. It is these moments that truly represent the mystique of paradise. The chaos of a summer storm has always been therapeutic for me.
Today did not go as planned, which worked out in my favor. All my careful planning, strategic scheduling, and anxiety went out the window when I landed in Maui. Words that bring most people uneasy, were music to my ears. "There is a storm coming." And just like that, the tension in my shoulders released and I was finally able to exhale completely.
I had flown commercial, because my parents had offered the Apperton Jet for Callie and her wedding party. This made it very easy for me to make sure everything Callie needed, was neatly packed into the plane a week before departure: The wedding party gowns and suits, shoes, accessories, luggage for their honeymoon. I had it all stowed away in the sleeping quarters, so I could ensure no one would forget anything that had the potential to cause panic at the wedding. Callie and Mason's immediate family, as well as the bridal party and groomsmen were all going to fly privately over to Maui with Jeffrey and Mia. This included Cohen, Jacey and their one-year-old daughter Magnolia. In an effort to minimize awkwardness, I decided to fly before everyone, so that I could make sure that everything was in order once they arrived. Callie was not happy, but also couldn't complain. The only other person who wasn't flying with the family was Callie's older brother Austin, who was giving her away at the wedding.
Janice Briston lost her husband in a car accident while she was pregnant with the twins. She married Greg Ramos when the twins were 8 years old, and he was an amazing father, but Callie wanted to be given away by a Briston, and Austin was so happy to step in for her on her wedding day. As a twin, Callie's relationship with Cohen was always really close. They thought the same, did the same things, finished each other's sentence, and always had an intuition on what the other was feeling. Austin was 6 years older than the twins, and he always favored Callie. She had a special place in his heart, and he was always available to her as we grew up. He showed up to every pageant, awards assembly, volleyball game, and dance recital. Callie idolized Austin as a child, and I still have never heard her speak higher of anyone in her life.
Cohen and Austin did not get along at all. Which is why I didn't have much of a relationship with Austin. When Cohen was around, Austin wasn't. On a few occasions I had the opportunity to experience the Austin Callie knew. But on many more occasions, I was aware of the Austin that Cohen knew.
Austin was flying in a few hours before me, because he had a business deal and wasn't flying out of Los Angeles. The plan was that Austin would meet me at the Airport, he would help me check in with the Florist in Maui before going with me by Helicopter to the Island of Lana'i to confirm room reservations, and get the resort ready to welcome in the Briston/St. James wedding group later that evening.
It was pouring down rain when my plane landed in Maui. As I walked to retrieve my luggage, Austin met me. He was a plethora of information. There was a storm coming, which would not delay the Apperton Jet, but is was going to cause the passengers to have to stay in Maui for the night. Austin had already booked everyone's rooms in Maui. While he waited for my flight, Austin checked in with the florist, and everything was ready to go for the wedding on Saturday. The flowers would be fresh and he checked the quality to make sure they would not disappoint the bride. Austin had also contacted the resort to make sure our helicopter was ready to go as soon as my flight landed so that we would not be grounded in Maui, but could make it to Lana'i before the storm hit.
