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“I miss him too,” she says, quiet. Then a thought makes her smile. “Although, he would’ve never let you two elope down here.” She’s right. There was no way he would have let me fly down here. There would have been a huge family celebration.
“I wish Mom’s fear of flying wasn’t so bad, too.” She really loves Evan, and she would have given me away since my father isn’t alive to do it. I’ll make it up to her when we get home. I lean back on my chase lounge and try not to think.
I hear a gentle ringing in my ear through my ear buds. I open my eyes and look at my phone. Evan is calling. I look at the time: Three forty five. I must have dozed off. Crap. “Hello?”
“I called the room. Where are you?” he asks, concern etched in his voice.
“On the beach behind the suite. I took a nap,” I mutter half apologetically.
“I’m just finishing up a few things. I’ll be back soon.” He sounds relieved.
“Okay, but I shouldn’t see you before the ceremony.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m going to change and do my make-up in Brenda’s room.” I can hear him sigh into the phone.
“Fine, just don’t be late.” Jeez, keep your shirt on.
“I won’t be late.”
“Okay. I guess I’ll see you at the altar.”
“Yup, bye.” I hang up. What’s with him? Must be nerves. I’m glad I put on sunscreen or else I’d be in pain. The Florida sun is scorching. Not a good look to be all red and blotchy at my wedding. I stand up and stretch. I do feel a bit better having napped. I walk down to the water and take a quick dip to cool off.
Brenda is still napping on her chaise. I guess I should wake her up. I don’t want her flipping out on me too. I give her a gentle nudge. “Bren,” I say. Nothing. I nudge her again; this time I get a groan. “Wake up. I don’t want to be late.” That gets her attention. She shoots up like her back is on fire.
“What time is it?” she asks in a panic.
“A little before four.”
“Do you feel any better?”
“I think so. I guess I’ll know when I get to the altar.” I smile, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. She gives me a knowing nod. “I’m going to go take a shower.”
“Okay. I’ll take your dress and makeup to my room. Meet me there when you’ve finished.” She grabs her towel and heads into my suite to get my stuff. She finds my dress, and I hand her my shoes and make-up bag.
“Alright. I see you in half an hour or so.” She runs off in the direction of her room. I opt for a quick shower and shave. I don’t want Evan to walk in on me. Once out, I throw on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt and start to head out the door. I stop right before I cross the threshold; I have this weird feeling that I’m forgetting something. Crap, the earrings! They’re my something old, borrowed and blue. My dress is the something new, so I have all of the bases covered.
I go back into the bedroom and look through my carry-on. They aren’t here. I placed them in this bag right after my mom gave them to me. Why aren’t they here? They have to be here. I start to have a panic attack. I look all over the room for them. The bathroom. The bedroom. I check all of the drawers. Still, no earrings. They were in a small red box that I placed in my carry-on. I had it with me the entire flight. Both flights. I grab my phone and call Evan. He picks up on the first ring. I don’t give him a chance to say one word.
“My earrings are gone,” I scream horrified.
“What earrings?” Evan is confused.
“My mom gave me a pair of earrings to wear today, and I placed them in my carry-on. They aren’t here. I can’t find them,” I continue to wail. “They were my grandmother’s.”
“I didn’t see any earrings,” he says.
“No, you wouldn’t have because they were in my carry-on.” Now I’m angry. “They’re gone.”
“Liv, calm down. I’m sure you misplaced them.”
“No. They were here, and now they aren’t.”
“Okay. When I come back, I’ll help you find them.”
“No! I can’t see you until the ceremony!”
