Chapter 2

Eve walked over to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Kayla, please don't be mad at Mason."

"If it makes you feel better, I can ask my aunt to give up her seat."

She paused, lowering her voice.

"It’s just... my aunt has never been to a tropical island before. She's been excited about this for months."

Mason immediately patted her hand comfortingly.

"This has nothing to do with you, Eve. I made the travel arrangements."

He turned to me, his tone sharp with impatience.

"Eve’s family is already here at the airport."

"I couldn't just send them home."

One of Eve's cousins whispered sneeringly to another.

"Starting a fight over something so petty? The bride’s family is so cheap."

Mason clearly heard it.

But he only said, "They didn't mean anything by it."

"Today is our big day, Kayla. Don't be so sensitive."

I stared straight into his eyes.

"My dad just had spinal surgery, Mason. My mom gets severe motion sickness."

"And you expect them to sit on a cramped Greyhound bus for thirty hours to get to my wedding?"

Mason pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Stop making it sound like a tragedy."

"I sent them the exact itinerary. They just take the bus, transfer to the shuttle, and hop on the ferry. It's very straightforward."

He said it so casually.

But when I pictured my dad's stiff, unbending spine and my mom’s face turning pale on a bumpy road, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by a fist.

My phone rang again.

It was my mom via FaceTime.

The background was incredibly loud, filled with the chaotic noise of a busy bus terminal.

She spoke softly, trying to sound upbeat.

"Kayla, we’re boarding now."

"The bus is totally fine. Don't worry about us."

A sob caught in my throat.

"Mom, get off the bus right now."

"I'm buying you guys plane tickets."

My mom panicked.

"No, no, don't do that! Mason set everything up perfectly."

In the background, I heard my dad trying to suppress another harsh cough.

"Don't tell the kid," he muttered.

"It’s her wedding. Don't ruin it."

My tears finally spilled over.

"Dad, is your back hurting?"

My dad forced a chuckle. "Not at all, sweetie. I feel great. Totally fine."

But a second later, an impatient voice yelled through the phone.

"Hey, old man! Move it or lose it! You're blocking the aisle!"

My mom quickly apologized to the stranger.

"So sorry, so sorry. His back is bad, he moves a bit slow."

My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white.

I could picture the scene perfectly.

My dad, clutching a seat for support, unable to straighten his back.

My mom, shielding their cheap suitcases, apologizing profusely to impatient strangers.

Before today, they had been as excited as little kids.

Two weeks ago, I went back to my parents' house to grab my birth certificate for the marriage license.

My dad was standing in front of the mirror, trying on a cheap Macy's suit.

He had saved up for a month to buy it, saying he didn't want to embarrass me on my big day.

The sleeves were a bit too long, and the shoulders didn't fit right.

But he still smiled warmly and asked me:

"Sweetie, if I wear this to the island, will I make you look bad?"

My mom had spent days packing homemade peanut brittle, organic berry jams, and roasted pecans into their suitcases.

"We're meeting his parents for the first time. We can't show up empty-handed."

"Mason treats you well, so we have to show proper manners."

At the time, I laughed at how seriously they were taking it.

I had told them, "Mason has arranged everything. Just relax and follow my lead."

My mom's eyes had lit up with pride.

The next day, she told everyone in the neighborhood:

"My daughter is having an island wedding!"

But now...

They were expected to ride a grueling Greyhound bus.

On the phone, my mom was still trying to soothe me.

"Kayla, don't be angry."

"Mason is a busy man. Coordinating travel for so many people is hard work."

"We're just glad we can save you guys some money by taking the bus."

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.

"Mom, get off the bus."

"I'm not getting married."