Page 1 of Love and Other Trials
ONE
The trials had begun—herfamily had forgotten her at the airport.
At least Ariel Holmes’ battered black luggage didn’t make for an uncomfortable seat. Other than a handyman fixing a broken baggage turnstile, she and her bloodhound were alone in the abandoned Charleston airport. Not a surprise, given it was one thirty in the morning. Hers had been the last flight in, arriving over an hour late.
Enjoy the peace and quiet, Ariel, because it’s about to get freaky. And not in a hip-hop music kind of way.
Then she remembered the trials had already started five months ago, when her oldest half sister had blackmailed her into being her wedding planner. She laughed harshly under her breath in the quiet airport. Right. How could she have forgotten that littletwo-by-four in the facedisplay of family love?
Ariel gave her bloodhound a good rubdown when he leaned his tired caramel head against her side and straightened his service vest. “Well, Sherlock, we’ve missed the last of the cabs. And with that storm kicking up, I’m not sure they’ll be coming back anytime soon. I wouldn’t say we’re screwed, but it’s no luck of the Irish either.”
She unzipped her suitcase enough to pull out the silver flask she’d brought, filled to the brim with her favorite plus-one for family weddings: Jack Daniel’s. But her phone pinged before she could take a healthy sip. She rummaged through her purse for it, relieved to see an incoming text from the one person in her family who would be outraged on her behalf—Jeffrey, her half brother.
Best Brother Ever
The Three Tornadoes FORGOT you? $*#&# You’d think with Tiffany threatening you to make her wedding the best Charleston has ever seen—on a piddly budget no less—she’d have arrived in a magical winged horse carriage to pick you up.
Are you drunk? This is Tif-fa-ny we’re talking about, and don’t get me started on the gang up from Terry and Tricia. Aren’t you lucky you don’t share any blood with them?
Best Brother Ever
I say a little prayer of gratitude every morning. You though… Their brilliant idea to spend a week at the beach before the wedding is going to kill you if you’re not careful. It’s Saturday. Barely. The wedding is next Saturday. You do the math. Girl, you’d better have brought your flask.
I brought two. Regular and garter. Sending you the Three Tornadoes’ texts now so you can stomp around for me in indignation.
Best Brother Ever
The only thing that looks better on me is my honey. Have I told you how much I love Antonio? I think he might be my one and only. Which is why he’s NOT coming to this wedding.
Good plan. He might run for the hills. Keep sending up good thoughts for me.
Best Brother Ever
Always. I wish I could say I’d love to come earlier, but Friday is plenty early. My hair is already standing on end. Also, you should have rented a car besides the golf cart.
I was assured Captain Hotpants could haul anything I need.
Best Brother Ever
Snicker. With those prime muscles, I’ll bet. Ariel, I say this with love. You’d better check him out because I have a feeling about him for you…
And we always trust your feelings. LOL. All right, texts incoming.
Best Brother Ever
I’m starting my Zen breathing. Also—DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR CUTTING YOUR HAIR.
Her hand went to her newly shorn hair before she sighed heavily. “Right. No apologizing. It’s not like I had a choice.”
Not that her sisters would care. Exhibit A. Their texts. She opened them and forwarded them to Jeffrey. Moral support rocked. In her phone, their numbers were saved under their nicknames, the Three Tornadoes, and their birth order number, with Tiffany being the oldest, and Terry being older than Tricia by two minutes. But Jeffrey knew all about that.
Tornado #1
Are you finally here??? I needed you like yesterday. There’s oodles of things to do. You remember our deal, right? You’d better make my wedding the best one Charleston has ever seen. Grandma’s house won’t be yours if it’s just average.
Tornado #2
Wasn’t Jeffrey picking you up?
