Naomi sank into the cushions of the rattan chair. ‘I had a dress and a photographer booked to take photos.’
‘Do you want to get married, or do you want to play dress-up?’
Samantha winced. Amelia could be cutting at times.
‘Don’t do that,’ Naomi said.
‘Do what?’
‘Take every opportunity to treat me like a petulant child.’
Amelia shrugged. ‘Well …’
‘Well, nothing! I have every right to be upset. Everything is falling apart.’
‘Nothingis falling apart!’ Amelia shot back. ‘Try thinking of others for a change. Your future in-laws are stuck at Miami International Airport, which we can all agree is a portal to hell.’
‘They’ve booked a hotel room,’ Naomi muttered. ‘They’ll be fine.’
Amelia looked to Samantha for help. But she walked over to Naomi, sat on her chair’s armrest and rubbed her back. ‘We can still rehearse, if that’s what you want to do. Everyone who matters is already here. Hugo and Jasmine can fill in for anyone who hasn’t made it yet.’
Naomi thanked her. ‘No … She’s right. It’s just … I don’t know …’
Amelia changed her approach. ‘Darling, they missed a flight. These things happen.’
‘What if it’s by choice?’ Naomi asked. ‘What if they’ve changed their minds?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
Samantha looked from Naomi to Amelia, certain she was missing something crucial. Why would Anthony’s parents change their minds about attending their only son’s wedding? No doubt for the same reasons Ted had bailed? Samantha was dying for answers but Naomi’s harried expression told her now wasn’t the time to ask the tough questions. Besides, mother and daughter were locked in a staring match.
A moment later, a faint knock on the door gave Samantha the opportunity to slip away. ‘I’ll get it.’
Naomi had recruited her for emotional support, but she was not strong enough to come between Amelia and her daughter.
Anthony was at the door, unshaven and dishevelled, with Roman standing behind him.
‘What did I miss?’ Anthony asked in a hushed voice.
‘The rehearsal is cancelled. Naomi is not OK with it.’
‘Well, I am. I didn’t see the point in it, anyway.’
‘Don’t tell her that.’
‘OK.’
Samantha stepped aside to let Anthony in. Roman didn’t move and gestured for her to come out. She silently shut the door behind her.
‘Anthony is freaking out,’ he said. ‘I know it doesn’t look like it, but he is.’
‘It definitely looks like it,’ Samantha said. ‘Something is going on.’
If Anthony’s parents didn’t arrive by daybreak, she would charter a plane and pick them up herself. She could not live in a world where Naomi’s destination wedding extravaganza was derailed. They would never know a day’s peace until the end of time. It didn’t matter that only days ago Samantha had plotted to derail the wedding herself. That was then, this was now. Naomi, Goddess of Thunder, would wreak havoc on this little island if her dreams of marrying her one true love tomorrow at sunset did not come to pass.
Anthony and Naomi joined them on the porch. Naomi appeared calmer, settled. ‘No use sitting around here,’ Anthony said. ‘We never got the chance to go to Englishman’s Bay. Wanna go?’
Samantha gave up on her dream of getting any sleep. ‘Absolutely.’