Which brought us back to why we were at the airport so freaking early. After much discussion it had been me that actually suggested we set the big day right before Chase started his new teaching job and I went back to school to finish up my last semester for my nursing degree. Why not?
So here we were in August, getting ready to head out to get married. I don’t think it had completely sunk in yet, because for some reason I wasn’t nervous. Yet. I’m sure the nerves would set in soon enough, but I just had to ignore them. Chase was perfect and he was all mine.
“Here Leah, I know you probably need this.” Ally came up from behind us and shoved a to-go cup of steaming hot coffee at me with a bright smile pasted on her face. No wonder she was my maid of honor. Except she was sort of annoying me right now with how she was so bright and cheery. Seriously, something was wrong with her.
She sat down next to Caleb, who was sprawled across two seats, sound asleep. He hadn’t woken up once since we left the house, checked in our baggage, and went through security. Why couldn’t I do that? Chase would’ve gladly carried me if I had suggested it.
Along with all of Chase’s family, Ally, Remy, Mark, and Teddy were also coming along on the trip. I tried to tell them all they didn’t need to come since I knew it was kind of an expensive trip but they all insisted they wanted to be there. And really I was glad, we were sort of like a dysfunctional family and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ally’s parents couldn’t make it. I understood that it was a little short notice, but I was a little sad about them not being there. They had been a family to Caleb and I while I finished high school and Mr. James had really helped out during the first year of college.
But the group we had going, was a large one and we were all flying together. Combined with all of the kids and some of the obnoxious adults, namely Teddy, I was sure this was going to be a very interesting and long plane ride.
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We touched down in Jamaica and were welcomed at the airport by a driver with a huge cargo van that surprisingly fit all of us. The weather was balmy with a tropical feel to it. It was still warm back in Indiana but this felt different and I couldn’t wait to get out onto the beach. I had been studying the brochures and website ever since we decided when we were going for sure and had been working back and forth with a planner from the resort to hammer out all of the details for the wedding.
“I think that’s everything.” Chase gave the driver a pat on the back and handed him a tip after he slammed the back doors shut, which was loaded down with all of our luggage. The only thing bad about getting married down here was all of the stuff we had to haul down, so to say we had a lot was kind of an understatement. When Chase had paid for baggage at the airline counter, I had quickly turned my head the other way so I wouldn’t have to see the damage being put onto his credit card.
“Mommy I’m hungry, when are we gonna eat? And I want to go to the beach and build sand castles and play in the water. And Chase said that we could get boogie boards, where do we buy those from? I want a red one.” I placed a hand over Caleb’s mouth to quiet him down, he hadn’t stopped talking since the plane took off and I hadn’t been able to get a wink of sleep. Mary turned around from the bench seats in front of us to give me a knowing look. How that woman dealt with so many kids was beyond me.
“Don’t worry Caleb, we’ll be there in a bit and do everything you would like to do. How about you look out the window and try to see the ocean?” Mary leaned back to pat him on the head and the rest of the kids all tried to get a look by smashing their noses against the glass of the windows and looking at the scenic view. It was the first time I had heard any form of silence since we had left. I think I needed to borrow some of Mary’s patience.
We pulled up to the resort, which looked like something straight out of a movie. Mary and Chris had really splurged on this place. I couldn’t believe that this was where we would actually be getting married. It was kind of surreal.
The lobby was decorated with lush wicker furniture done in tropical patterns and sleek tiled flooring. There were actually no windows stopping you from the ocean and you could feel the breeze coming in while we all gathered around the check in desk.
The water was an almost see through blue and the beach had pure white sand with cabanas dotted up and down the private stretch. It was truly heaven. And we were getting married here. I wasn’t the type to get giddy, but holy shit!
After being shown to our rooms, we were finally able to get settled in for the next seven days. Luckily, Mary hadn’t insisted on being traditional and Chase and I were in our own honeymoon suite, even before the wedding.