I remember when I first fell in love, it was the most wonderful feeling on Earth. I also remember what it felt like to not have that feeling reciprocated and finally getting dumped. It's like falling down from cloud nine or being hit by a meteor because you feel pain. Then again, pain is a good thing because it reminds you that you're still alive and you still have a life to live. I thought about this for a moment but my reverie was shattered.
"Ava!" screamed Mary-Anne at the top of her lungs. "I can't find my pink Aigner clutch bag, what did you do with it?" she yelled while rummaging through Ava's wardrobe in her room.
"I did not take it!" I shout in return before yelling "leave my things alone!" "Why do you need it anyway?" I ask her.
"I need to pack it in for aunt Cecelia's wedding." "Aren't we checking into the Four Seasons hotel tomorrow?" I clarify with a surprise note in my voice.
"It never hurts to be prepared much earlier," said Mary-Anne rather indignantly.
"I think its hanging behind Mom's door, you left it there last night after you returned home from your hot date with Jedidiah," I tease her.
"One day Avalina Hartwell you're going to fall so madly in love, you ain't gonna know if you sitting or standing most of the time", prophesied Mary-Anne with all the conviction of a holy saint.
To which Ava merely laughed, and said "but right now it's night, while that may be so sis, you're walking down the aisle first not me."
The sisters shared a room with one half painted in hot pink and the other half in lime green, within the cosy Hartwell Home tucked between a terrace house on the right and a bungalow on the left on St.Aubrey's Street.
"Hey, Good Morning sexay lady," said Jedidiah softly in Mary-Anne's ear. Mary-Anne was all giggly that morning as Ava did her best to make sure her eyeballs did not get permanently stuck up, as she willed herself not to roll her eyes for the third time. Jedidiah was five years older than Mary-Anne who was twenty-six, sitting together snuggly at the corner of the dining table.
Ava decided to remind them they were not alone, "so sis I was wondering what time are we leaving?" "Around two o'clock, after lunch I assume." "Mom wants to check in before it gets dark out," replied Mary-Anne.
"So Ava, whose your wedding date for the next three days?" Ava who had just been drinking soya milk upon hearing Jed's question, started to cough as the milk went down the wrong way.
"No one told me we had to bring a date," she said looking pointedly at her sister for reference. Mary-Anne gave her the doe-eye stare and said "it isn't compulsory and we thought you knew."
"Oh Mary-Anne, how could you?"
"I mean, its not a big deal and technically speaking you already have a date, since you're the bridesmaid you will probably be spending some time with the groomsmen." "You can easily get a date, just take your pick," said Mary-Anne.
"Great!" remarked Ava sarcastically. "I have options, oh dear God I pray they be decent," she lamented.
"All shall be well my darling, you need not fret" said Mrs Calistar Hartwell who sauntered into the dining room upon overhearing the conversation. She walked up to Ava her youngest daughter and kissed her on the forehead. "Did anyone save some waffles for your father?" she asked, to which Ava replied her mother with a "yes" and pointed to the plate that was stacked with waffles under the food cover. "I for one am looking forward to these next three days, your father has been overworked and could use the break," remarked Mrs. Hartwell. She gingerly served herself some waffles, settled herself behind the table and began to spread chocolate and peanut butter on her waffles.
The Hartwell sisters were as different as night and day both physically and in personality, Mary-Anne the eldest looked like their father short, having a fair complexion, with straight brown hair and brown eyes. Whereas, her sister Ava was tall and athletic like their mother with an olive complexion, black curly hair and dark green eyes. It was eight o' clock in the morning and the entire household was having breakfast together. "Never thought Cecelia and Mark would tie the knot this soon it's unbelievable," commented Mr. Brandon Hartwell while cutting through his waffles coated in butter and honey.
Sharp at two o' clock the Hartwells got into their black Toyota Alphard, with Jedidiah driving in front and Mary-Anne on the passenger side. "Can you key in Four Seasons into Waze babe?" asked Jedidiah, "here you go," she said fixing her Iphone on the side so he could see it and drive at the same time. The drive was peaceful as they listened to The Eight Club. "We're here", announced Mary-Anne after three hours as Four Seasons Hotel came into full view. "So I'm going to be with Jed as he goes to park the car, you can go ahead and check into your rooms till then," said Mary-Anne. "Our system has already registered that we have one double room for Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell, one single for Jedidiah Cohen and one twin room for Mary-Anne and Ava Hartwell". "Here are your key cards, the lift to your rooms is just straight down and on your right," said the receptionist, a lady in red and white dress from behind the counter desk.
"It's so spacious," remarked Mary-Anne as soon as she and Ava came through the doorway of their room. "It smells like lemongrass and mint in here," commented Ava as she examined the room which had a large bathroom and two twin beds that leaned against the wall just across from each other. "What do you want to do first?" asked Ava. "I am going to check out the pool area," said Mary-Anne. "Ok, I will be at the drink bar just near the banquet hall," said Ava. Ava found the drink bar with little difficulty and ordered an iced coconut lime cocktail. "That will be eight dollars," said the bartender. "I left my purse in my room, let me go up and take it", she said smiling sheepishly. Ava got up and turned around so fast she nearly bumped right into the guy who was standing close to her on the right. "Excuse me" she mumbled and moved further left to avoid colliding into him.