"Are you really sure that you want to do this Lois?"

"I just asked you to drop me at the airport Kimmy, please don't start in on him again."

"Lo, I have tried to hold my tongue, but I can't anymore."

"Big sister, when have you ever held your tongue?"

"Well never, but that's not the point."

Lois rolled her eyes as she wished the older couple slowly hopping out of the taxi at the loading area in front of them would move faster. She squirmed in her seat. She wanted this uncomfortable torture to end.

Kimmy continued, "You guys are getting married at the end of the week, and I just think the guy you marry should prioritize you more."

Lois reached for the dial to bring the soft song up to drown Kimmy's lecture out.

Kimmy tapped the button to click the radio off.

"Don't try to dodge this Lo. I am being serious."

Lois folded her arms across her tiny frame. Her lips set into a pout as she muttered while she turned her head and looked out of her window, "Trust me, it will be okay. He's not as bad as everyone thinks. He loves me. And it's in his own way. I've seen a side of him that he doesn't share with everyone. Underneath it all, he is a good guy."

"What, when he is actually off of his phone or not busy doing something else work related?"

Lois turned to her sister and pleaded, "Kimmy, please support my decision."

"I will try."

"Thanks."

"But, when I see you next time passing you your white pumps for the ceremony I can easily switch them to tennis shoes. That's all I am saying."

"Oh, look at that," Lois eyed the now free loading spot by the curb and continued in a hurried fashion, "it's time for me to get out."

Kimmy pulled into the spot and huffed. Soon after, Lois' seat belt release click and zip sound filled the now thick silence in the SUV.

Lois hopped out and fought to retrieve her heavy carry-on from the backseat.

"Lo, do you want help?"

"Of course Kimmy, but I think that grumpy traffic attendant heading our way who's yelling at everyone to stay in their cars would not appreciate you getting out. Besides I just got it."

Kimmy giggled, "Are you sure you have it because it looks like it has you."

Lois wobbled a bit as she giggled back into the car window, "Zip it, you. And, despite the lecture, thank you for caring so much and for dropping me off at this crazy early hour this morning."

"You are welcome for both. Bye baby sister. Remember I have those tennis shoes on standby. Love you."

Lois playfully rolled her eyes, shook her head, and giggled out, "Bye and love you more."

Lois whirled around, grabbed her suitcase handle, and pranced to the entrance of the airport.

Once inside, Lois scanned the counter area for her fiancé. No sign of Greg. Her phone buzzed from inside her purse. A smile lit her face as she saw the caller-ID.

"Hi Greg, I just walked in. Where are you?"

"I got held up at work this morning."

"What? What do you mean? You went in this morning."

"I never left last night."

Lois' eyes narrowed and her stomach panged.

Please don't prove Kimmy right.

Her thought had come into her mind before she had been able to force it back.

"Well are you on your way now?"

"Princess, can't we push breakfast this morning. I have a really important report I have to get in."

"Greg, the breakfast that you are talking about was yesterday. I am calling you from the airport. I am about to board our flight."

"Crap, that's today?"

"Yeah, that's today. Tell me you are kidding me right now. You forgot?"

His voice squeaked, "Maybe just a little bit."

Lois' hands balled into a fist and she now was seeing red. She was always supportive of his goal for reaching partner, but this was too much.

"This is not some small oops or the one you did last month of forgetting my birthday because you took a client and his wife out to close a deal. This is our wedding. I need for you to drop what you are doing and prioritize me for once."

Usually she would have kept that inside. But here she was, about to board a plane one week early that Greg promised was going to be for uninterrupted couple time prior to the wedding. Now, here she was about to go alone to one of the most romantic tropical spots, Hawaii.

"Princess, there's no need to be unreasonable. I'll just hop on the next available flight."

"You better, but what am I supposed to do until you get there? We have all of these couple things planned."

"Just enjoy it for the both of us and relax."

"Fine."

"I am really sorry," her heart warmed as he apologized. Greg then continued, "About this. I am talking to my fiancé, but I will be right in to the meeting."

"Wait, was that apology for me or for your boss Chuck?"

He obviously had not heard her as he now rushed off the phone, "Bye Princess."

As she was going to say goodbye, she realized that he had not bothered to wait for her goodbye and had hung up already.

****

Lois' again found herself struggling with her suitcase as she headed down the ramp to board her flight. Her heart ached, as she saw the smiling older couple from earlier cuddled up like cooing lovebirds walking in front of her. At this point she thought Greg and her would be doing the cooing and making new memories like that couple. At the very least, she hoped that he would be helping her with her luggage.

Instead she was left alone fending for herself, which had become the norm now, and haunted by Kimmy's words. Lois could not shake them. She did not feel like she was Greg's priority. And for the past two hours, while she waited for her flight, it was all that she had been thinking about.

Since they had graduated college, it had been true. She had not been his main focus. In all fairness, she too had been focused on her own career as a linguistics specialist and translator. However years ago, she and Greg had made a plan that all of that would change when they got engaged. For Lois it had, but she now was coming to terms that for Greg, it had not. So what did that mean?

Her thoughts fell away as a rich deep voice coated the air, "Miss, you seem to be struggling with your luggage. Let me help."

Before Lois could answer, he had already lifted the bag into the air to assist her.

"Thanks, you are my hero..." her words trailed off at the sight of him.

PICK UP WEDDING NIGHTS FOR THE CONCLUSION OF THE STORY.