Page 68 of The Seashell of ’Ohana

The woman kissed the air beside Kate’s face, and then mine. “Oh, how lovely they are,” she said to Lee. Then her eyes went to my sister’s ring. “Beautiful. Well, congratulations. I see Ian by the stage. I have a few questions for him. See you at the auction. Just don’t bet against me.” She winked at Lee and strutted away.

I glanced in the direction she was headed, but didn’t see Ian. I wondered if he’d brought a date. Jackie, perhaps? Or maybe someone new.

Stop thinking about who or how many women he’s dating. It’s none of your business.

Farther inside, more guests stopped us to say hello. Lee introduced them to Kate and me, but they mostly spoke to Lee. A waiter holding a silver tray with champagne flutes came up to us. Kate took two and handed one to Lee, and I took one.

I savored the cool liquid as I people watched, trying not to appear awkward or fidget, all the while wondering what was I doing here. I drank more sips to have something to do with my hands and listened to the instrumental music.

Stella and Isaac waved at me from a distance, then got busy talking to a group of people I assumed were Isaac’s friends. Stella seemed comfortable, laughing at whatever they were saying. She fit right in, unlike me.

Other waiters came by in the classic catering uniform—black pants and white button-up shirts, holding silver trays with appetizers: some offered seafood, crackers and cheese, and finger sandwiches.

“Lee, did you bring two beautiful dates? Couldn’t decide?” A nice-looking man shook Lee’s hand. He was as tall as Lee with broad shoulders, tanned skin, and beautiful brown eyes. Lee chuckled. He introduced Kate to Kyle as his fiancée and me as his soon-to-be sister-in-law.

“So nice to meet you, Abby.” Kyle kissed the back of my hand. “If you need company, come find me. I’ll take good care of you.” He winked.

“Not going to happen,” Lee said playfully. “Ian.”

“Oh, I see. Well, I don’t see a ring on her finger.” He let out a chuckle. “Find me later, Abby, or I’ll find you. I hate to have to run, but I’m supposed to be helping.”

I thought it was strange that Lee had mentioned Ian’s name. I hadn’t come as Ian’s date.

“We should find our seats,” Lee said and guided us outside to the backyard.

What a view. Palm trees, hibiscus, and plumerias lined the path to a large water fountain that shot out to a grand decorative pool. I passed by a giant white tent and a stage.

“Abby. Kate. Lee.” A perky voice called from behind, followed by tapping heels.

I whirled to see Jessica Conner in her lowcut black ballgown with rhinestones beaded on the top. Her dress was straight and tight, even to the bottom, so that she waddled like an excited penguin toward us.

Jessica seemed taller, for some reason. I peered down at her shoes. Oh, her three-inch heels … as if she needed the extra height.

Be nice, Abby.

“I didn’t know you three were coming.” Breathless, Jessica spoke like we were good friends. She glanced between the three of us. Her eyes grew rounder when my sister wiggled her fingers in front of her.

I bet Kate couldn’t wait to show off her ring. Many of the single women in Kauai had been after Lee at one point or another, including Jessica.

“When did that happen?” Jessica sounded surprised.

Kate coiled her arm around Lee’s. “Yesterday.”

“Congratulations.” She sounded genuine. “That’s a gorgeous ring. Well, the news will spread. So get ready. Anyway, I need to get back to my date.”

My sister and I exchanged an eyeroll, then continued ahead with Lee. A gentleman blocked us, holding a tablet. Behind him, white chairs lined the neatly cut lawn, row after row. He escorted us to the middle of the first row, even though I had expected to be sitting toward the back empty seats.

Each chair held a pamphlet and something that looked like a fan. Oh, of course, a bidding stick.

I settled in my seat and smiled at the person to the right of me. I wondered who would be sitting in the empty seat between us. Ian? As I waited, I flipped through the pamphlet. The donation items were listed and the person or the company who had donated them.

One of the items was a helicopter ride off the island. A day at the spa caught my interest. Someone had donated a year membership to a fitness center, someone else a trip for two to Paris.

Kate leaned closer, pointing to the letters on the fifth page. “Look. Here are our names and the photo of the painting we donated.”

Kind of boring compared to the other donated items, but it was a large piece, and I’d spent many hours on it.

Kate turned halfway on her chair and waved. “There’s Stella and Isaac. Stella looks so pretty.”