Excluded From My Sister’s Wedding, I Booked a Vacation. When the Wedding Fell Apart…

Living the High Life

The resort was something out of a fantasy. The lobby has enormous palm trees blooming within a massive open-air architecture that allowed in the ocean wind.

And the kind of service where you were greeted with a cocktail before you checked in. My room was unreal.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony and the most gorgeous king-sized bed I’d ever seen.

I threw down my things, strolled out onto the balcony, and simply took it all in.

Then, just to make matters worse, I took a picture of the scenery and shared it with this caption:

“When one door closes another one opens. Preferably to a beachside suite with unlimited margaritas.”

I knew it would find its way back to my family and, honestly, I hoped it did.

Because for once, they could understand what it was like to be left out. And I was only getting started.

The first full day of my trip was simply fantastic.

I began the morning with room service, which included fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, and coffee that was so wonderful it ruined every cup I’d ever tasted.

Then I spent the entire day doing precisely what I wanted. No responsibilities, there’s no family turmoil.

Just me, the ocean, and a time focused only on my own enjoyment.

The Fallout Begins

By the afternoon, I was lounging on a sunbed by the infinity pool, martini in hand, watching the waves roll in.

Every so often I’d check at my phone, not to check in with my family, but look at the growing amount of responses to my vacation blogs.

The comments were gold.

“Bro, where are you even?” Cousin Jake asked.

“Okay, now you’re just showing off,” Aunt Lisa said.

“Dude, invite me next time,” an old college acquaintance says.

Finally, I received a notification that made me smirk. Emily saw your article.

Oh, now she was paying attention.

I could just imagine her reaction, sitting in the bridal room, sipping inexpensive champagne, scrolling through Instagram only to see me having my best life while she is anxious about her wedding.

Good. I leaned back, took another sip of my beverage, and thought:

“Enjoy your special day, sis. I hope it’s all you wanted.”

However, when the sun began to set, something unusual occurred. My phone started to explode.

Initially, I ignored it. I figured it was just more people reacting to my photos.

But then I noticed these names: Mom, Emily, Cousin Jake, even Uncle Rob. Call after call, texts are coming in non-stop.

The Wedding Gift

I raised an eyebrow and eventually opened my phone. The first text I saw was from my mother.

“Call me, it’s an emergency.”

Is there an emergency attending the wedding? I sighed, debating whether I really cared.

Jake then sent another message.

“Dude, you are not going to believe what just happened.” Jake’s reaction said.

Oh, now I was curious.

I sat up and scrolled through the texts, and I quickly understood that the universe had given me the nicest wedding gift I could have ever hoped for.

Because as it turned out, Emily’s beautiful wedding had gone up in flames.

I scanned through a torrent of messages. My sneer grew with each one.

“Bro, you dodged a bullet,” Jake replied.

“Call me right now, this is a family crisis,” Mother said.

“Please, where are you? I need you,” Emily said.

I stretched out in my lounge chair. I took another drink of my cocktail and continued scrolling.

Then I discovered a message that made me laugh out loud. According to Cousin Melissa, the groom simply walked out.

I almost choked on my drink. Did the groom leave?

Oh, this was better than I could have expected. Curiosity got the best of me, so I eventually texted Jake back.

“What do you mean he left?” My response asked.

“Dude, during the reception, full meltdown,” Jake replied.

“He and Emily had some huge fight and then he just walked out. Straight up left the venue.”

Absolute Pandemonium

Jake messaged again.

“Oh, and then Uncle Rob and dad got into a screaming match over who was ruining the family’s reputation. Grandma cried. The venue cut the bar early. It’s a mess.”

I leaned back, smirking. My sister had refused to let me attend the wedding, believing that she didn’t need me.

And now suddenly I was the first person they all ran towards.

I could already hear my mother’s voice in my brain.

“You need to fix this. Emily is devastated.”

Yes, no thanks.

I opened the following message. It came from Emily.

“Answer your phone, please. I need you,” Emily says.

Oh, suddenly I was significant. I took a deep breath and typed back a single response.

“Sorry, I’m a little busy enjoying my overreaction. Hope the wedding was fun.” Me.

And then I blocked her phone number. I blocked my mother.

I also blocked Jake just in case he got drawn into their guilt trip operation.

Then I turned my phone to do not disturb mode, waved over the bartender, and ordered another drink.

Because while my family spiraled, I was in paradise. And for once I wasn’t bothered.