“Come in the water, Dad! It’s not cold at all!”
It was six months later, and Iris was up to her ankles in the Pacific Ocean, waiting for her father to finish putting on his sunscreen. As she waded through the water, the wet sand felt soft and squishy between her toes. Iris smiled. This place is nothing like Philadelphia, she thought.
Iris and her family had arrived in Maui early that morning. The plane ride was so long that Iris was able to read a book, watch two movies, play three games of Crazy Eights with her dad, and knit a scarf before they landed. Even though she was sleepy, Iris was ready to start her vacation right away. As soon as her suitcase was delivered to their hotel room, Iris put on her swimsuit and dragged her father to the beach.
“Dad! Hurry up!” Iris shouted. She looked over at her father and noticed he was talking to a young couple. Iris’s heart jumped.
“Jay! Malia!” Iris ran toward her cousin and his bride-to-be.
“Hello, my pretty flower girl!” Jay said, picking her up and twirling her around.
“So when can we start making decorations for your wedding?” Iris blurted out.
Malia laughed, but Jay pretended to groan. “Oh, Iris,” said the groom. “Do we have to talk wedding stuff already?”
“Believe me, it’s all she wants to talk about!” teased her father.
“Dad!” Iris blushed. “Talking wedding stuff is fun!”
“I agree!” said Malia. “I’m so happy you’re here. I can’t wait for you to meet my sisters.”
“Me too! Where are they?” asked Iris.
“Out there.” Malia pointed to the ocean.
Iris spotted two young girls on surfboards riding a cresting wave. The taller girl glided calmly through the water. But the smaller one shot through the waves, weaving in and out at a lightning pace.
“Whoa!” Iris said. “They’re really good.”
Malia caught her sisters’ attention and motioned for them to come in. When they made their way back to the beach, Malia introduced Iris to them.
“Aloha!” said the younger girl, Hana. Her white smile glistened against her tan skin.
“Welcome to Maui,” added Leilani.
“Thanks! It’s nice to meet you,” Iris replied.
“Malia told me you’ve been a flower girl before,” Hana said. “This is my first time. I’m so excited.”
“I’m excited too!” said Iris. “I want to give you something.”
Iris bent down to rummage through her beach bag. She pulled out a sparkly, pearl-beaded bracelet. “This is for you. I made it.”
Iris placed the bracelet on Hana’s wrist. Hanging from it were two charms: one was shaped like a flower, and the other was oval and had the letters FGW painted on it.
“I love it! Thank you!” said Hana. “What does FGW mean?”
“Flower Girl World. It’s a club all about flower girls. Now that you’re in a wedding, you’re an official member.”
Iris told Hana about Rosie and Starr and how much fun they had had being flower girls together.
“Flower Girl World connects every girl who loves being a flower girl! Even girls who have never been in a wedding!”
“That’s so cool!” said Hana.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” said Malia. “Hana, we have to clean up before the luau.”
“Luau?” asked Iris.
“We’re all coming back here to your hotel for a big party tonight,” said Jay. “There will be Hawaiian food and a hula dancing show.”
“You’ll meet my parents, and that’s when our families will talk about the plans for setting up the wedding,” said Malia.
“Great,” said Iris.
“And don’t forget,” Hana chimed in. “She’ll meet Tutu too.”
“Who’s Tutu?” Iris asked.
Hana and her sisters exchanged looks and giggled.
“You’ll find out tonight,” said Hana as she turned to go.