After a quiet weekend at home, which helped ground all four of us and stop the whirlwind of events unfolding around us, I jetted off to LA the following Wednesday. Petey wanted to meet, and he sent his private jet for me. It was going to be a quick up-and-back again. I'd return to Houston on Thursday morning.

Jess dropped me at the airport and wished me luck. I hurried aboard the plane, anxious to get the trip over and return to the girls. The big day for Kat and all of us was a whisper away. But as soon as I stepped past the threshold of the cabin, I...