summer of us

4

Fourth of July was always my mom's favorite holiday. She always referred to it as the Christmas of July. Her and Susannah always decorated the house, they went all out. Even the dads would come up, but they didn't belong to the house like we did.

I always missed my dad over the summer, but forth of July was made all the more special for that. This summer I missed him and Phoebe even more. We hadn't really been apart the last couple of months, and this summer was turning out to be pretty hard at times. I missed my mom.

But my dad and sister were back in cousins. They had spent a few days after Belly's birthday, but that was two weeks ago they left. When they were here Phoebe and I went shopping, and I took her down to the docks because she wanted to see Conrad's boat and needed to see Constance. We also went to the farmer market, the movies, all the things mom and us used to do.

"Okay, make sure you're helping out extra today." My dad tells me and I sigh and sit down on the couch next to him.

"I always do! I helped Susannah decorate last night, you guys were all asleep." I tell him and he smiles.

"How did I get so lucky with such a perfect daughter? Not just one, but two!" He says as Phoebe runs over and jumps on him.

"I'm not sure, just happened I guess." I tell him and lean my head on his shoulder.

"How are you doing? With today?" He asks me and I shrug.

"I guess I was kind of dreading it... but it came so fast, it doesn't even feel like July." I tell him honestly and he nods.

"I'm excited! I can't wait for mom and Susannah's special cake!" Phoebe tells us from her spot on dad's lap.

"Me too, maybe we should go see if Susannah finished it?" I ask her and she jumps up.

"Do not touch that cake!" My dad tells us as we make our way to the other side of the house. When we make it to the kitchen I smile down at Phoebe and we walk up to the counter.

"It looks perfect." Phoebe tells me and I nod. Susannah and my mom always made the same strawberry cake on the fourth. We never had it any other time of the year.

"We should test it, though, huh?" I ask and she nods. I pick her up so she can reach the cake, and she just takes a small piece of icing off the side. I set her back down, and take a small piece for my self. "Cheers." I say and we tap fingers and then place them in our mouths.

"Mmmm, it's so good." She tells me and I smile and laugh with her.

"I saw that." I hear behind me, Phoebe and I whip around to find Conrad.

"If you don't tell anyone you can try some, too." Phoebe promises him and he smiles and nods at her.

"I'm in." He tells her and then meets us at the island. From his spot next to me he takes a small swipe at the frosting.

"Connie, that is for dessert. Hands off until then." Susannah tells him as she walks into the kitchen at the exact moment.

"Wait, Iris had some, too." He tells her and I gasp at him.

"I can't believe you would make that up." Phoebe tells him from his other side.

"Woah, woah, woah. They both had some." Conrad tells his mom with a laugh and Phoebe and I share a look and then share it with Susannah.

"Connie, stop blaming these poor girls. They did nothing wrong." She tells him and takes each of us on a side of her. "So, I have dresses for you guys to wear." She tells us walking us towards the stairs. I look back at Conrad and smile slightly as I see him already looking at me. He flips me off and I laugh and blow a kiss at him.