Summer and May

Chapter Fifty-Three: May

"So? How's it going?" Summer probes through my speaker. I hover my finger over the volume button, prepared for her to make more demands at a not-so-friendly volume. In the case that one of Jeremy's parents come out here, I didn't want to disturb them.

I nodded, although I knew she couldn't see me. Summer knew me better than anyone else, and yet I struggled to talk to her about Jeremy. It still didn't feel right, and I wasn't sure it ever really would. 

"It's better than I expected. They're all really nice."

Summer's level of annoyance was audible. "Stop being coy, and tell me what's really going on. You don't have to spare details with me. Not anymore, May."

Her words, albeit impatient, brought a smile to my lips. She could read my mind sometimes, and I was thankful for it. "My first impression with his parents was... less than ideal. I worry they don't think I'm right for him. I mean, I don't even know if I am."

"What could you possibly mean?" Luke shouted something at her in the background, and she yelled at him in return. Then, all her focus was on me again. "You are right for him. Even I can admit that. Why can't you?"

I shrugged, hugging the phone to my ear. I peered around me nervously, hoping Jeremy or his parents didn't decide to join me on their back patio this early in the morning. "I... I don't know. I've never felt like this before. He's saying things I've never heard before. He's doing things for me that I've never experienced before..."

A muffled laughter filtered through my speaker.

"What?"

Summer made me wait, leaving me hanging by a thread. Now I knew how she felt when she was begging me for information.

"You love him, you idiot."

Her words drifted gently between us, landing on my shoulders so lightly.

"Care for some company?" I hear, just as the patio door slides open. I glance upwards, forcing a smile at Jeremy's mom. She held two mugs of coffee, looking at me expectantly.

I nod, shifting my position. "Sum, I gotta go. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Sure, bitch. Love you."

Directing my attention to Louise, I smile wider. This time it was genuine, rather than a guilty smile, hoping that she couldn't hear any of my conversation.

"I'd love that."

She sits gracefully in the seat adjacent to mine, placing a mug of black coffee down gently. She even brought out a little cup of creamer and some sugar packets. I smile at her appreciatively, taking a tiny sip.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting you," she pauses, sipping from her mug. "I'm surprised to find someone that rises even earlier than I do."

I peer out over the sun peeking at us just over the trees. I guess it was early, although that made no difference. I hardly slept anyways.

"I've been cursed with it my whole life," I joke lightly. "I was just talking to my best friend, Summer."

Louise arches a brow, her each and every gesture relaxed. "So she's cursed, too?"

I shrug. "She's just preparing to leave for college. I usually wake up hours before her."

"I have a best friend, too. Sadie. We've been together since we were girls," Louise began, catching my full attention. "We didn't share the same path after high school, either."

"Are you two still friends?"

She blinked, adjusting the thin robe she had draped over a t-shirt. "Of course we are, give or take a few bumps in the road." I lifted the corner of my lip, which urged her to continue. "We fell for the same guy."

I couldn't believe my ears.

Louise chuckled at herself before she continued, as if she was reliving the past in her mind. "I had met him first, but we were just friends. I stepped away, and gave them a chance. After a few months, they didn't work out."

"So what happened?"

She shrugged one shoulder. "I told him how I felt, and then I went off to college. Lived my own life. Until I saw him at a party one day, and sparks just started flying. Sadie was already in a serious relationship with someone else, we had talked through our past... and everything was fine."

My cheeks felt rosy. "Well, what happened with the guy?"

"I married him."

Her simple answer brought a laughter from my throat. I nearly choked on my coffee. My mind flashed over a thousand pictures from the summer, and all that I'd experienced. All that Summer Hathaway and I had been through. Looking at Louise now, with a knowing look in her eyes, I knew that all of it had been worth it.

"I owe you an apology," she begins, seamlessly transitioning from one topic to a completely different one. I cocked my head. "You left our first meeting thinking that Jeremy's father and I didn't approve of you. Is that right?"

I had an opportunity here to be perfectly up-front, or to roll over and deny myself like I typically would. My failed attempt to not tense my neck, gulp, and tap my fingers gave me away, but I needed to tell her anyways. Finally, I nodded once.

Louise, seemingly lecturing herself in her head, huffed as she glanced off towards the trees. "And for that, I'm sorry, May. You were never in question for Sullivan and me. It was my son's seemingly impulsive decision that took us off guard. I apologize for giving off any impression that you weren't good enough for Jeremiah." She paused, gauging my response. "If anything, we were thoroughly impressed with your drive, your ambition, and the influence you have over our son. I haven't seen him this happy, maybe ever."

Birds chirped lightly around us, harmonizing with the crickets fading into sleep. "I appreciate that, Louise. Thank you." I tapped my fingers against the rim of my mug, unsatisfied with my answer. "I have to say, I'm surprised that Jeremy's decision was sudden to you. From the moment I met him, he only spoke of fishing and how much he loved it."

She relaxed into her seat, a smile forming widely across her cheeks. "Men don't just share their dreams with anybody. Only the ones they inherently trust. Clearly, he trusted you from the start, with something he was worried would disappoint his parents."

I let her comment sink in, trying not to blush. "Did it? Disappoint you?"

Louise Dawson broadcasted her every emotion on her face, in the quietest way. I saw right through them. There almost wasn't a need for words. So far, her words matched her every expression.

"Shocked us, yes. But we weren't disappointed in the least. We had always hoped for Jeremy to go to college so he could have a better life, but we were always aware of his relationship with his grandfather. It's been evident his entire life that he loves the fishing house." She shifted again, leaning in closer to me, clasping her hand on mine. "Maybe we pushed him too hard with his baseball scholarship. Maybe it was selfish of us to want him to have it all... But it's quite clear that he does have it all."

I squeeze her hand before lifting my mug. "Thank you," was all I could manage to say. My heart felt so full, it could burst. It nearly did when I saw Jeremy rush through the patio doors, sleepy hair and a relaxed look on his face.