The Summer She Turned Pretty 𖤓 We'll Always Have Summer

𖤓 Chapter 1 𖤓

It was the day before the Women's Shelter dedicated their garden in honor of my mother. I had only received a last-minute message from my dad informing me that they were inviting the whole family to the event. I couldn't help but wonder why they hadn't informed me about it sooner. If I had known earlier, I would've planned the drive to Cousins accordingly.

The next day I immediately grabbed my phone and keys and hurriedly left my apartment. Nestled in the Upper West Side of New York City, the moment I stepped out of the building, the grandeur of the Lincoln Center and other iconic performing arts institutions loomed before me. This city, the Big Apple, had always held a special place in my heart. Ever since I was a child, visiting family here has been a magical experience. This was the place where dreams were made.

Securing this apartment had been a dream come true. With just a little internship at my dad's business and some convincing, I managed to afford this humble abode. It wasn't much, just a single floor with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a kitchen with a bar that offered a breathtaking view of the city lights and towering buildings. It wasn't a palace, but it was my slice of heaven in this bustling metropolis.

The long, winding road to Cousins seemed to stretch on forever as I gazed out of the window of my car. It was the same make and model as Conrad's – a sleek grey Range Rover Sport. Our parents had a habit of bestowing us gifts, ensuring we always matched. I remembered the time when Conrad was gifted a red jeep, which now belonged to Jere. I had a red Jeep too, but I had secretly sold it a year later to buy the bag I couldn't stop thinking about.

As I continued to drive, a strange sensation washed over me, making my heart race. Why was it beating so fast? I wasn't driving recklessly, and I wasn't particularly afraid of anything, nor was I afraid of going to Cousins. Perhaps it was a mix of fear and excitement at the thought of seeing my family again. Well, not my entire family – maybe just Conrad. It had been months since I last saw him. He rarely visited for special occasions, seldom answered our calls, and I had no idea how he had been faring. It was as though we were no longer twins, just friends from our childhood. The feeling was unbearable.

While on my way, I received a message from Jere, informing me that Con might not be coming. Confusion filled me—why wasn't Conrad attending such a significant event for our family, especially for our mother? It felt like he was letting her down, and I couldn't understand why.

Arriving at the venue wearing a dark blue sleeveless cocktail dress and black stilettos with a touch of gold, I noticed my new curtain bangs being tousled by the wind. No one had seen me with this new hairstyle yet, not even Conrad. 

As I walked, Jere's voice echoed in front. The three of us were supposed to be speaking together, but it seemed that Con wouldn't be there. My dad waved at me, and I made my way to the front after Jere called me.

I took the microphone, feeling a rush of emotions. "Hi, I'm Ava, Susannah's only daughter," I began, trying to find the right words. "My brother pretty much said everything. But, I personally wanna say thank you to all of you. My mother cared so much about the Women's Shelter. She used to tell me that she plants a flower in our garden to commemorate every woman coming to the shelter who went through abuse or hurt. So, I thank you for commemorating a garden for her. She loves flowers so much," I choked up, trying to hold back tears. "Uh, that's all."

As I left the center, I spotted Conrad. He looked just the same, with that half smile of his. I smiled back. Coming back here might just connect us all together, just like this place was meant to do. Tie us. Together.