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

𖤓 Chapter 3 𖤓

I took a seat after returning from the restroom, feeling the need to freshen up my makeup. It was a conscious decision - I wanted to maintain a certain poise. As the waiter brought a basket of bread with butter, I resisted the temptation to indulge, choosing instead to save my appetite for the main course. I couldn't help but reminisce about my childhood when I would eagerly grab a roll and smear it with butter without a second thought. But times have changed, and I strive to embody grace and elegance, even in the smallest of actions. "I didn't eat breakfast," Belly said. "I ordered a bunch of appetizers," Dad said, with his mouth partly full. "Thanks, Mr. Fisher," she said, with her mouth party full.

Dad told Belly to start calling him Adam since we are all adults already. I can't believe we're adults. I felt like a kid going to dinner with her family. Except it's not reality. If we're kids I'd be very noisy and talkative right now. I would insult Steven and Conrad or probably laugh at how Belly and Jere dig sand crabs. It's obvious I had very much to say when I was younger. But it all changed when Jere left for college, I moved to New York, and Connie moved to California. We grew apart.  

So, why don't you ever leave California?" Steven asked Conrad. 

 The question struck a chord with me. I hadn't known how to ask, but I was glad Steven did. It used to be okay for me to ask anything, no matter how mean, in front of anyone. But now that I am older and more sensitive, I have learned to stay quiet and listen.  

"I'm here, aren't I?" Conrad replied, deflecting the question.  "You got a girl out there?" Steven prodded.  "No. No girl," Conrad answered, his voice trailing off.

I gazed at Con with a half smile, my curiosity piqued. There was something about him that intrigued me; something I yearned to unravel. Meanwhile, Jere seemed to exude pure joy - unaffected by any external forces. Had something changed for him? It didn't seem so. With Belly by his side, he was still the happiest. Conrad, on the other hand, seemed to be alone. Despite his apparent displeasure, I was determined to stand by him, just like I always had.

I gazed around the room as the champagne arrived, each glass filled with bubbly anticipation. With the clink of a knife on the glass, Dad called for a toast. "I'd like to make a toast," he began, a warmth in his voice. "I want to thank everyone for coming together today to celebrate Susannah. It's a special day, and I'm glad we can share it together." With a lift of his glass, he continued, "To Suz."

Laur, always quick with a quip, rolled her eyes ever so slightly and murmured, "To Beck." We all clinked glasses and drank, our eyes flicking between each other as if in silent conversation.

Then, Jeremiah's voice cut through the air, breaking the gentle hum of conversation. "I have something to say," he announced, pausing for the room to quiet down.

As we waited, Connie, Steven, and I shared a private moment of laughter, reminiscing about Steven's eccentric professor and his surprising second life as a belly dancer on YouTube. With a smirk, Conrad draped his arm over the back of Steven's chair, the touch of camaraderie present even in this unexpected moment.

"I'll just go ahead and warn you—it's really good news," Jeremiah proclaimed, a grin spreading across his face. "I asked Belly to marry me, and she said yes. We're getting married this August!"

The room fell into a stunned silence, as if the very air had been sucked out of it. Really, Jere? A surprise wedding?

I remember how, when I was seven and Jere was probably six, we used to create pretend weddings for Jere and his crush, Amelia, who lived next door in Boston. Jere has always been a hopeless romantic, and we were convinced that he would be the first among us to get married. It seemed that when he loved someone, he believed it would last forever. However, looking back, it was clear that some of his choices were quite immature. I find myself wondering why they are getting married now. Perhaps they could have waited for a few more years.

Steven choked on the water he was drinking. Coughing, he said, "What the?" And Connie, his face was completely blank. It was all so completely surreal. The waiter came by then with the appetizers—calamari cocktail shrimp and a tower of oysters. "Are you guys ready to order your entrees?" he asked, rearranging the table so there was room for everything. Dad said, "I think we need a few more minutes," Laurel looked dazed. She opened, then closed, her mouth. Then she looked right at Belly and asked, "Are you pregnant?" Well, that could be the reason. But, I know Belly. She's a smart girl.

"I don't believe this. How many times have we discussed contraception, Isabel?" 

"Mom, I'm not pregnant!" 

Earnestly, Jere said, "Laurel, I swear to you it's nothing like that." Laurel ignored him. Laurel looked only at Belly. "Then what is happening here? Where is this coming from?" 

"We want to get married, Mom." "You're too young," I said in a flat voice. "You're both far too young." Jeremiah coughed. "Ava, we love each other, and we want to be together." "You are together," I snapped. It's like I'm turning into my old self again. Dad said, "Did you know about this?" "Calm down, Laurel. They're joking. You two were joking, right?" Jere said in a soft voice, "No, we're not joking." Laurel swallowed the rest of her champagne, emptying her glass. "You two are not getting married, period. You're both still in school, for God's sake. It's ridiculous." Clearing his throat, Dad said, "Maybe after you two graduate, we can discuss it again." "A few years after you graduate," Laurel put in. 

I looked at Conrad and his face was blank. Is he over Belly? Well, I don't expect him to speak his opinion too. He's not like that. I was the one who did that. The server was back at Dad's shoulder before Jeremiah could finish whatever it was he was going to say. He just stood there for a moment looking awkward before asking, "Do you have any questions about the menu? Or, ah, are we just doing appetizers today?" "I'm not hungry anymore," I said.

"We'll just take the check," Laurek said, tight-lipped. When Belly reached for her water glass, I saw the ring and I looked at Jere. I mouthed "What is this?" and he just looked at me. Dad paid the bill, and for once Laurel didn't argue. We all stood up. We were following behind Belly, Steven whispered to us. "Holy shit, man. This is crazy. Did you know about this?" Conrad didn't know, and neither did I. Come on Jere. He didn't even bother to tell us before he made an announcement. 

Outside, I hugged Dad and Laurel goodbye and then we got in my car and drove away. I knew we had to leave right away, Conrad didn't look well. It's as if he lost hope in the world. I didn't wanna bring it up. The night was all messed up.

"Do you wanna get your car tonight and then head back to Boston?" I asked him while making a U-Turn out of the restaurant parking. "You can just drop me off at the beach house. I'll stay there," he said. I looked at him, "You sure? I hadn't made arrangements with Mom's staff to fix the bed and stock the fridge," I told him. "You don't have to, I can do it," he said. I missed him so much. I didn't wanna leave his side for the summer again. "I packed enough for the week, and then I left clothes at the beach house. I can stay. Just if you want me to," I said. "Sure," he answered. I felt so happy. Like a kid who got out of the dentist and bought tons of candies after. He knew I was happy, he smiled too.