All Magnolia wants is to spend a quiet summer, just like any other year. But things turn around and this time, the same guy who broke her heart decides to come back as well.
When she thinks that summer is going so well, it turns sour for her taste...
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It was a bit noisy downstairs. I looked at the time and it's around nine in the morning. Wasn't it too early to prepare for brunch? Oh yeah, it's almost late. I should get up.
I took a quick bath and wore a nice sundress. I put a little touch of make up on my face and when I was ready, I picked up my phone and headed downstairs.
To my surprise, the "few" visitors mom talked about was quite a handful. I blinked twice and was about to head back to my room when aunt Corrine saw me.
"Magnolia!" she exclaimed. Everyone in the room turned to look at me and all I could do was give them an awkward smile. Well, leave it to mom to keep the visitors at a minimum.
"Aunt Corrine, how are you?" I asked, walking the last steps of the staircase.
She kissed me on both cheeks. "Aren't you getting more and more gorgeous?"
"Thank you. I should check out mom in the kitchen," I said.
"Oh, she's out in the back with Natalie," she told me.
My brows creased. "Natalie Wilson?"
I didn't wait for her confirmation. I immediately went to the backyard.
There, with my mom, was Natalie Wilson. If she's here then... I closed my eyes and hoped not. For all I knew he's studying in Maine.
"Magnolia!" Mom saw me, waving me over.
Natalie smiled a little.
I walked over to them. "I thought this is a small brunch?" I asked mom, making sure that Natalie wouldn't hear it.
"This is small. Don't worry, your aunts and uncles won't be long. They're just helping out. I told them we'd have a separate get together once you've settled down," she explained.
I should've accepted Carizza's offer. I think it's better to be a third wheel than to be here, imagining things and thinking that maybe he'd come back as well. For the last three summers, I managed to avoid Natalie's brother. But now that she's here helping out, I think I was having a hard time to breathe.
"Magnolia? Magnolia, sweetie, breathe." I looked at mom and imitated what she's doing.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
"I'm okay," I said.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I didn't know this would upset you."
I shook my head. "No, mom. I'm okay, I promise. I just had a bad recollection of something.
Natalie came in closer to us. "I should go," she said.
"No, it's okay," I said with a little smile. "Maybe I'm just tired. I arrived late last night and I mustn't have gotten enough sleep."
Mom put a hand on my shoulder before she went back to the grill.
