Page 55 of Be My Summer

“Nice to meet you, too, Suga. You’re such a pretty girl.”

Granny brushed hair from Summer’s shoulder, pushing it behind her back. Her touch was the rehabilitation most limbs needed, mine included. Whenever the world became too much for me, it was her arms I ran into. She had a way with words and the world.

“Thank you. I’m in love with your dress,” Summer complimented.

“I got it at a second-hand shop. I’ve had it for thirty years and it’s still in pristine condition.”

“How?” Summer asked, curious.

“I keep it in a laundry bag. Zipped and I air it out about twice a year. That’s it.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea.”

“Um hm. You have to preserve the best pieces. For me, it’s quality over quantity. Always has been.”

“Granny, I have to get her to the top of that table to meet my parents,” I explained, otherwise we’d never leave her side.

Summer had fallen in love and so had Granny.

“Alright. Go ahead. Your father is beaming. His heart is full. Your mother made sure of it.”

“I bet.”

My mother left no stone unturned when it came to my father and her boys. She was the gentlest beast one would ever meet. Her cubs and her mate were the way to her heart and the quickest way to her dark side.

“Come on, baby.”

I’d never let go of Summer’s hand. I guided her toward the table, stopping near the beginning where my brothers were seated. The entire dining hall was tuned into the short film that my mother had prepared for the evening. It detailed my father’s life up until this point.

“Christian–” I paused, “Summer. Summer… Christian, the oldest.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Summer responded with a smile.

“Joshua, Summer. Summer, Joshua. The youngest.”

“Hello, Summer.”

“Hello. Nice to meet you.”

“Same. Same.”

I moved along, grabbing my father’s attention.

“Pops–”

“Yeah son,” he breathed out, turning in the wrong direction.

He quickly corrected his mistake. His eyes landed on Summer and his body stiffened. He was in utter disbelief of her beauty.

“Oh, Saul. You’ve done a fine job, son.”

He extended a hand for Summer to take. He placed his other hand on top of her hand and found those browns of her.

“Dad, this is Summer, the woman in my life.”

“I’m Rueben Rutherford, Saul’s father. And, this is– honey– honey–” he called out to my mother, attempting to get her attention.