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Cody squeezed Summer’s hand to get her attention. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Cody didn’t buy it. “What did your mother say in the last message?”
“I don’t know. I’ve stopped listening to them.” Her mother had become desperate to hear what was going on in Carmel, when she’d be home, and what was taking so long for Summer to forgive what her mother had done.
The apologies had dried up.
Summer was expected to move on as she’d always done in the past, no matter how much her mother had hurt her. But this time, she didn’t know if she could forgive what her mother had done. She certainly knew she couldn’t ever let it go completely, even if she did come to terms with it somehow.
Cody held the chair out for her as everyone took a seat at the long table. “You need to tell her how you feel and what you want.”
“She doesn’t care about how I feel or what I want.”
Miranda eyed her. “Your mother again?”
Summer waved it off. “It’s nothing. We’re here to celebrate Natalie.” She plopped a gift bag in front of Natalie, who sat across from Cody.
Brooke sat Alex next to Summer and took the seat on the other side of him. She handed a wrapped package to Nate. It got passed down to Natalie.
Cody put his hand on Summer’s thigh and leaned in. “We need to start talking about what happens next.”
“Later.” Summer notched her chin up toward Natalie. “Open it. It’s from Cody and me.”
Natalie’s bright smile dimmed a bit at that, but then she plucked out the tissue paper and pulled out the small velvet box. Her eyes shot up to Cody, then back down at the box. She opened it slowly, her eyes going wide at the surprise inside. “Thank you, Cody.” It took her a second to shift her gaze from the object of her true affection to Summer. “Thank you.”
“I hope you like it. It’s your school colors.” She and Cody had picked out the ring together. Two round white topazes flanked the larger oval garnet in the center.
Nate leaned over and looked at it. “That’s a very special gift.”
Summer hoped Natalie liked it. “Try it on. See if it fits.”
“If not, I can have the jeweler size it,” Cody informed her.
Natalie slipped it on and stared at it. “It’s perfect.”
Miranda leaned into Nate, to get a better look. “Honey, it goes on your other hand.”
Summer didn’t want to say anything about Natalie putting it on her left hand like an engagement ring.
Natalie slipped it off and switched it to her other hand, where the ring actually fit a bit better. She held up her hand to Cody, who grinned at her.
“Now the one from us,” Alex exclaimed, wiggling in his seat.
Natalie unwrapped the small box and opened the lid. Her smile grew even bigger.
“We coordinated,” Brooke explained.
Natalie held up the oval garnet stud earrings. “A matched set.”
“They go with your dress, too,” Haley pointed out.
“Thank you, Alex and Brooke. I love them.” Natalie looked expectantly at her parents.
“You’ll get your gift when we get home.”
Natalie’s gaze dropped and a knowing smile came to her lips. She’d been talking about getting a new car since Summer arrived. She barely suppressed her excitement all through dinner and dessert.
