12. Summer Sunday
12
SUMMER SUNDAY
I t had been a week since Brandon last saw Summer. They exchanged a few texts, but nothing significant—just friendly check-ins. Brandon worried she would never take him up on his dinner invitation, but he also knew he needed to be patient.
He sighed as he slid into the pew at church. His parents hadn’t arrived yet, but he hoped to see Summer before the sermon started. A glance at her family pew showed it was empty. The smooth and worn wood reflected the lights from above. He checked his seat. Sure enough, someone had polished everything since last Sunday.
Brandon liked how the old wood looked bright and new because of a bit of care. If he hadn’t gone into business, he would have done something with restoration construction. That’s why he bought Austin’s wreck of a house when he married Jackie. It felt good to save something.
“Good morning, Brandon.” Mr. Blakely arrived at the end of the pew with his hand held out.
Brandon stood and shook it. “Morning.”
“You by yourself today?” he asked.
Brandon ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sure my parents will be here any minute. ”
“If not, you’re welcome to join us.” Mr. Blakely smiled and backed away.
He took two steps across the aisle and sat beside his wife. Summer stood at the entrance talking to the pastor. She wore her fake smile and gripped both hands behind her back. Brandon decided to intervene.
Summer met his gaze as he approached, and he wanted to think she looked happy to see him. Her smile moved closer to genuine, and her eyes twinkled brighter.
“Hey, Summer. I was hoping to catch you before church,” he said, holding out his hand. Summer followed his lead and slid her fingers next to his. “Can I steal her for a minute?”
“Of course.” The pastor beamed at them and greeted a cluster of older women as they entered the vestibule.
“Thank you,” Summer said with a squeeze of his hand. “Did you really need to see me?”
Brandon winked. “I always need to see you.”
“Flirt,” Summer laughed and pulled her hand free.
As soon as it was gone, Brandon missed its warmth. He pointed to a corner in the back. “We’d better make it look good. Let’s stand over there for a minute, and you can pretend to be enraptured by my charm.”
She laughed again, and it made his heart pound even harder. He hadn’t heard that sound enough over the years. As they walked, he rested his hand on the small of her back. Would he ever have more than her friendship? Could he be happy if this was all they ever had?
“How was your week?” he asked, although it felt lame.
“It was good. I’m sorry I didn’t call about dinner.”
“That’s okay.” Brandon swallowed and tried to convince himself it was fine. He needed to prove to her he could be a friend. “We can go any time. Did you have any fun adventures this week?”
“Nothing new. Austin did ask me to help think of stops on the Halloween Scavenger Hunt. I didn’t realize he did those. Mom told me about the Christmas one.” Summer brushed a strand of hair behind her ear .
“Yeah, he started it a couple of years ago and is working toward having one for every season or major holiday.”
“Why does he start so early? It’s only July.”
“He’s a perfectionist. Plus, he has to get a bunch of stuff printed and prizes ordered. It can take a while.” Brandon was dying from all the meaningless talk. With an intake of air, he pushed forward with his request: “Are you coming back for the potluck tonight?”
Summer studied him for a moment. “I wasn’t planning on it. Why?”
“I wondered if we could sit together.” There, he’d put it out there.
“All these people aren’t my thing right now,” she said. “But, if you run interference, I might consider it.”
Brandon’s smile grew. “Anything for you, Summer. I’ll hide you in the corner so no one knows you’re here.”
She pointed around him. “We’d better take our seats. Church is starting.”
“Okay, but what do you say?” he asked while they made their way to their family pews. “Join me tonight? I can pick you up, or we can meet here.”
“Pick me up at six-thirty.”
Brandon worked on his house after church to pass the time while waiting for the potluck. After a year and a half of renovations, he was almost finished. He had sanded and refinished the hardwood floors, completely replaced the kitchen and bathrooms, painted every wall, and now he was installing new baseboards.
The house looked great, and he needed to decide whether to keep or sell it. It didn’t feel like a home to him yet, but he liked it. Maybe if he purchased enough furniture to fill the rooms, put up a few artwork pieces, or invited people over, it would feel more like his place.
He tried not to wonder what Summer would think of the house. It was tucked in a small valley on the side of Mt. Rosie. This meant it was surrounded by trees, close to all the things they used to love to do, and there was even a loop of the Sugar Creek River that passed by a corner of the property. The yard was large enough to put a fire pit and a kid’s playground if he ever needed such a thing, but it wasn’t so big he’d dread mowing it. There were plenty of places to build a treehouse, too.
He glanced at his watch. It was only five o’clock, but that was late enough to start getting ready. Brandon put the homemade mac and cheese casserole dish into the oven while showering. The food was ready by the time he decided on his off-white chinos and a plum-colored short-sleeved polo. He put it in a warming carry bag and decided it was close enough to time to leave. Summer wouldn’t care if he was a little early.
Brandon arrived and sat in her drive, wondering why he was so nervous. This wasn’t a date, not a real one anyway, but showing up at the church social with Summer felt like a step forward. He only wished he knew how she felt about it.
“Are you going to sit there all evening or come to the door?” Summer called to him from an upstairs bedroom window .
He got out and stared up at her. “I’m early. Do you want me to come to the door?”
She folded her arms on the frame and rested her head on them. “Yeah. Just like you used to.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Brandon acted like he was tipping an imaginary hat. It was a joke from high school and her cowboy romance phase. She laughed like he hoped she would and disappeared while he walked to the door and knocked.
Mrs. Blakely answered. “Hello, Brandon. It’s good to see you. Summer will be down…oh, here she comes.”
Summer looked beautiful. Her smile was genuine, her hair had been curled, and she wore a soft blue blouse and knee-length denim skirt. He half expected cowboy boots, but she wore sandals instead. Brandon reached out and touched a curl.
“This is a new look. I like it,” he said.
“Thank you.” Summer asked her mom, “Shall I save a seat for you and Dad?”
“No, thank you. You guys find some people your age, and we’ll hang out with the older crowd. Have fun.” Then she shooed them off the porch.
Brandon opened Summer’s door for her, making this feel more like a date than before. She glanced at him, and he worried he would somehow mess it up.
Summer faced him when he took his place behind the wheel. “What did you make? It smells yummy in here.”
“Oh, I’ve perfected mom’s homemade mac and cheese over the last year.”
“Really? I can’t wait to try it. Your mom is a great cook. I don’t know how you could have improved on her recipe.”
“I use three kinds of cheese instead of one, and then I added bacon.”
Summer placed her hand on her forehead and dramatically leaned into her seat. “Stop, I might swoon. ”
Brandon laughed with her. It was good, and he relaxed. This was Summer; she knew him better than anyone, and if she was happy, he could be satisfied.
“I’m glad you agreed to come with me tonight,” he said.
“I’ll let you know if I’m glad when you take me home later.” Her eyes widened as if she’d just realized how that sounded.
“Summer, no worries. Just tell me if the crowd and socializing get to be too much. We can leave whenever you want. No expectations.”
Summer laughed. “You are amazing. Even my group agrees.”
“Oh, have you been again?”
“Yes. Is it weird that I feel a connection to these people in such a short time?”
Brandon shrugged. “I don’t think so. You share a set of unique experiences that not everyone can understand.”
Summer talked about the group and working with Austin as he finished the drive to the church and found a parking spot. He enjoyed every minute because she didn’t hold back her thoughts.
When they reached the church, he carried the mac and cheese with one hand and kept his other on Summer’s lower back as they entered the social hall. It was already crowded, and he was determined to run as much interference as possible, so Summer didn’t want to end the night too soon.
They left his dish on one of the long tables lined up against one wall and then joined Austin, Darcy, and their spouses at one of the round tables.
“Uncle Brandon,” Sara bounced in her seat. “You brought my new friend, Summer. She’s pretty like my Darcy.”
“She sure is,” Brandon answered. “I think she’s prettier than your Darcy, but only because Darcy is my sister.”
“Um,” Sara hummed, looking between the two women. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head. Finally, she said, “They’re both pretty, equally. That’s my new word this week. It means the same amount.”
Evan laughed, “Good save, cutie pie. ”
Sara shrugged. Brandon offered Summer the seat against the wall, then sat between her and Jackie. His sister-in-law rolled her eyes at him.
“Are you trying to keep her all to yourself?” she asked.
“No, but I want my nephew.” With his fingers, he made a gimme motion, and Jackie passed little Garrett over. “Thank you. Now I can share him with Summer, and all the busybodies can’t get to her as easily. Who knew babies were such great shields?”
Summer laughed along with Jackie. And even better, she scooted closer to Brandon to touch the baby’s soft cheeks.
“I think he’s grown since the Fourth of July,” Summer said.
“The boy eats like a pro. He’s three months old and gaining weight every day. He’s a little chubby guy,” Jackie cooed at her son.
“How much was he at birth?” Summer asked.
“Eight pounds, four ounces. He’s growing so fast. Last night, he almost turned over on his own. It’s so fun watching him learn things.” Jackie practically glowed, and Austin’s smile couldn’t have been prouder.
Brandon was truly happy for them, and at the moment, he didn’t feel as jealous as he had in the past. Summer sat close, and maybe, just maybe, they were finally facing the same direction for the future.
Summer loved watching Brandon with his nephew. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen them together, but a strong, handsome man holding a baby couldn’t be ignored. Brandon even teased Sara as if he were competing for uncle of the year while shielding Summer from every well-wishing member of the congregation.
Several approached their table to exchange pleasantries and ask how she was doing. Brandon would always hold baby Garrett up and distract them if Sara’s bouncing in her seat didn’t do it first. Between the two of them, Summer only had to deal with the attention for a few moments before it was gone, and it was getting easier every time.
Jackie brought them plates of food since she didn’t have Garrett, and as they visited, Summer decided she liked the woman. She wasn’t who Summer had expected Austin to fall for. She always thought he’d end up with a mountain girl who didn’t shave her legs and snubbed her nose at anything that wasn’t all-natural, but Jackie was classy, funny, intelligent, and she enjoyed a variety of video games.
They were laughing at Brandon after Garrett spit up on him when a loud bang startled her. She must have jumped because Brandon passed Garrett to his mother, immediately putting an arm around her shoulders.
“It’s okay. Someone knocked over a chair. Breathe, Summer,” Brandon spoke soft and low near her ear.
Until he told her to breathe, she hadn’t realized she was holding her breath. Her gaze darted around the room, but everyone continued as if nothing had happened, but her heart raced and she instinctively looked for the source of danger.
“Summer, look at me.” Once she did, he continued, “What’s that thing you do to help with anxiety?”
“Even breathing, list three things I see, hear, feel,” she said automatically.
“Okay, let’s do that.” He proceeded to breath with her. In, hold, out. After several cycles, he said, “Okay, three things you see.”
“There’s a smudge on the wall, your eyes, and baby Garrett.”
“Good. Three things you hear,” he continued with a smile, never taking his eyes off her face.
“Someone laughing, a chair scraping on the floor, the murmur of conversation.”
Brandon nodded. “And now, three things you feel.”
Summer took a deep breath. “Your arm around my shoulder. The hard surface of my chair. And—” She reached out to touch his beard. It was a new sensation under her fingers. “It’s not as rough as I expected. ”
His eyes twinkled, and his lips curved into a broader smile that helped her calm down even more. This man was beyond description. He hadn’t dismissed her irrational reaction but focused on helping her adjust. Thanks to him, she could remember that she was safe. No one was being attacked. There was no threat.
A quick look around the table showed that even the people sitting at their table hadn’t caught on to how frightened she’d been. There wouldn’t be any awkward questions to answer.
Jackie winked at her.
Well, not questions about her anxiety. Summer smiled. Some questions were easier than others to deal with.
“Thank you, Brandon,” she whispered.
“Any time.” He shifted in his seat so he wasn’t as close as before.
Summer missed his warmth but was also grateful he wasn’t pushing her to be more than friends. When her heart rate returned to normal, she noticed three Sugar Mamas headed for the table. They weren’t decked out in sequins or wearing their tiaras, but they looked like they were in business mode. Summer sucked in a breath and hoped for the best.
Doreen had her signature knitting bag over her shoulder. “It’s so good to hear laughter in this corner.”
Teenie smiled at her kids. “Yes, it is. Brandon, I’m glad you decided to join us.” She winked at Summer. “And we’re so glad you’re home, dear.”
“Thank you,” Summer said as she blushed. “It’s good to be home.”
“Now.” Ruth clapped her hands. “We need volunteers for the Sugar Mamas' booth at the summer carnival in three weeks. I see three couples here that can fill six hours. What do you say?”
Summer glanced at Brandon. They weren’t a couple—not yet, anyway. She knew their friendship had been restored, and after attending the group therapy session, she knew she could give life another chance. That meant giving Brandon and the love he continued to offer her with no strings attached an opportunity as well .
He didn’t correct Ruth but studied Summer. “What do you think? Feel like sitting at a booth for two hours at the carnival? We could walk around afterward.”
The last thing she wanted to do was sit at a booth at the fair and talk to people all day.
“But, it’s the next step in rejoining the living,” Griff said. “You’ve dabbled with being social at church. You can do this.”
I used to like people , she thought. Will this help you move on, Griff ?
“Possibly. I think it’s part of the whole process.”
Okay, Griff .
She squared her shoulders and said, “I’m up for it. What works for you, Brandon?”
Both men in her life smiled at her as if they were incredibly proud, but it was Brandon she focused on.
“What do you have Friday night?” Brandon asked the group of Sugar Mamas.
Teenie answered, “How about five to seven? Your dad and I can handle any emergencies at the cabins that night, and you guys can enjoy the carnival after your shift.”
“Does that work for you, Summer?” he asked her.
“Sounds like a plan.”
Doreen wrote their names on a clipboard before turning to the next couple. “Darcy, Evan, what about you?”
“We have Sara,” Darcy said.
Evan added, “Not Friday because we’ve already started football practice. There’s a lot we need to work out before school starts.”
“So, you need a Saturday and a babysitter?” Ruth asked.
Jackie waved her hand to get the Sugar Mama’s attention. “If we take back-to-back slots, we could swap kids. Austin and I will watch Sara, and then you can watch Garrett for us.”
“Oo, that sounds good. Then we can explore the fair together when we’re done,” Darcy said.
“I have two slots available in the morning. You’d both be done by lunchtime,” Doreen informed them .
“We’ll take the early one,” Jackie said. “That way, I can feed Garrett before we walk around together, and he can get a nap in.”
“Thank you.” Teenie beamed at all of them. “I knew you wouldn’t let us down.”
Summer watched the women wander to another table with a smile. They made small-town living look easy.