XOXO, Summer

Prologue

FAITH SEASON

TWELVE SUMMERS AGO . . .

“Shh,” I whisper, pressing my finger to my lips. I’m met with an array of giggles—my favorite sound in the world. My four girls.

The quilt topples over my forehead until I push up with my hands to see their beaming smiles and eyes bright from the glow of the battery-operated lantern in the middle of our little circle. “You’ll wake your dad.”

Charlie’s wide awake and will want the full rundown when I return to bed, but the girls like to feel like they’re getting away with something, even if it is innocent fun.

Autumn’s red hair trails over her shoulders as she anchors the blanket on the bedpost again to support the fort.

My littlest’s laughter bursts as if it’s too much to contain when Spring scores a match in Go Fish.

She’s eight, so it probably is. She’s a lightning strike of a personality, commanding attention even when she’s not demanding it from her sisters.

Winter clamps her hand over Spring’s mouth quicker than she gives up the card. “Be quiet, Spring.”

“It’s okay, Winter,” I whisper. “We can still have fun. We just need to keep the volume lowered so Daddy can sleep. He has an early meeting in the morning.”

Spring sticks her tongue out at her older sister and then giggles, quieter this time.

“Do you have a peacock, Mom?” Summer asks.

I glance from my cards to my oldest. My sweet Summer with eyes that match the blue skies to her golden sunshine hair.

Reaching over, I caress her cheek and laugh.

“Go fish.” My kindhearted child smiles, bringing one to my face as well.

She’s been my buddy, my sweet girl, and a great helper over the years.

She gives up too much of her time, so I hope one day she can find the joy in living life for herself.

I’ve lived my whole life trying to walk a straight line that was never there, trying to blend in since my mom always stood out in this small town. Once I realized I didn’t need to live up to other people’s expectations, I found my own happiness and never looked back.

Looking at my daughter, I’m not sure when my Summer girl started growing up on me, but here she is, all of fourteen and carrying the world on her shoulders.

“Hey, you,” I whisper, contorting my face.

It takes a nudge of an elbow to finally win a laugh out of her.

I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close.

Teenagers are tough to amuse, so I count this as a victory. “I love you.”

“Love you, Mom.”

I whisper, “I want you to always remember that you’re strong in mind and resilient, but that doesn’t mean you have to walk life’s path alone.”

“Who will I walk with?” So sweet and innocent.

“That’s in the hands of destiny. You’ll know when you meet them.” I turn to meet her eyes. “They’ll be the one who is there when you need someone most.”

When I release her, she smiles, and my heart clenches. Time is a fleeting traitor. They’re all growing so fast, faster than the blink of an eye. But I see the young woman she’s trying so hard to become that these moments of frivolous fun feel more precious.

I take my necklace off, the little gold chain with the tiny butterfly, and hold it out. “I want you to have this.”

Her eyes widen as she stares at the small pendant. “But that’s your favorite necklace.”

“That’s why I want you to have it, Summer.

” She angles her back to me and sweeps her hair to the side.

I clasp it around her neck, and when she turns back, the butterfly lying against her skin, I know I made the right decision.

It wasn’t planned, but seeing the genuine smile it brings to her face and the way her eyes turn brighter under a layer of tears makes me glad I did. “Looks beautiful on you.”

She throws her arms around me, burying her forehead into the crook of my neck and causing our fort to topple over. “Thank you, Mama.”

Mama. It fills my heart to hear her say it once more—like she did when she was younger. With the blankets fallen over us, I hug her back. “Take care of it just like you take care of your sisters, okay? Promise?”

“I promise.”

The unexpected moment is broken by another round of giggles from the other girls, who are calling dibs on everything from my measuring spoons to my pearls.

They might not realize it yet, but I’d give them anything they wanted. Family is everything to me, and these four girls are my heart and soul.