Page 11 of A Girl Named Summer

  Borgen’s, an elegant department store, was the first place they planned to hit, and both girls grew silent as they hurried toward their target. Regina found just the outfit, shorts that flattered her long shapely legs and a fitted T-shirt.

  “You look good,” Summer said, and meant every word. Regina did look spectacular.

  It took another hour of hunting and digging before Summer found her dream. It was a white sundress that flattered her tan. She felt quite sophisticated as she stood in front of the dressing-room mirror, one hand holding the thick mass of hair atop her head.

  “What do you think?” she asked her friend. “Will I do?”

  “We’re going to knock ’em dead.”

  As soon as Summer returned home, she changed into her new dress and modeled “the new Summer” in front of an admiring grandfather and her parents. “I’ve completed my transformation,” she informed her family at the dinner table. “The old Summer is gone.”

  “What’s all this about change?” her grandfather asked.

  “I’ve decided you were right, Grandpa. I did lack confidence, so I decided to change myself.”

  “You still haven’t gotten the point,” her grandfather said with a shake of his head.

  “We’ll talk about it on the way to bingo. Better get moving.”

  Grandpa showed his disappointment during the walk to the church. “You’ve completely sidestepped the issue. Or perhaps you just don’t understand what I’ve been trying to say to you, child. I want you to be happy with you, not flit around trying to change this and that. You’re special just as you are, and until you believe that, no matter what changes you make, you’ll always feel unhappy. Celebrate who you are. Realize there is only one Summer Matthews. Only then can you share your specialness with anyone else.”

  Summer mulled over her grandfather’s words. “It’s hard,” she whispered.

  “You mean it’s much easier to envy someone else?”

  “I guess so.”

  “The grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Well, this Ann person. Are you sure you want to be like her?”

  “Sort of,” Summer hedged.

  “Have you ever considered that maybe she isn’t all that happy? Never hope to change places with someone else. They have just as many problems—maybe different problems, but problems all the same. How many times have I said that you should count your blessings?”

  “Lots,” Summer answered.

  While she continued to listen to her grandfather’s quiet encouragement, a part of her was preoccupied with the thought that David might be helping Mr. Clancy again. Her fingers crossed in hopefulness when she and grandfather walked into the church hall. He wasn’t there, and her disappointment was almost overwhelming. By the time intermission began, she had accepted the fact that David wasn’t going to show up.

  She almost jumped when she turned to refill the coffeemaker and saw David leaning against the doorframe watching her. She couldn’t stop the smile of greeting, but it quickly faded when she saw the hesitancy in his eyes.

  “Hello, Summer. Sorry I’m late.”

  “Don’t worry. Lots of people don’t come until the second half. That’s when the big bingo games are played. Your grandfather…?”

  “He didn’t come tonight.” He seemed embarrassed by that admission. “But I thought I’d drop by and see if you needed any help.”

  “You really want to help?” She was singing inside. She knew she sounded incredulous, but couldn’t seem to help it.

  “Sure,” he answered. “I’ll do that for you,” he added, taking the coffeemaker from her. “Where’s Mr. Clancy?”

  “He went to get some more paper cups. It’s a full house tonight. There’s a five-thousand-dollar cash prize on the last bingo if anyone wins before seventy numbers have been called. Of course, the odds are impossible, but the lure brings everybody out.”

  “Ann suggested that you and Gregg might want to double with us Saturday night. What do you say?”

  Summer didn’t know how to reply, and luckily Mr. Clancy appeared just at that moment. “David, good to see you,” he said enthusiastically. “You’re just in time. Help me serve this coffee before the big jackpot starts.”

  The next twenty minutes were busy. David stopped Summer in the middle of filling the popcorn vat with a tap on her shoulder. “What about doubling?”

  “I can’t,” she answered. “I promised to help Regina, so Gregg is picking me up early,” she lied. Was he really that dense? she asked herself. Didn’t he know how miserable she would be watching him with Ann? Why, she would rather stay home than be subjected to that scene! All hopes that David cared for her vanished. He was obviously under Ann’s spell. It was hopeless.

  “Will you save a dance for me Saturday?” he asked.

  “Of course,” she answered. “I’m sure Gregg won’t mind.” Now, why had she added that? she asked herself. She saw the hesitancy creep into David’s eyes and was surprised by it.

  “Fine,” was all that he said, but that one word was terribly flat.

  The big jackpot started, and silence, except for the numbers being called, reigned. It was the last game, and as soon as the seventy numbers were called, she would find her grandfather and head home.

  Summer waited with her arms folded, leaning against the windowpane, for Mrs. Wilkins’s ritualistic, “See you next week, ladies and gentlemen.” Instead, she heard her grandfather’s jubilant bellow, “Bingo!”

  It took a full minute for Summer to register the fact that her grandfather had just won a huge amount of money, and then she was jumping up and down and clapping. Everyone was thrilled. David hugged her and so did Mr. Clancy.

  “That Irish rascal deserves to win,” Mr. Clancy announced.

  When Summer finally reached her beaming grandfather, she hugged him and laughed with delight. “What are you going to do with all that money, Grandpa?” she asked when Mrs. Wilkins handed him the check.

  He didn’t answer her until they were on their way home. “I’ve grand plans, my girl, grand plans. I’m giving some of the money to your father, just for the sheer pleasure of the deed. And I’m going to take a trip to Ireland with the rest.”

  “Ireland?”

  “It’s not a fact, yet. Your mother and father might give me a hard time, but I long for Dublin’s green, Summer. Ah, child, the grass of Ireland is like no other. The leprechaun’s surely had a hand in farming the land.”

  “I hope Mom and Dad are still awake. They’ll be so excited for you, but I bet Daddy won’t take any of the money.”

  All the lights were on in the house when Grandpa and Summer hurried toward the door. Michael’s sobs could be heard from the porch. “Mick must be coming down with something,” her grandfather said with a frown.

  Summer’s father was busy rocking a distressed Michael in the squeaky rocking chair but stopped the motion when they entered the living room.

  “Have a good time, Dad?” her father asked Grandpa.

  “You could say that, my boy,” her grandfather replied with a twinkle in his eyes. “Now, give me my grandson, and I’ll tell you what happened tonight.”

  Michael immediately slipped off his father’s lap and stretched his arms out to his grandfather. It was a fact that he liked to cuddle up against his grandfather and loved to listen to the stories he had a special way of telling.

  Michael’s face was all flushed. “You look terrible,” Summer said to her little brother, and only then realized it wasn’t the right thing to say to a three-year-old.

  Michael promptly started wailing again.

  “He’s got a bit of a fever, that’s all,” her mother said from the doorway. “Probably just the flu,” she added.

  Grandpa patted Michael and began to rock him. “I’ve won the jackpot, children.”

  The reaction was instantaneous. Everyone began to talk at once. When the cheers had quieted, and her grandfather had outlined h

is intent to give Summer’s parents part of the money, her father declined.

  “But if I’m ever strapped for money, I won’t hesitate to ask you for a loan,” her father said.

  “All right, I won’t pressure you,” Grandpa answered. “But it’s there when you need it. By the way,” he added, winking at Summer, “I’m going to take a little trip with some of the money.”

  “Oh?” Summer’s father and mother seemed surprised with that information, and she noticed the funny look that passed between the two of them. Summer didn’t understand why they would be anything but delighted. After all, it was Grandpa’s winnings, and he was an adult. He certainly didn’t need their permission to take a trip.

  “To Ireland,” her grandfather said.

  “But, Dad!”

  “Yes, son?” Grandpa’s voice sounded very calm.

  “Ireland is so far away,” he replied, “and I don’t like the idea of you traveling halfway around the world all by yourself. If anything happened, you’d be all alone.”

  Now Summer began to understand. Both her mother and her father were concerned that Grandpa would go into one of his confused spells. She hadn’t considered that!

  “Mr. Clancy!” Summer blurted the name into the tension-filled room and then giggled at the look of surprise and delight her grandfather sent her way.

  “Now, why didn’t I think of that?” he asked with a chuckle. “John hails from Ireland, and I know he longs to return, just as I do. But I was thinking of taking you, Summer. After all, you’re family.”

  Summer knew that Grandpa would prefer Mr. Clancy’s companionship and didn’t hesitate to say so. “I can see Ireland later, Grandpa. Mr. Clancy is such a good friend of yours. I mean, I’d like to go, but he doesn’t have much time left.”

  Oh, Summer thought, I’ve said it all wrong. She looked at her mother for some support before adding, “And I couldn’t go into all those pubs you keep telling me about. You’d worry that I was bored, and I’d worry that you weren’t doing what you wanted to do.”

  “You’re a very special child,” her grandfather said. His voice was full of praise and love, and Summer began to feel a glow of pride at her unselfishness. But then honesty nudged her back from her vision of sainthood. She really didn’t want to go to Ireland all that much. Too many important things were happening now, and she didn’t want to miss any of them.

  “Does that stop your worrying?” her grandfather asked Summer’s father.

  “Now, Dad, I wasn’t really worried, just concerned. If John Clancy will go with you, I admit, I’d feel a whole lot better.”

  “Then it’s settled. Now, let’s get this little imp off to bed.”

  “Grandpa,” Summer asked in a whisper, “you won’t leave for Ireland before my race will you?”

  “Our race, Summer,” her grandfather corrected. “And I wouldn’t even consider leaving before then.”

  “Good,” she sighed. It was very important that her Grandpa be there—very important indeed.

  “Just nine more days, sweetheart, and victory will be yours.”

  “You’re so sure I’m going to win?” she teased.

  “Just by running, you’re victorious. That’s what we will celebrate. Should you win…well then, that will just be the frosting on the cake.”

  “I don’t understand,” she said.

  “No, I know you don’t, but someday you will.”

  She thought over her grandfather’s words for more than an hour but couldn’t reconcile his feelings about the unimportance of winning. Wasn’t that saying, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing,” true?

  The sounds of crying from her parents’ room interrupted Summer’s introspection. Michael was keeping her parents awake, for at his insistence, he had been allowed to sleep with them. His insistence had actually been a full-blown tantrum.

  Summer dragged herself out of bed and went to her parents’ room. “Mike, come on and sleep with me,” she said, taking pity on her exhausted parents. “I’ll rub your back.”

  Five minutes later, Michael was snuggled against Summer, and the heat from his fever made Summer feel as though she were wrapped in an electric heating blanket. Summer rubbed his back until he fell into a fitful sleep.

  When she opened her eyes the next morning, Michael was just inches from her face, staring intently into her eyes.

  “I’m all better,” he announced with a grin, but Summer, once she was able to focus, had to disagree.

  “Michael, you’re covered with spots! Go and look in the mirror!” The surprise in her voice triggered alarm in Michael’s eyes. Summer quickly recovered and forced a smile. “Are you ever lucky! Now you’ll get lots of presents and treats when Mom sees you.”

  If Michael was anything, he was definitely mercenary. The grin returned, and he bounded off the bed running to find his mother. The sooner she saw the spots, the better.

  “Chicken pox,” her mother announced at the breakfast table.

  “He looks funny,” Summer said when Michael left the room.

  “Summer, honey,” her mother began, “there’s no easy way to tell you this. But you’ve never had the chicken pox, either.”

  “What?” The one word was a scream of distress, but her mother reacted sympathetically, reaching across the table and patting her hand. “But the race!”

  “Now, let’s see, the race is eight days away, and there’s a seven-to-ten day span before you break out…provided you were just exposed, that is.…”

  “Mother, this is horrible.”

  “Now, Summer, let’s not borrow trouble. How do you feel?”

  “Fine,” she answered.

  “Maybe you’re not going to get them. Oh, dear, I don’t know.”

  “Mother, if there’s a seven-day waiting period, I could break out right before the race.” Even as she said the words, the full realization that all her hard work could go right down the drain hit her like a slap in the face.

  “It’s useless to worry. There isn’t anything we can do about it. Just say a prayer and cross your fingers. It will all work out.”

  “No way, not with my luck,” she muttered. “Just watch, I’ll get sick the morning of the race. I can’t run with a fever and spots,” she moaned.

  “Not everyone gets as sick as Michael. You might just have a little rash, and no fever at all. Of course, you still couldn’t run.”

  Ironic, Summer decided. When she had first started to run, she would have welcomed the chicken pox, or even a plague, for that matter—anything for an excuse not to compete. Well, that situation had changed! Now she would do anything to run.

  Regina was borderline sympathetic when Summer told her the news about Michael. “Just be happy you don’t have them now. You’d miss my party,” she explained. Summer didn’t tell Regina that she would rather miss the party than the race, for she knew Regina would never understand.

  Chapter 16

  It wasn’t until the morning of Regina’s party that Summer remembered what she had told David. Grandpa’s windfall must have pushed that thought aside. Now she realized that she had told him that Gregg would be her date tonight.

  Panic that she couldn’t talk Gregg into it, or that he already had a date, made dialing the phone a bit awkward. After two attempts, she finally had Regina on the line. “I told David I had a date with Gregg. How are we going to talk Gregg into it?”

  “That was good thinking,” Regina replied, “to make David think you and Gregg are going together. I think he has a date to go to a movie with Amy McGuire, but I’m not sure.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  “Don’t get all upset. We’re dealing with Gregg, remember?”

  “And?” Summer said, hope entering her tone.

  “We can get him to do anything we want. Trust me.”

  “How?” Summer demanded.

  “Money, of course. Gregg is always broke.”

  “But if he has a date…”

  “Summer,” Regina groaned

in exasperation, “we’re talking about Gregg. He’ll give up a date with Miss America if the price is right.”

  A half hour later Gregg called, sounding very miffed.

  “Thirty dollars! Gregg, that’s too much,” Summer yelped.

  “Take it or leave it,” he returned. “My car needs a new muffler, and I have to placate Amy. You’re getting a real deal.”

  “I can’t pay you more than ten dollars tonight, but I’ll have the rest soon. I promise.”

  Her mind was racing to solve the dilemma of where she would ever dredge up another twenty dollars, and she was bordering on acute despair when she heard her grandfather’s voice in the background.

  Her grandfather was in a generous mood. Instead of giving her the ten dollars she asked for, he gave her the full amount when she explained the reason for the emergency loan. Still, his obvious displeasure with the entire situation was unmistakable.

  “You are actually going to pay a boy to take you to a party?”

  “It’s not a boy, it’s Gregg,” Summer reasoned. “And it isn’t like it sounds.”

  “Times have certainly changed since I was a lad. Why, I can’t imagine your grandmother, bless her soul, ever paying for an escort.”

  “This is a unique situation. I just got trapped in a…story, and I’m trying to save face.”

  “But who trapped you? Answer me that?”

  “Grandpa, you sound like I’m doing something illegal. It’s no big deal. You just don’t understand. And I’m the one who got myself trapped into this.”

  “Exactly. You might not be doing anything against the law, but you certainly weren’t very truthful, were you?”

  “No.” She gave up trying to make him understand. He did have a valid point, though.

  She soaked a long while in the scented bubble bath before she dressed for Regina’s party. She forced the cobweb of excuses from her mind. Her grandfather was right. Since meeting David, Summer had done nothing but lie. And that first little half-truth, that lie, like a tiny snowball on its trek down a steep mountain, had gathered force and grown awesome in size, until it threatened to do terrible damage. Summer had become trapped in one deception after another, and each little white lie had grown just as immense as the innocent snowball. It was time for her to stop. The lies were becoming too easy, and the idea that she would someday be unable to tell the difference, to distinguish truth from deceit, frightened her. Besides, trying to remember what story she had told required stamina. Most of all, even though she had been able to squeeze through one situation after another, she didn’t feel very happy about it—or herself.