A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) (15 page)

“Yes.” Ava mumbled dropping the attitude. She felt awful. She’d forgotten all about Summer’s delicate condition. The last thing she wanted was for her friend to go into labor.

“Tell us why Nick stopped by.” Ava’s voice was gentler as an attempt to diffuse the tension in the air.

Tears welled up in Summer’s eyes as she stared at Starr, then Ava. No one understood what she was going through, not even her two best friends. Summer struggled to keep her tears in check. “Never mind, forget I even said anything.”

As she stood to walk away, Summer stopped when she felt Starr’s hand gently squeeze her wrist.

“Summer, I’m sorry. Please, come on, sit back down and tell us what’s on your heart.”

Sliding back into the chair she wasn’t sure what to do. She needed to vent about what she was feeling. Who better than her friends? However, the absolute last thing she wanted was to hear them bad mouth Nick. No one was more aware of what he’d done to her than she was. And what was so pathetic was she still loved him in spite of everything. Hadn’t they ever been in love before? Why couldn’t they understand? At least they could be sympathetic to the fact she was carrying his baby.

Unconsciously Summer rubbed her swollen belly. The gesture did not go unobserved by Starr or Ava. Instantly they felt remorse. They both knew how hard it had been for Summer not having Nick around for the majority of her pregnancy.

This time Ava spoke. “Summer, please tell us what’s going on.” Pausing to squeeze her hand affectionately she begged, “Don’t shut us out.”

“He said he wanted to talk to me about some things.”

“Like what?” Ava asked as she took another slice of pizza.

Summer shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, most likely the baby.”

Starr touched Summer’s hand that were in her lap when she asked, “How did Nick react when he found out about the baby?”

As close as the three friends were, they could not believe Summer hadn’t told them about Nick’s reaction until now.

“He was pretty angry I hadn’t told him about the baby.” Summer purposely left out his threat to file for custody.

Holding up her hand signaling she wanted to talk. “Angry? What was
he
angry about? Wasn’t he the one who ended things?” Ava fought hard to keep the anger she felt toward Nick out of her voice.

Summer sighed. “Yes Ava. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t want to know. Besides, it was my decision not to tell him about the baby.”

Ava’s fuse blew despite her trying to control it. Summer and Starr both jumped when she slammed her palm on the table, rattling drinking glasses.

“No you don’t, Summer! Don’t you dare go blaming yourself! You did what you thought was best at the time!”

Starr cut Ava off before she could explode any further. “She’s right, Summer. You yourself said he didn’t want children and you didn’t want him to feel like you were trying to trap him with a baby.”

Summer nodded her head. “You guys are right. It’s just that everything is changing.”

“Everything like what?” Ava asked, as she calmed down a tad bit.

“Well, he doesn’t seem so repulsed by the idea of me being pregnant and his becoming a father anymore. And he does want to sit down and talk like I told you.”

“I’m glad to at least hear that,” Starr said smiling at Summer

“Yeah, so am I. I hope you guys work everything out for the sake of the baby.” Ava added with sincerity.

Tenderly patting her belly, Summer agreed. “So do I Av. After all it’s about the baby.”

Removing pizza boxes from the table, attempting to lighten the mood, Ava teased, “I better get going, some folks have to work for a living.”

Summer rolled her eyes. “Ha, ha, you’re real funny Miss Ava.”

Standing up, Starr announced she was going home as well. “Like Ava said, us girls have to work. We can’t sit home all day eating ice cream and watching that ridiculous daytime television.”

“Heifer shut your mouth! You’re supposed to be on my side! Remember, I do know how you two sneak into patient rooms watching the
same
ridiculous daytime television, acting like y’all working.” Summer chanted and pumped her fist in the air, “Jerry, Jerry, Jerry.”Summer playfully pointed at Ava wagging her finger. “Didn’t I walk pass a room one day and saw you doing that while your patient was at a test? Weren’t you supposed to be making the bed?”

Ava and Starr cracked up. The sight of Summer with her big belly imitating those fools on television was hysterical.

“Come on crazy pregnant woman and walk us to the door.” Ava teased. “And no, that wasn’t me. It was my twin. You know they say everybody has one.”

“Heaven help us, Ava, if you have a twin.” Summer drawled out as she walked them to the door.

Everyone laughed as Ava feigned being offended. Starr hugged and kissed Summer on the cheek. “Bye honey, I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Following behind her, Ava hugged Summer and squeezed her tight. “You know I love you, right?”

Summer nodded, her eyes suddenly welling up. How could she have ever doubted her girls loved her?

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt again, you’ve been through so much. So when I get excited and start tripping please, please understand it’s because I love you, and you.” Ava said rubbing Summer’s belly.

Summer smiled at her friend. “I know, Av. And we love you too.”

Brrrg. Brrrg. Brrrg.

The offending sound of the ringing phone seemed to be in a faraway distance. Summer thought she was dreaming, except the ringing never stopped. Opening one eye, she looked at the digital clock on the nightstand.

11:45. Who in the world was calling her so late?

“Hello?” Summer answered in a voice raspy with sleep.

“I woke you up?”

Rolling over on her back holding the phone between her ear and shoulder, she said, “It’s okay.”

“I won’t keep you, I just wanted to make sure you’re still okay with us getting together to talk?”

“Yes. Friday is fine. Are you coming over here?” she hesitantly questioned. No way was she going back on his turf. “No. I was thinking we could go to the cabin,” he smoothly said as he sat in his home office tapping a pen on the desk waiting for her response.

All traces of sleepiness evaporated. She was fully awakened by his suggestion of going to the cabin.

What? That’s where all the drama started! Nope, no way!
Finally finding her voice, Summer squeaked out, “The cabin?”

“Yes.” He answered her as if it was the most reasonable request.

“Summer?”

“Huh?”

“What’s the matter, baby?

Coming up with a believable excuse was what Summer was in search of. How could she out right refuse to go miles away with him to a deserted cabin, in the middle of freakin’ nowhere? Sure, things for now were cool between them, but what if he went off on her again. A tiny voice in her head reminded her he’d promised not to do that again.
Yeah, whatever.
As far as she was concerned, no way was she crossing state line with him. She didn’t care how fine he was, how nice he’d been, or how much ice cream he’d brought her. No, no, no! She wasn’t doing it.

“I don’t know, Nick. That’s kind of far,” Summer mumbled after talking smack in her head.

“It’s only a few hours.” Nick reasoned with her.

“I know but
―
”

“But what? Don’t you trust me?”

Silence.

Summer sat on the other end of the phone not knowing what to say. How did she tell him the only time she could trust him is when he was in a good mood?

The silence was becoming deafening. Nick rolled his shoulders trying to ease the building tension. He knew convincing her was going to be difficult, maybe impossible.

“Summer, I told you I would never hurt you.”

You already have.
“I know you did. It’s just that…” Summer’s voice was soft as it trailed off.

Counting to ten, keeping his voice even, Nick coaxed, “What Summer?”

Summer cursed her wayward hormones, as her voice quivered; she quickly wiped a tear from her cheek. “It’s just that I make you so angry, Nick.”
Here I go again blaming myself.

The quivering of her voice unsettled Nick. He could tell she was tearful. Choosing his words carefully he said, “Summer, I just want to talk somewhere where there are no distractions.”

Nick paused searching for the right words. “There are so many questions I have and only you have the answers to them.”

Summer understood exactly where he was coming from, really she did. She too wanted to clear the air, explain her side of things. But goodness gracious, being alone in the woods with Nick was a bit too much. That for sure was something she was in no way, no how, ready or even prepared to deal with.

“Can’t we talk here, at my house?” Heck at this point she was willing to go to his place. At least if he wigged out on her she could take a cab back to the safety of her home. And if worse came to worse she could call Starr and Ava to the rescue.

“No, I’d rather we didn’t Summer. I promise you I’ll keep my temper in check.”
As long as you’re honest with me
. Immediate guilt consumed him.
See, that’s why she doesn’t trust you. She knows you better than you think.

“You promise?” Summer whispered not sure she should trust him. Nick wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms until every ounce of doubt was cast away.

“Yes, Beautiful, I promise to be on my best behavior.”

Stillness hung thickly in the air. He had called her beautiful and meant it. There had never been another woman who’d affected him the way Summer had. Her external beauty surpassed that of many; however, it was her inner beauty that swept him away. It was for this very reason he found it incomprehensible she would deceive him. Nick prayed when all was said and done she would have an explanation that would make sense to him.

Summer’s head became foggy as if she were in a haze. He’d called her beautiful. His tone was gentle, sincere, unlike the night when he resorted to sarcasm.

“Nick?”

“Yeah?”

“You still think I’m beautiful?”

“Always.”

“Even fat and all?”

“You’re not fat, Summer.”

“If I’m not fat, then what am I? I’ve gained nearly thirty pounds you know?”

“You’re still beautiful
and
carrying my baby.” Nick wouldn’t comment on the weight issue. That definitely was a no, no.

Summer was glad he could not see her blushing. “You think you’re so slick.”

Teasingly he asked, “Woman, what are you talking about?”

“You’re trying to butter me up so I won’t back out of going away with you. Come on, admit it.” Nick chuckled. This was the Summer he was crazy about. “You got me. I give up.”

“Yeah, I thought so.”

Nick and Summer continued their playful bantering for another twenty minutes. Eventually they got around to making plans to have him pick her up Friday morning around eleven.

“All right, Beautiful, I’m gonna let you get back to sleep,” he drawled out as he imagined her curled up nestled against him with her protruding belly.

Covering her mouth she stifled a yawn. “Okay, good night, Nick.”

“Sweet dreams, Beautiful.”

“You too, Nick.”

♥♥♥

Stepping out the shower, Nick grabbed a thick, fluffy white towel and wrapped it around his waist as he hurried to the phone on the nightstand. The first notion to pop in his head was that it was Summer calling to renege. Who else could it be calling so late?

To say Nick was a workaholic was an understatement. He’d remain in his home office working for another hour after he hung up with Summer. It was nearly two in the morning, and his eyes were burning with exhaustion. All he wanted to do was get a couple hours of sleep

before the new day started in less than four hours. Only Summer would think of calling so late, taking a chance he’d still be awake.

Picking up the phone Nick said in a weary, bone-tired voice, “Yeah, Summer?”

“You wish!”

“Kev, why the hell are you calling me so late?” Nick demanded, annoyed with his friend.

“Chill man, I was just wondering what happened with Summer? Is she going or what?”

Nick informed Kevin about his plans of taking Summer to the cabin for the weekend. Kevin had been a little uneasy with the idea. As far as he was concerned, Nick was still being a little hard on Summer. True, he was not spitting venom any longer when Kevin brought up her name, but hell, nobody knew Nick the way he did. One minute he’d be Mr. Nice Guy and the next, a complete jerk. Kevin wanted to, and would be supportive of his best friend, his brother. However, he thought Nick was pushing the issue of having this “serious” talk with Summer. For goodness sake, they were having a baby. It wasn’t like they didn’t have the rest of their lives to figure the mess out.