Read Online Waterfront Weddings by Annalisa Daughety - Free Book Online Page B

had no idea about Chloe, or I would’ve warned you first,” Gram said quietly from the door. Gram had been her lone confidante in the family. She’d promised not to say anything but had urged Summer to tell her parents what she’d gone through.
    Summer looked up, tears in her eyes. “I know you would’ve.” She managed a smile. “Maybe I should’ve listened to you and told them the news months ago.” She’d had this great plan to announce her pregnancy at Christmas, thinking it would be such a wonderful surprise for her parents— and had hoped it would be just the thing to bring them close again. But then she’d miscarried just before Christmas and hadn’t the heart to tell them. She had seen no reason to share the grief.
    Gram came and sat down next to her. “That was your decision to make.” She patted Summer on the knee. “And I understand you wanting to protect them. But sometimes there is strength in numbers. You might not be as close with your parents and siblings as you could be, but they would’ve stood by you as you were grieving. They would’ve grieved with you.”
    Summer shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe Mother would’ve given me some speech about needing to take better care of myself or about how we should’ve started trying sooner.” She sighed. “But mostly I didn’t want them to look at me with pity.” She refused to meet Gram’s eyes. She knew how ridiculous she must sound. Even though she knew her family loved her, she never felt like she measured up to what they’d expected her to become. And failing to give them a grandchild seemed like one more way her best wasn’t good enough.
    “You get that streak of pride from your grandfather.” Gram shook her head. “He never could admit when he was hurting either.” She clasped Summer’s hand. “But darling, you might find that if you let people see your weaknesses, it will make you stronger in the long run.”
    “Maybe.” Summer looked down at their entwined hands and felt the strength of the woman next to her. She’d always admired her grandmother so much. At least she had one family member who had always been in her corner no matter what.
    Summer stood and walked over to the vanity where she’d gotten ready for so many important events in her early life. She traced her fingers over the smooth top, remembering when she and Chloe had sat in front of the mirror and tried on Mother’s lipstick. Her gaze went to an ornate wooden box that she’d kept her treasures in since she was small.
    She turned to Gram with a grin. “I can’t believe this is still here after all these years. I think the first ring Luke ever gave me is in this box.”
    Gram looked at her curiously. “The first ring?”
    Summer nodded and returned to her spot on the bed. She opened the box and began sifting through old letters, pressed flowers, and trinkets that had once meant the world to her. “Did I ever tell you that Luke proposed to me three times?”
    Gram raised her eyebrows but stayed silent.
    “The first time we were eighteen. It was the night of my debutante ball.” She laughed and pulled out a tiny silver tab from a Coke can. “As soon as he saw me in that white gown, he stuck this on my finger and asked me to marry him.” She shook her head at the memory.
    She pulled a silver gum wrapper that had been folded and taped and fashioned into a circle. “This one was during my sophomore year of college.” She slipped the paper ring onto her finger. “Luke was in Nashville and I was at USC. We missed each other so much.” She took the ring off and placed it gently back in the box. “He was home for Christmas, and he begged me to go back with him to Nashville. Said we could get married and get jobs.”
    Gram patted her arm. “But it all worked out. And the third time was the proverbial charm.”
    Summer nodded and put the lid on the box that held so many mementos of her past.
    Gram cleared her throat. “I may as well tell you that there’s