She stayed frozen to the spot. Her mouth felt dry, like cotton. She put a hand to her forehead. Did she have a fever?
“Summer?”
She looked up at her husband. Her husband who was moving out.
“Okay,” she whispered. “Will I see you ever?”
“Yeah. I want to take care of the yard. And see Milo.” He shrugged. “If you’re here, I’d like to see you, too. But if you’d rather me come when you’re gone, that’s fine.”
She nodded.
Luke bent down and nuzzled Milo. He was rewarded with a lick on the face. “Bye, boy.” He locked eyes with Summer. “Maybe I can take him sometime? The boat’s not that big, but it would be nice to have him as company.”
“You’re not taking him on the boat. He belongs here.”
Luke held his hands up in defeat. “Sorry. Just asking.” He slung his bag over his shoulder and picked up his guitar. “Take care.”
She watched her husband walk out the door without a backward glance.
Chapter 18
Ashley put the finishing touches on an itinerary for an upcoming wedding at the Mills House Hotel. From what she could tell, this one would be spectacular. She loved working with brides who had similar taste as her. It always made it a little more fun.
Summer came through the door, a stoic expression on her face.
“Mornin’,” Ashley said. “I just made a fresh pot of coffee.”
Summer gave her a tiny smile. “Thank you.”
“Everything okay?” Ashley asked. Ever since the day she’d picked Summer up from the marina, she’d been worried about the couple. She hoped their fight had been resolved.
Summer poured herself a cup of coffee and sat in the ornate chair in front of Ashley’s desk. “Since we work together, I may as well tell you. Luke and I have separated.”
Ashley set her coffee cup down and walked over to Summer. She knelt down next to the chair. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?”
Summer closed her eyes. “There’s nothing anyone can do. This is all my fault.” She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. “I practically pushed him out.”
Ashley sat in the chair next to Summer’s. “There is no point in assigning blame. Just focus on what you can do to fix things.”
She listened as Summer filled her in on all that had transpired.
“And he wanted to take Milo. Like share him.” Summer wiped a tear away. “He won’t even consider counseling. Says he wants to work things out on his own.” She shook her head. “How does he think he can fix this on his own?”
Ashley frowned. “How are you dealing with it?”
Summer shrugged. “That’s the thing. I’m not angry. I’m mainly numb. I don’t feel anything.” She took a sip of coffee. “It’s kind of weird, actually. Last night after he left, I watched TV. Like nothing had happened. I ordered a pizza and took a bath.”
Ashley narrowed her eyes. That didn’t sound like Summer at all. “Really?”
Summer rose from the chair and walked over to her desk. “What was I supposed to do? It’s not like there’s a book called How to Act When Your Husband Leaves or something.” She flashed a feeble smile. “So I’m going to do the best I can and trust that this will all work out somehow.”
Ashley remembered saying the same thing back before she and Brian split up. Although, in some ways it had worked out. She was much better off without him. But she hoped and prayed Summer and Luke could work it out. “I’m sure it will.”
Summer sat down at her desk. “It has to.”
Justin paced the length of the sidewalk in front of his apartment. They were going to be late for the show if Luke didn’t hurry up. He knew he should’ve driven separately. Although without a lead singer, it’s not like the band could do much. Jimmy was pretty good at backup vocals, but he wasn’t a front man.
Luke’s truck finally pulled into the parking lot.
Justin jogged over and hopped inside. “We’re going to be pushing it to make it on time.”
“I know. Sorry.” Luke pulled onto the road and headed toward Folly Beach. He flipped up the volume on the radio.
Justin glanced over at him from the corner of his eye. He’d hoped to fill Luke in on his upcoming date with Ashley. But the strain on Luke’s face was evident.
“Any change to the set list?” he finally asked after several minutes of silence.
Luke shook his head. “Nope. I figure we should stick with what we know, especially since we didn’t practice this week.” He’d called and canceled their midweek practice, saying that something had come up.
“Sounds good.”
Luke pulled into the parking lot and killed the engine. “Right on time.” He jerked his head toward the restaurant. “Let’s go.”
Justin followed his friend up the stairs that led to the Sand and Suds. Something was off. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but Luke wasn’t acting like himself.
Jimmy and Will were already there, getting things set up.
“Thanks for showing up, guys,” Jimmy said. “I was starting to think I was gonna hafta put on my Garth hat and put on a show.”
Justin chuckled.
“Sherry wanted us to find out if your wife was happy with her artwork,” Will said to Luke. “She said it was the prettiest palm tree she’d ever painted.”
Luke nodded. “Yeah. She loved it.”
“I forgot about the boat. So you’ve already given Summer the present? I didn’t think your anniversary was until later in the summer.”
Luke scowled but didn’t say anything.
“Man, I don’t blame him for giving it to her early,” Jimmy said. “It’s a sweet boat. This way they can start enjoying it now.”
The night passed in a blur for Justin. Even though he still wasn’t completely comfortable on stage, he’d at least gotten to the point where he enjoyed himself. They sounded pretty good tonight, too. At least for the most part.
“Thanks guys,” the restaurant manager said after they were through with their final set. “The crowd loves your music.”
Jimmy and Will loaded their equipment into Jimmy’s SUV.
“We’re having a cookout on Monday for Memorial Day if y’all are interested,” Jimmy said. “I have a new grill, and the pool is ready.” He nodded at Luke. “And Martha told me to make sure you told Summer not to worry about bringing anything.”
“Thanks,” Luke said. “But I don’t think we can make it. Maybe another time.”
Jimmy glanced at Justin. “How about you? You already have plans?”
Justin hoped to have plans with Ashley, depending on howtomorrow night’s movie went. “My family is cooking out, so I’ll probably head over there.”
“You might be the two biggest party poopers in the state of South Carolina,” Jimmy said. “But that’s okay. Every party has to have one.” He chuckled and climbed into the vehicle.
Justin followed Luke over to his truck. “So what do you and Summer have planned for the long weekend?” he asked. “Are y’all going to take the new boat out?”
Luke sighed. “No. At least not together.” He climbed into the cab of the truck and started the engine.
Justin followed suit. “Does she have a wedding?”
“No. But we’re kind of going through a rough patch right now.”
“Oh.” Justin glanced over at Luke’s profile. He’d figured something must be wrong. “That why you forgot the words to three songs tonight, including one that you wrote yourself?”
“Yeah. My heart wasn’t in it tonight.” Luke let out a sigh.
Justin hated to see his friend hurting but had no idea how to help. “Y’all have been through a lot. You think maybe a weekend away or something would help?”
“I think we’re past that.” Luke gripped the steering wheel. “I moved out. I’m staying on the boat for a little while.”
Justin let out a breath. He’d had no idea things might be that rocky. “Sorry, man.” He shook his head. “Listen,
if you need to sleep on my couch for a few days, you’re welcome to it.”
“Thanks. But the time alone is giving me some time to work through things. Summer shouldn’t have to put up with my moods. I don’t want to put her through more than I already have.”
“I’ll be praying that it all works out.”
Luke’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything.
Chapter 19
After a few nights of sleeping on the boat, Luke’s entire body felt like one big knot. He’d been sure some time apart from Summer was the right thing, but it seemed like it might be at the expense of his health. He rubbed a kink out of his neck and climbed into the truck.
If he didn’t show up today, Rose would send out a search party. He didn’t know why she was so insistent that he look through Bobby’s stuff.
He headed toward North Charleston and couldn’t stop his thoughts from turning to Summer. They’d been a permanent, daily fixture in each others’ lives for so many years, it seemed like part of him was actually missing. Like his arm was gone. He reached for his cell phone but drew his hand back. What would he say? It wasn’t as if he’d thought about anything else. Talking to her would probably only bring him down more. There was a time when they’d had a routine on Saturday mornings. If Summer didn’t have a wedding, the two of them would sleep in and then laze around in their pajamas until noon. They’d talk and laugh and argue over whose turn it was to choose that night’s restaurant. And then Milo would jump right in between them until they’d finally get up and take him for a walk down to the Battery.
Luke sighed. Those were some great times. But they hadn’t had one of those Saturdays in months.
He slowed the truck as he neared the neighborhood where he’d grown up. A few of the houses were more rundown than he remembered, but for the most part the place looked the same. He drove past a group of kids playing in a sprinkler in their front yard, a little boy on a bike on the sidewalk, and an old man out mowing his yard. It was nice to know the area hadn’t gone downhill.
Luke pulled into the driveway and found himself flooded with memories. Mama had taught him to roller-skate right there on the pavement. He couldn’t have been more than four, but still he could clearly remember holding her hand and sliding his feet back and forth in his skates.
“Uncle Luke,” Katie Beth called from the doorsteps. She ran out to his truck, and he scooped her up into his arms.
“I can’t believe you’re all grown up,” he said, groaning like she was too heavy to lift.
She giggled. “I’m five now. That’s not a grown-up, silly.”
Luke set her on her feet, and she took his hand.
“Come on. Dale is probably up from his nap now.”
Luke let his niece lead him into his childhood home.
Rose met them at the door. “Hey, Bubba.” She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “How are you?”
He glanced around the living room. Not much had changed. The same pictures still lined the walls that were covered with the same flower-printed wallpaper. Daddy hadn’t changed anything in the years he’d lived in the house alone. “I’m okay.”
She cocked her head and locked eyes with him. “No, you’re not. But you can tell me what’s wrong later on.” She motioned toward Katie Beth. “Sweetie, why don’t you go see if Dale is up?”
Katie Beth nodded and ran toward her brother’s room.
“Dale’s in your old room,” she said. “We’ve barely moved in, so your old stuff is still in there all over the walls.”
He wrinkled his forehead. “Still? I figured Daddy would’ve cleaned that out a long time ago.” When he left home after high school, he hadn’t taken much with him. Just the clothes he could fit into his old duffel bag.
Rose grinned. “It’s all there. From your honor society certificate to your Bon Jovi poster.”
Katie Beth and Dale ran into the room giggling.
“Hey, little man.” Luke knelt down to see his nephew face-to-face. The child was the spitting image of Bobby at that age. He held out his hand for a high five, and Dale slapped it.
“Kids, do y’all want to watch Dora?” she asked. “I need to talk to your uncle Luke.”
Katie Beth nodded and grabbed her little brother’s hand. “Come on, let’s go.” They went into the den where the TV had always been.
“They’re growing up so fast,” Luke said.
Rose nodded. “I know.” She motioned toward the kitchen. “You want some coffee or something?”
He wrinkled his nose. Coffee had never been his morning beverage of choice. He started his day out with a tall glass of milk. Summer used to always tell him how cute it was. “Do you have any milk?”
She chuckled. “Of course. I could put that in a sippy cup for you if you’d like.”
He laughed. “A regular glass will be fine. I promise not to spill.” He followed her into the kitchen and propped on a stool while she poured milk for him and coffee for her.
They settled at the old kitchen table that had been in the same spot since Luke could remember. He traced his fingers over the yellow Formica top. The corner of the table was cracked and peeling, just as it had been when Luke sat at the table as a boy.
Rose met his eyes over her coffee cup. She looked so much like Mama. Quick math told him she was about the same age Mama had been when she’d been taken from them.
“Dave had to work today but said to tell you hello,” she said finally. “He said y’all need to go fishing sometime soon.”
Luke nodded. He’d always liked Dave. He and Rose had been sweethearts practically since they were in elementary school. “Tell him hi.”
“I’m glad you came out here today. I sort of expected you to bail at the last minute.” She sighed. “I didn’t want to be solely responsible for getting rid of Bobby’s stuff.”
His jaw tensed. “I’ll look through it, but I have no idea what I would want that was his.”
She shrugged. “There are lots of T-shirts, books, CDs…you know, stuff like that.”
“Yeah, okay. I’ll go through it. And then what? You’re giving it away?” Luke hated the thought of Bobby’s stuff loaded into bags and tossed in the Goodwill bin.
Rose sighed. “We don’t have the room for it here. Daddy’sand Mama’s stuff is here, too. And there are four of us. We need all the space we can get.”
Luke finished his milk and set the glass on the table. “I don’t understand why you’d want to live here anyway.”
“Things were tight in the apartment. This house has been a huge blessing to us.” She frowned. “I know you have bad memories of the place, but this is a great neighborhood for the kids to grow up in.”
“I guess.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Besides. The nursing home isn’t far from here. Just down the street. Something you would know if you ever bothered to visit.”
He sighed. He should’ve known she’d shame him about that. Their daddy had been in the nursing home since Bobby’s accident.
And Luke hadn’t stepped a foot in the door to check on him.
Summer pulled her dark hair into a ponytail and leaned closer to the mirror. Her eyes still looked puffy. She’d never been a pretty crier, never been one of those girls who cried dainty tears and then looked perfect. Her face turned red, her eyes swelled, and her nose ran for hours. Super attractive.
“Come on, Milo.” She headed downstairs, the big dog padding along behind her. “Let’s go for a good long walk.”
Milo shook with excitement as she clipped the leash onto his collar.
They set out down the street, Milo pausing to sniff every few steps.
She loved the way things slowed down on Saturdays. Even the breeze coming from the water seemed to waft by slower, as if it knew it was the weekend. She and Milo walked down Legare Street and headed toward the Battery. The park there allowed dogs off leash. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to try to handle Milo alone, but she might give it a try if there weren’t too many other dogs ar
ound. Luke always let Milo off leash with no problem, but it made her a little nervous.
“Summer?” a voice called from the other side of the street.
She flipped her sunglasses to the top of her head and glanced over to see Jefferson waving.
He jogged over to where she and Milo stood. “Hey there, Sunshine.”
His old nickname for her might’ve been cute when they were sixteen, but now it seemed silly. “Please don’t call me that.” She watched as Milo sniffed around the gate where they stood. “What are you doing over here anyway?”
Jefferson’s eyes twinkled. “Just moved in.” He pointed to a home across the street. “I’m actually renting a carriage house right now. I don’t want to buy until I’ve had time to look around.” He shrugged. “And I haven’t decided if I want to be here or somewhere like James Island.”
She nodded. “I don’t blame you for wanting to look around. Plus you’ve been away for so long, it’s probably best to kind of get your bearings before you put down roots.”
“You and I always have thought alike.” He walked closer to Milo. “And who is this handsome fellow?”
“Milo. Luke and I rescued him off the highway when he was a puppy.”
“I’d love to get a dog, but right now isn’t the time.” He absently scratched Milo on top of the head. “So where are you headed?”
“The Battery.” She suddenly remembered her puffy eyes and put her sunglasses back on.
Jefferson shook his head. “Too late. I already saw those red eyes. And I’m pretty sure it’s not an allergy.” He raised his eyebrows but didn’t question her tears. “Come on. Let me walk with you to the Battery. I haven’t been down there since I got back.”
They walked toward the park, Summer feeling more unsure with each step. The last thing she needed right now was an old friend who could get her to let her guard down. Because no one could know that Luke had moved out. Word would spread like kudzu. “I’ll bet your mama is glad to have you back in town.”
“Sure is. We’re already gearing up for the annual Boudreaux family beach vacation. We still go to Kiawah Island every year.” He glanced over at her. “But you probably remember. I think you came with us a couple of times.”
A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, South Carolina Page 11