Always Summer

by Criss Copp

“Summer... I love you... tell me what to do?” I asked her.

  “You’re doing it.” She said, wiping her face.

  “Okay... Did I make you feel better?” I asked.

  Then unexpectedly, she giggled.

  “Summer?” I asked.

  She laughed with her head on my chest... her hand in mine. She looked up at me.

  “When you smashed Henry in the face... that’s when you did the right thing and made it all better. What you just did then... always makes me feel better.” She smiled.

  “Really? I mean, you’re really happy about the other day?” I questioned.

  “Abso-fucking-lutely!” she confirmed. “That’s why Mom feels better too. We’re so proud of you guys. You both made it all better. Even if things will never be perfect.”

  Summer.

  The men had made it better... not perfect, since I was still frozen in grief... but it was decidedly bearable after what had happened.

  It was Monday 30th January - Blake and I were heading home after our ultrasound. Classes had already begun last week, but with the week being the way it had been, we’d missed everything after Wednesday’s call.

  My Mom (God, I would never get over saying that) was expecting my Dad (sigh) to return later.

  We had decided to find out if at all possible the sex of the babies. I was hoping for one of each... Blake was hoping they were both girls.

  I guess we both got it wrong.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Austen... from what I can tell, you are having two boys.” The radiologist said.

  “Are you sure?” Blake asked. He was scrutinizing the images.

  “See this?” the lady pointed. “That’s a scrotum.” She smiled. “And this here is another...”

  “Scrotum!” Blake interrupted, but he was smiling.

  “Are you disappointed?” I asked. I sounded like I’d been crying… because I had. I would suddenly and unexpectedly burst into tears at any given moment. It hadn’t even been a week.

  “Of course not!” he answered. “I should’ve known there was only ever going to be one of you... You broke the mold.” He chuckled and I rolled my eyes... he was so corny!

  I smiled... “The first born boy should have Sal as his middle name.” I croaked.

  Blake stopped and looked at me... “Okay!” he said softly, leaning in to kiss me. “Sal then.”

  “Short for Salvation... you know, Sal is short for salvation?” I said, wiping a tear from my cheek.

  “You suck at naming...” Blake said giving me an incredulous look, attempting to make me smile. “You can’t make it Salvation... he’ll hate it as he grows up.”

  “No, silly... we’ll know its short for that... but it will just be Sal on his birth certificate, like a 1920’s prohibition gangster!” I smiled... it was a done deal.

  “Great... he’ll be a criminal thug!” Blake joked.

  *

  It took me months to feel right again, but even then I missed my sister… my friend and my protector… I talked to her almost every day. Despite not believing in religion, I had to believe that somewhere, her soul was listening.

  It helped that I had Blake, the boys growing inside me, and an extended family that wouldn’t leave me alone.

  Time… I needed time!

  Chapter 21

  Blake.

  Dropping off Summer at the MacFarlane house was difficult; it meant that I was leaving her for the week. We were at 36 weeks pregnant, and we had been told the babies could come at any time from now. I would be gone all week till the following Saturday night with my art exhibition in Tribeca, at the independent boutique gallery my lecturer had connections with; and I was staying in New York to be in attendance. We had reasoned that it wasn’t so far to return if she did go into labor.

  Summer’s pregnancy had been going well, although she worried about any stretch marks; and so, much her beauty regime had focused on body butter concoctions that she managed to get me to massage into her. She looked heavy for sure, but I marveled at the changes... she was so God Damned beautiful!

  We’d completed our first year of college with decent marks... I had secured a further scholarship... which was necessary, since the babies were sure to add quite a lot of expense to our household. Summer had struggled more than I, but she still passed. She did quite well in her favourite subjects though.

  Summer had continued her tentative connection with Chloe who turned out, previously unknown to me, to be a single mother a couple of years older than us; and now Chloe was a fairly regular visitor, collecting Summer for classes, and sharing with us her little bruiser of a girl on a regular basis, when visiting our apartment and talking shop with Summer. Chloe was the ideal friend for Summer. Summer now had someone to bounce her ideas off of for characters... dystopian societies... crime sequences and romance. Of course Chloe now had this too, amongst talking about children.

  My friend Geoff was still Geoff. He was still my weekday off, Xbox partner!

  He was also cool to go to gym with... although he wasn’t as serious as me.

  Now that I was dragging all the bags inside the house for Summer’s stay, I felt apprehension fill me. We hadn’t really been apart for the last year... apart for a couple of sporadic days when I couldn’t follow her on location. We’d been through so much this year... horrible things and wonderful things... I could get whiplash thinking about the events of the last year. Summer was my best friend, my wife and the mother of my children... I was going to be at a severe loss over the next week. I swallowed down my anxiety and proceeded to take the bags upstairs, hearing the excited voices of Debbie and Max with their daughter coming from the kitchen.

  Summer.

  I was lying on my right side, and had a pillow between my legs preventing the cramps and knee rubbing that I hated having; I had another pillow under my right arm, supporting my torso and heavy breasts... and then there were the two pillows under my head supporting my fatigued brain inside my tired skull. Blake was using the handheld vibrating massager he gave me for Christmas on my lower back. It made me smile... anyone outside the bedroom hearing the hum of the device may confuse it with a vibrator used for sexual purposes; coupled with my groans and moans, they’d definitely think we were in the process of something a little naughty. I began to giggle.

  “What are you laughing at?” Blake asked behind me.

  I told him and he laughed to.

  “You have a dirty mind... not everyone thinks like you do.” He reasoned, chuckling.

  “Yeah... right... aha!” I said sarcastically.

  “I’m glad you do though.” He said huskily, up close to my ear.

  I’d gotten rather uncomfortable and large... most people were shocked that I was having twins, since they reckoned I was about as big as a single pregnancy, but since I had an extra thirty-five pounds on my frame, and all around the middle section, I felt like a blimp. This had caused some serious changes in our sex life. I was astounded that Blake still found me attractive... not that I was complaining... I was horny right up until a couple of weeks ago... but now I was just tired, cramp ridden and sore. This last week had merged into a no go for strenuous sex... I had kind of put a stop to anything past heavy petting, and blow jobs.

  I could feel Blake’s hand snake around my hip and reach down to the front of my panties.

  “One for the road?” he whispered in my ear. I felt my smile spreading across my face at the same time I felt his fingers slide into my panties.

  *

  Blake was gone a little later that morning. It was Sunday, and Mom and Dad were pampering me.

  The heat had started earlier this year, so I was wearing the bare essentials... bra, panties and a long t-shirt. I didn’t care that my Dad could see my ass... he was respectfully ignoring my level of dress... and Mom was wonderful... bringing me cool drinks of iced tea, and forcing me to put my feet up.

  I was glad that I had come to stay with them, although I’d be on my own during the day this week, since they’d be going to w
ork.

  Mom had wasted no time in returning to work after I had left for college... she was one of those people that desperately had to be busy all the time... and it was good to see her have something to do that was making her happy, especially after being the one to find Sally dead... she needed focus.

  Chapter 22

  Summer.

  “So we’ll be late coming home tonight darling.” Mom said over the phone.

  “That’s okay.” I replied.

  Mom worked in the same offices as Dad, although not for him... and a setback with one of her boss’s clients had meant that she needed to work back another hour. Dad would be waiting for her, catching up on some of his own work, since they travelled to work together in Dad’s car.

  “What do you want us to get for dinner?” Mom asked... her voice apologetic.

  “Um... you know what?” I said

  “What?” she asked back.

  “I’m gonna cook something... I’m over take out!” I explained. “Do you mind if I drive your car to the shops?” I asked.

  “I don’t know...” she said nervously, “You shouldn’t be driving.”

  “Oh, come on... It’s just to the food store... I’ll be back in a jiffy, and Blake won’t ever have to know!” I argued.

  “Blake will kill me if he found out!” she said.

  “Look... I’m taking your protests into consideration, and I’m doing it regardless... I’m still a teenager... 19 remember?” I argued chuckling. “I’m meant to be irresponsible... and I feel fine today... it’s been a bit cooler, so I actually feel a little energized.” I reasoned.

  “Well I’m saying no, and if you choose to stay home, we’ll order in when we get there.” She replied, only a slight scolding detectable. She’d been pregnant before, she knew the incredible restlessness pregnant ladies felt when they were bored.

  “Okay... your opposition is noted... I’ll see you both when you get here.” I said, before we both said goodbye and hung up.

  *

  I just needed to get some French bread sticks and some minced meat for a lasagna. All the other ingredients were in the pantry. I planned on making a fresh green salad for the side, and since there were still plenty of ingredients left from Sunday, I didn’t require anything else.

  I parked in a space two rows back from the store, as it was nearest to the front doors of the store that I could possibly get. I noticed that hellishly dark clouds had built up overhead and their impending release was imminent. I needed to get in and out as quickly as possible, so that I didn’t get caught in the deluge; easier said than done, once you considered my uncomfortable state. I edged my way from behind the steering wheel, and lumbered up from the car seat, closing the door behind me, and leaning heavily on the side of the car, while I locked it with the remote. I ambled into the cool confines of the food store, making my way directly to the ingredients necessary, before returning to the front of the store to pay for the groceries at the checkout.

  I was standing in line behind a man in a motorized wheel chair, who joked warmly with me about how he should be a gentleman and give me his seat; when Jordan walked through the front doors of the store.

  My eyes locked on him. He looked good... I was surprised! He was still his handsome self, and he’d muscled up even more. He was wearing khaki cargo shorts and a white, sleeveless muscle shirt, which outlined his torso perfectly. On his head, hiding his hair was a ‘Boston Red Sox’ cap.

  I had last heard about Jordan when Blake had refused to go ahead with any charges. It had been an infuriating time, for the police and his parents... it made me feel better though, and I knew Blake kind of understood why Jordan had done what he did, and on top of it... Blake didn’t want to cripple his former good friend’s chances for a future.

  I expected Jordan to walk straight past and completely ignore me... or even turn around and walk quickly back out the doors. I didn’t expect him to stop dead in his tracks and stare at me... deep in the eyes with a pained expression, before stumbling out of his shock and moving off towards the back of the store.

  After paying for my groceries, I walked out of the store towards Mom’s car, unlocking it remotely as I neared it. Looking down at the door handle to open the driver’s side door, I notice the front tire was flat... and not just slightly down, but completely flat... the rim was down to the bitumen.

  “Shit!” I shouted... not really caring who heard me. I couldn’t change a tire in my state, and I couldn’t drive it home like this. I slammed the door and walked around to the passenger side, with the thought to go through the glove box and get the details for roadside assistance.

  “Summer?” I heard from nearby. It was Jordan, I knew his voice anywhere. He’d probably come out of the store and been privy to my verbal outburst.

  I looked heavenward, then swiveled my head around to see him with a grocery bag in one hand, cautiously approaching.

  “Can I help you?” he said, slowly inching forward.

  I sighed... “Flat tire, but it’s okay, I’ll call roadside for help.” I replied.

  “Don’t... um... I’ll change it for you.” He said, coming up and looking down at the tire nearest me, before heading to the other side and checking the driver’s side. He stood back and whistled.

  “Did you go through a set of spike strips?” he chuckled.

  “No...” I said, cautiously. If Blake knew I was talking to him... heck...! If any of my family knew I was talking to him... I’d be chewed up, spit out and then yelled at!

  “I thought you were going to ignore me.” I said.

  He winced, “Um... I can’t have you standing there... helpless... like that!” he said, waving his arm in my general direction. But he wouldn’t look at me.

  “Oh...” I trailed off. He was trying to be nice... a one off type of nice.

  “Okay...” he said, expiring a gush of air simultaneously. “Let’s pop the trunk.” He said.

  I nodded and placed the groceries and my purse on the passenger seat, and propped my phone on the dashboard, while he opened the driver’s door and pulled the latch for the trunk.

  While Jordan rustled around in the boot, I stood beside the rear of the car watching him. Then finally, after all the warning... the clouds began dumping their burden down on us.

  ‘God Damn it!” I shouted, about the same time as Jordan shouted,

  “Ah crap!”

  The rain was an absolute deluge. Jordan slammed the trunk, closed the driver’s door and came back around to me.

  “Grab your groceries... I’ll drop you off. You can come back for the car in the morning, or get Max to get it later after the rain eases.” He shouted over the noise of the pouring rain.

  I just nodded... it made sense. I’d have to ask him not to mention any of this to anyone though... it could get me into some serious trouble.

  I grabbed the grocery bag and my purse, closed the door and pressed the remote to lock the car up.

  Jordan gently held my elbow and steered me through the pouring rain to a dark blue SUV parked in the next row, visible from my Mom’s car. He assisted me up into the passenger’s seat, before closing the door and running around to the driver’s side door, and jumping in.

  “Phew... what a storm! Must be making up for all that stinking hot weather we had for the last week.” He said, smiling.

  I smiled back... he was being regular Jordan... the Jordan I’d thought I fell in love with years ago... but not enough to eclipse the love I’d always harbored for my best friend and now husband Blake.

  “Okay... let’s head off!” he said, clapping his hands together and rubbing them before placing the keys in the ignition and turning his car over.

  He looked over his shoulder and backed out of his space, before changing gears and driving off, his wipers swishing fiercely across his windshield.

  “So what are you doing now?” I asked, softly.

  “LIU... Football scholarship.” He said, shrugging.

  “Wow... that’s so good!
” I replied, but I could sense his unease. He’d had better offers.

  “Thanks.” He mumbled, but quickly turned a smile on me.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “I came home for a few days, but I’m on my way back now.” He said, distractedly... checking the traffic.

  “Oh... good!” I said.

  We lapsed into silence.

  *

  I realised something wasn’t quite right when Jordan didn’t slow down for my turn.

  “Oh Jordan... you’re gonna miss my turn.” I said, watching the turn come up and then retreat behind us.

  “Jordan?” I asked nervously.

  “It’s okay... just relax!” he said, busily watching the traffic as we drove through the pouring rain.

  I couldn’t relax... I was beginning to panic.

  “Jordan... what’s going on?” I said breathlessly.

  “Summer! Relax!” Jordan stated, as though we were discussing non-consequential matters.

  “Jordan... I can’t relax... I need to go home!” I argued.

  “I’m taking you home!” he said.

  I watched every possible turn pass us by for the next several minutes.

  I watched him drive his SUV... no hurry... no turning around... just – onward.

  “Jordan... whose home?” I squeaked.

  He sighed... “Summer... I love you! I’m not going to hurt you... so, just relax!”

  I whimpered.

  He turned on his music... and ‘Rise Against’ started pumping out their brand of punk over the speakers. I liked this band... I wondered if this moment would change that.

  Chapter 23

  Blake.

  I was pacing... where the fuck was she?

  The police were there... Debbie’s car was found at the grocery store. Front tire slashed... Summer’s phone was left on the dashboard.

  CCTV showed Summer in the store... she’d not been there long. Nobody had approached her in the store. Nothing had looked suspicious.

  The camera’s that were facing out to the car parking areas couldn’t show anything really, beyond a grainy image of a man approaching the car, the boot going up... presumably to pull out the spare, and then nothing... rain so heavy that nothing could be seen.