We'll Always Have Summer

One afternoon, Belly works on completing her wedding invitations, and Conrad enters the room. She explains that she needs to go into town to buy stamps for the invitations, and Conrad suggests they go together, as he has errands to run in town. Conrad offers to drive, and as they get into the car, Belly says she cannot remember the last time she was in his car. Conrad reminds her it was the night of her prom, the same night they broke up. Belly tries to diffuse the awkward silence by commenting on how long-ago prom was, but Conrad does not respond.

Conrad drops Belly off at the post office, and the woman behind the counter asks if Belly would like to hand cancel the invitations because they are for a wedding. Belly does not know what this means, panics, and says no, thank you. Belly goes outside to wait for Conrad and places stamps on the invitations, including one addressed to her mother. When Conrad arrives, Belly asks him what it means to hand cancel something, and he tells her that it just means stamping by hand rather than a machine. Conrad reminds Belly that he used to have a stamp collection, laughing at how he used to be such “a little geek” (158). Belly protests, saying that Conrad made all his obsessions as a kid seem cool, and Conrad agrees, saying that when they were younger, “You used to believe everything I said” (158). Belly remembers that she did but doesn’t any longer. Belly changes the subject, asking Conrad if he plans to stay in California after college, and he says it depends on where he is accepted to medical school. Belly asks if he has a girlfriend in California; Conrad hesitates, and then says no.

Conrad recalls his ex-girlfriend, Agnes, whom he met at Stanford. At first, Conrad enjoys being around Agnes, noting how smart she is and how they spend a lot of time together studying. Conrad recalls one evening when Agnes, during a study session, asked Conrad if he had ever been in love before. Conrad tells her that he was in love once before. Agnes asks how he knew he was in love, and Conrad thinks, “There hadn’t been one specific moment. It was like gradually waking up. You go from being asleep to the space between dreaming and awake and then into consciousness [...]. […] there was no mistaking that it had been love” (161). Agnes asks whether Conrad is in love with her, and when she sees that the answer is no, Conrad asks if she loves him. She says she could if she let herself, but Conrad is closed off and difficult to get close to.

In the present, Belly says that she does not believe that he does not have a girlfriend in California because otherwise, he would not stay away for that long. In his head, Conrad admits that the reason he has stayed away for so long is that he could not be around Belly: “Being there, being near her, I would just want what I couldn’t have. [...] She was the one person I didn’t trust myself around” (162). He thinks that if Belly knew how much he still cares about her, he would not be able to walk away from her again. Conrad recalls the night he lied to Belly when he told her he did not care about her and let her leave with Jeremiah. Conrad wishes he could redo that moment, tell Belly how much he loves her, and not let her go again.

Conrad remembers the night they stayed at the motel and how he could not keep pulling and pushing Belly toward and away from him. In the morning, when Belly is in the shower, Conrad tells Jeremiah that it is okay if he likes Belly and wants to pursue a relationship with her. Belly gets out of the shower and locks eyes with Conrad, looking hopeful, and at that moment, “I looked back at her like I didn’t recognize her. Completely blank. I saw her eyes dim. I saw her love for me die. I’d killed it” (165). Looking back, Conrad recognizes that this moment pushed Belly and Jeremiah into being together.

Conrad avoids Belly for the rest of the week, but on Friday afternoon, he finds her pouring over her wedding planning materials, looking stressed. Belly explains that Jeremiah was supposed to be there to go to a craft store for wedding decorations, but he was held up in traffic. Conrad offers to go to the store with Belly.

At the store, Conrad helps Belly pick out vases for flowers and even makes suggestions for decorations. When they return home, Jeremiah’s car is in the driveway, and Conrad says he and Jeremiah can unload everything later. Inside, Belly greets Jeremiah, and he asks where the two of them have been. Belly says that Conrad took her to the craft store because they thought Jeremiah would be late and suggests they all go out for dinner, but Conrad declines, snapping at Jeremiah when he asks if Conrad is sure. Belly and Jeremiah leave for dinner without him.

At dinner, Belly reminds Jeremiah that they have a lot of wedding details to discuss, and Jeremiah asks if they can have their first dance to a song from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Jeremiah suggests they can put the video on YouTube for views, and Belly asks if he thinks their wedding should be funny. Jeremiah does not relent, saying that Belly is making all the decisions without him.

Their disagreement escalates as Belly fails to impress upon Jeremiah the seriousness of their need to plan, and Jeremiah calls her a “bridezilla” (174). Hurt, Belly says that Jeremiah can plan the wedding alone because she does not want to, prompting her to explain that she still wants to get married.

Jeremiah asks if Belly has spoken to her mother, and Belly says no, thinking that Laurel must have received her invitation by now. Jeremiah says that he is sure Laurel will call this week. Feeling softer toward him, Belly says that Jeremiah can pick their first dance song, and he pumps his fist in the air, exclaiming that he is marrying her because “you get me” (176). Conrad’s car is gone when they arrive home.

Conrad drives home to Boston, so he does not have to be around Belly and Jeremiah. Conrad sits at the kitchen table, eating, when his father enters, surprised to see him. Adam asks him whether he should do something to stop the wedding. Conrad tells him that Jeremiah is determined to marry Belly no matter what, and Adam sighs, saying that he does not “want to lose him like I lost you” (179), alluding to their strained relationship. They sit in silence, and then Adam leaves, telling Conrad goodnight.

Conrad watches his father leave, thinking about how ill-prepared he is to handle everything now that Susannah is gone. Conrad reflects on the fact that he has always been his father’s favorite son and how their father always thought they were so alike. Conrad remembers how highly he regarded his father for years, realizing he was not a hero only when he was a freshman in high school and Adam returned from a golf outing, late and drunk, only to remember it was Susannah’s birthday.

After this, Conrad’s love for his father sours into resentment, and he realizes that his father is not the kind of man or husband Conrad wants to be, and it scares him to think of himself as like his father. Conrad sets out to “destroy the picture of me he had in his head” (180) and quits all the activities his father pushed him into. Only now, as an adult, does Conrad realize that he unfairly put his father on a pedestal and despises him for not being perfect. Conrad drives back to Cousins on Monday morning.

On Monday, Belly and Conrad eat lunch together on the deck. Belly asks Conrad whether Jeremiah has shared what he wants the best men to wear for the wedding. Conrad tells her that Jeremiah has not told him anything or asked him to be the best man.

Belly receives a phone call from an unknown number that turns out to be Adam’s assistant, Denise. She tells Belly that she is organizing the catering for the wedding and asks Belly a few rapid-fire questions. She tells Belly she has booked a tasting for her and Jeremiah next weekend and asks how many tables Belly wants. Belly’s head spins from all the questions, and Conrad asks about the call when she hangs up. Belly tells him that Adam’s assistant is now their wedding planner, and Conrad says it is a sign that Adam supports the wedding now. Belly feels overwhelmed and has the urge to call her mother.

Conrad realizes how much Belly’s fight with her mother affects her when he hears her on the phone. Belly thanks Taylor for wanting to plan a wedding shower for her but explains that it would be too weird without Laurel in attendance. When she hangs up, Conrad can hear Belly crying but resolves to stay out of it.

The next morning Conrad begins driving before the sun is up, calling Laurel and asking her to meet him for breakfast. When he arrives, Laurel is already there waiting for him. Seeing Laurel makes Conrad feel better, thinking about how they have always had a special bond.

Conrad admits that he called her to talk about the wedding. He tells her how hard of a time Belly is having and that he thinks she should attend the wedding. Laurel asks if Conrad thinks they should get married, and he says that while he does not, he acknowledges that they love each other and that Belly needs her mother. He tells her about the bridal shower, and Laurel’s face softens.

Laurel says that Jeremiah is not serious enough to get married, and Conrad tries to convince her that Jeremiah is serious about Belly. Laurel then asks Conrad why he is so invested in the wedding happening. Conrad says he wants “her to be happy” (189), and Laurel asks if that includes Jeremiah. He says yes, and they sit staring at each other.

On the drive home, Conrad replays their conversation in his head and thinks about Laurel asking him what his interest in the wedding is. Conrad wonders himself, thinking about how he is suddenly their wedding planner, going on errands with Belly and trying to convince Laurel to go to the wedding. He decides that he wants nothing more to do with the wedding.

When Conrad gets home, Belly asks if he wants to accompany her to pick out flowers for the wedding. Conrad says that Jeremiah is coming later so she can go with him, and Belly, hurt, says that he will not arrive until that night. Conrad says he does not want to upset Jeremiah by going with Belly, and she asks what is wrong. Conrad suddenly changes his mind, telling her nothing is wrong and agreeing to go with her.

At the florist, the attendant asks Conrad if he and his groomsmen want boutonnieres, and Conrad must explain that he is not the groom. On the way home, they pass a fruit stand, and Conrad turns around, sensing that Belly wants to go. Belly buys a peach, savoring it and stating that she does not even want another one because there is no way it could be as perfect as this one. Conrad buys her another peach and reaches over and wipes Belly’s face with his t-shirt. Belly feels this is one of the most intimate things she has ever done with another person. Belly breaks away, telling Conrad she will buy more peaches for Jeremiah, and Conrad tells her he will wait in the car.

At home, Jeremiah is there, and Belly shows him the peaches. She goes to the sink to rinse them, feeling guilty about her encounter with Conrad and telling herself that she did nothing wrong. Jeremiah follows her and grabs one, eating it at the counter. Belly arranges the rest of the peaches in the fruit bowl, her hands shaking as she does so.

Jeremiah and Belly visit an apartment near their school, hoping to find a place to rent before the fall semester begins. The apartment is dingy and dirty, but Jeremiah is enthused about it. Belly tells Jeremiah that she will not live here and would prefer the first apartment they looked at, which Jeremiah tells her was “for old people and families” (197). Belly compares the apartment to Jeremiah’s frat house, and he turns to the landlord and shrugs.

They go back to the first apartment and fill out an application. The woman says they will run a credit check, and Jeremiah asks if a late credit card payment will negatively affect his credit score. Belly is surprised to hear this, thinking Jeremiah only has one credit card his father manages. Jeremiah admits that he started another one freshman year. Belly tells the woman that she has a credit card through her father but never uses it. The woman tells them that she will be in touch in a few days.

Outside, Jeremiah says that even if they do not get that apartment, Gary, the landlord at the other apartment, will probably rent to them without a credit check. Belly complains about the apartment again, and Jeremiah reminds her she got her way. They learn a few days later that they did not get the first apartment.

On the day of the bridal shower, Belly arrives at Taylor’s house. Taylor ushers her inside, and Belly sees the guests gathered in the living room, including her mother. They walk to each other and hug for a long time, not speaking. Taylor asks if Belly is happy and explains that her mother spoke to Laurel, convincing her to come.

After the party, Belly walks her mother to the car. She thanks Laurel for coming, and Laurel says, “You’re my girl” (206). From the car, Belly calls Jeremiah, ecstatic and yelling, “We are so on!” (206), now that Laurel has agreed to attend. Belly feels all the tension within her from the last few weeks dissipate, and she decides to spend that night at home with Steven and Laurel.

On the day of Belly’s shower, Conrad visits Ernie, who owned the restaurant where Conrad used to work. Ernie owned the restaurant until his nephew, John, took over, demoting Ernie and forcing him to roll silverware. When Conrad arrives, he sees John’s car leaving.

Conrad and Ernie sit together, watching television. During a commercial break, Conrad asks if Ernie has heard that Jeremiah is getting married next weekend. Ernie says that he has, recalling how sweet Belly was as a little girl. They go silent until the next commercial when Ernie asks Conrad, “So are you gonna cry about it like a little punk, or are you gonna do something?” (209). Ernie tells Conrad that he knows Conrad loves Belly and that she is the one. Conrad pretends not to know what Ernie is talking about, but at the next break asks if he believes that there is one person in the world for everyone. Ernie says he does, citing his long marriage to his late wife, Elizabeth.

Conrad comments that he saw John leaving earlier and asks when the two began speaking again. Ernie says that John mows his lawn sometimes and that “he’s family. Family’s family. Never forget that Conrad” (210). Conrad laughs, reminding Ernie that he also told him to break up his brother’s wedding earlier, and Ernie says that when it comes to love, “all bets are off, family or no family” (210). Conrad leaves Ernie’s house feeling lighter than he has since before learning about Jeremiah and Belly’s engagement.

A few days before the wedding, Belly prepares the house for the guests’ arrival. She runs through her list of items to take care of and still cannot help but think she is forgetting something. As she vacuums, Conrad enters the house, back from surfing, and Belly notices he is limping from a cut on his leg. Belly tells him to put pressure on it, and she runs to get the first aid kit. Conrad insists he is fine, but Belly helps to clean the wound, wondering if he may need stitches. As she cleans the cut and wraps it in gauze, Conrad leans in and nearly rests his head on Belly’s shoulder. Belly finishes, and they look at each other. Belly cannot help but notice that if they shifted slightly toward each other, they would be kissing. Conrad breaks the tension, asking Belly if she will help him stand up. Conrad limps upstairs, and Belly stays behind, replaying the moment that nearly happened in her head. She tells herself that everything will go back to normal once Jeremiah arrives.