This Summer Will Be Different
by Carley Fortune
Contents
Chapter 1
Overview
Nine days before Bridget’s wedding, Lucy obsessively perfects the floral arch while weighing a lucrative restaurant contract. Bridget misses her final gown fitting, triggering Lucy’s panic. Bridget calls from PEI, saying she needed to go home and begging Lucy to join her. Lucy agrees, despite major professional and wedding commitments.
Summary
In Toronto, nine days before Bridget’s wedding, Lucy labors over an unusually detailed sketch for Bridget’s floral arch, determined to create something breathtaking. With Farah’s input, Lucy lands on a dramatic cascading “train of flowers,” even as she frets about a high-stakes meeting to supply florals for the Cena restaurant group.
As closing time nears, Lucy grows anxious when Bridget, famously punctual, fails to arrive for her final gown fitting. A customer distracts them briefly, but unanswered texts and a tense call to the boutique heighten Lucy’s fear. Memories of recent loss amplify her dread that something is wrong.
At last Bridget calls; her voice sounds fragile. She reveals she is at Summer Wind on Prince Edward Island, having impulsively flown home while her parents are away. Overwhelmed, Bridget asks Lucy to come to PEI immediately.
Despite the looming Cena contract meeting, staffing concerns, the flower auction, and wedding prep, Lucy agrees to fly out the next day. She steels herself to return to the island, hinting at a personal reason she vowed never to go back.
Who Appears
- Lucy AshbyFlorist protagonist; perfects Bridget’s wedding arch, weighs a major contract, panics over Bridget, agrees to fly to PEI.
- BridgetLucy’s best friend and bride-to-be; misses dress fitting, calls from PEI, asks Lucy to come help.
- FarahLucy’s trusted colleague; challenges Lucy’s overthinking, approves the arch design, urges Lucy to go to PEI.
- Young man customerNervous shopper buying flowers for his boyfriend’s mother before dinner, briefly interrupting the tension.
- SylviaFarah’s black Lab; provides quiet comfort as Lucy’s anxiety escalates.