The Summer I Turned Pretty, #3
We'll Always Have Summer
by Jenny Han
Contents
Chapter Fifty-Three
Overview
On the rainy wedding morning, Belly prepares while Jeremiah is missing. Laurel offers support and delivers a letter from Susannah. Steven reports Conrad has gone to find Jeremiah and later confirms he’s back. Shaken yet resolute, Belly moves the ceremony indoors and takes time alone to decide her next steps.
Summary
At Cousins Beach on a gray morning, Belly dresses and attempts to curl her hair, unsure if Jeremiah will return after leaving the night before. Laurel arrives, helps with Belly’s hair, admits she isn’t ready for this but will support her, and gives Belly a wedding-day letter from Susannah.
Steven visits and reveals Jeremiah still hasn’t returned, but Conrad has gone to find him and will call. After Steven leaves, Belly’s nerves fray. Taylor bursts in with preparations and weather worries; Belly confesses she told Jeremiah that Conrad still has feelings for her.
Steven returns to say Conrad found Jeremiah and brought him back. Relief hits Belly, triggering giddy, near-hysterical laughter; Taylor fixes her makeup while Steven tries to calm her. Weather worsening, Belly decides to move the wedding indoors and sends Steven to organize it.
With logistics set, Belly asks both Steven and Taylor to leave so she can think. She resolves that once she sees Jeremiah, everything will make sense, and she braces herself for whatever the ceremony brings.
Who Appears
- Belly (Isabel) ConklinBride-to-be; anxious over Jeremiah’s absence, steadies herself, moves wedding indoors, and seeks clarity alone.
- Steven ConklinSupports Belly; reports Jeremiah’s status, confirms Conrad brought him back, helps with indoor setup.
- Laurel ConklinMother; conflicted but supportive, helps with Belly’s hair, delivers Susannah’s letter.
- Taylor JewelMaid of honor; manages details, comforts Belly, fixes makeup, hears Belly’s confession about Conrad.
- Jeremiah FisherGroom; disappeared after learning about Conrad, later returned after Conrad found him.
- Conrad FisherGoes to find Jeremiah and brings him back, stabilizing the imminent wedding plans.
- Mr. ConklinBelly’s father; quietly prepares the venue outside, stringing lights despite looming rain.
- Susannah FisherAbsent; posthumously present through a wedding-day letter given to Belly.