The Summer I Turned Pretty, #3
We'll Always Have Summer
by Jenny Han
Contents
Chapter Eighteen
Overview
Belly settles back home, juggling shifts at Behrs while planning the wedding with Jeremiah. They debate cake flavors and whether to use Susannah’s inheritance to fund the wedding, easing Belly’s workload. Belly keeps the engagement secret from her mother as they prepare for the garden dedication. Uncertainty about Conrad’s attendance stirs Belly’s mixed feelings.
Summary
Belly quickly readjusts to life at home, sharing early breakfasts with her mother and bickering with her brother Steven over their messy bathroom. She resumes work at Behrs, taking as many shifts as possible to save for the wedding.
The night before the Cousins trip for Susannah’s garden dedication, Belly and Jeremiah talk wedding details. They joke through cake flavors and compromise on multiple layers, revealing Jeremiah’s new interest in food shows. When Belly counts her tips and worries about costs, Jeremiah suggests she stop overworking and proposes using money Susannah left him to pay for the wedding.
Belly resists at first because they planned to fund it themselves, but Jeremiah argues weddings are costlier than expected and says Susannah would have wanted to contribute. Belly, picturing Susannah’s presence, softens to the idea, impressed by Jeremiah’s forethought about her health and the planning workload.
They agree to revisit the decision after telling their parents. Belly admits she is scared but wants the engagement out in the open. She has hidden her ring since returning home, wearing it only in private to avoid her mother’s notice.
Before saying good night, Belly asks about travel plans and whether Conrad will attend. Jeremiah is unsure, saying Conrad might or might not show. Belly feels both relief and disappointment, falling asleep anxious about seeing Conrad and about revealing the engagement at Cousins.
Who Appears
- Belly (Isabel Conklin)Back home, overworks at Behrs, hides her engagement ring, and debates using Susannah’s money for the wedding.
- Jeremiah FisherOn the phone, plans wedding details and suggests funding it with Susannah’s inheritance to ease Belly’s burden.
- Conrad FisherAbsent but possibly attending the dedication; his uncertainty triggers Belly’s mixed feelings.
- Laurel ConklinBelly’s mother; shares breakfasts with Belly, from whom the engagement is still secret.
- Steven ConklinBelly’s brother; domestic friction over their messy shared bathroom highlights Belly’s home routine.
- Susannah FisherDeceased; her garden’s dedication prompts the trip, and her inheritance becomes potential wedding funding.
- Taylor JewelBelly’s friend; provides wedding ideas, including cake suggestions, guiding early planning.