The Summer I Turned Pretty, #3
We'll Always Have Summer
by Jenny Han
Contents
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Overview
Conrad overhears Belly crying about a wedding shower without her mother and secretly meets Laurel for breakfast. He urges Laurel to attend the wedding, revealing Belly’s distress and Jeremiah’s commitment. Laurel questions Conrad’s motives. Shaken by his involvement, Conrad resolves to disengage from the wedding plans.
Summary
Conrad overhears Belly on the phone with Taylor, declining a neighborhood wedding shower because it would feel wrong without Laurel. After Belly hangs up, Conrad believes he hears her crying and realizes how much she is struggling, despite her usual cheerful exterior.
Troubled, Conrad arranges an early breakfast with Laurel at a diner. He tells Laurel she should attend the wedding because Belly needs her mother. Laurel counters by asking whether Conrad thinks they should marry; he avoids endorsing the marriage but insists Belly and Jeremiah will proceed and that Belly needs support.
Conrad shares specifics—Belly is barely eating and cried over the shower—softening Laurel slightly. He defends Jeremiah as unserious in general but serious about Belly. Laurel then asks Conrad directly about his interest, pressing him on whether his concern is only for Belly. Conrad answers that he wants Belly happy, and Jeremiah too, but offers no further explanation.
After Laurel refuses to let Conrad pay, he drives back reconsidering his role. Recognizing he has been acting like a de facto wedding planner despite his reservations, Conrad decides to disengage and wash his hands of the situation.
Who Appears
- Conrad FisherNarrator; hears Belly crying, meets Laurel to urge attendance, reveals Belly’s distress, then decides to disengage.
- Laurel DunneBelly’s mother; meets Conrad, hears Belly isn’t fine, questions Conrad’s motives, slightly softens but remains wary.
- Belly (Isabel Conklin)Overwhelmed bride; declines a shower without her mother, cries privately, is barely eating per Conrad.
- Jeremiah FisherBelly’s fiancé; described by Conrad as generally unserious but serious about Belly.
- Taylor JewelBelly’s friend; on the phone about a proposed wedding shower.
- LucindaTaylor’s mother; offering to host Belly’s wedding shower, mentioned by Laurel.
- Adam FisherMentioned as paying for the wedding, intensifying Laurel’s frustration.
- Belly’s fatherReferenced as likely to give in, reflecting family dynamics around the wedding.
- Steven ConklinMentioned as a best man, signaling family involvement despite tensions.