Lasting Summer - [Loving Summer 05] by Kailin Gow, Kailin Romance

understand,” I said.
    “I’m just glad you got a chance to grow
up with your Aunt Sookie when she was alive,” she said. “She was a remarkable
woman, Summer. I see a lot of her in you, and I’m glad she rubbed off on you
like you were her own child.”
    I gulped, not wanting to cry,
remembering Aunt Sookie, her illness, and her sudden death.
     
    “But duty calls in another way,” Mom
said. “The Donovans. We’re very close, Summer, you have to remember that.
They’ve helped me out so much when I needed help, like getting me back home to
you this last time, so I’m going out there to help take care of Nadine. Since
Nat left and since Drew moved here, she’s now being taken care of by a live-in
nurse. Nothing against that nurse, but she’s not family so I’m going there to
stay with her for the next few week or even a month or so before I get sent
overseas on another mission.”
    “That’ll be what Mrs. Donovan needs,” I
said. “Yes, you should go. Don’t worry about me.”
    “I came here to see you and to tell you
where I’m going. I also see you seem to be doing just fine. I know you are. We
Jones women, we’re from pretty strong stock, you know,” Mom said. “Aunt Sookie,
myself, and you. We are survivors, don’t you forget that.”
    “I won’t!” I hugged my mother tightly.
    “Good, because, Summer there will be
days when it’s tough and you don’t know how to go on, as well as the most
happiest days in your life, so what you need to remember when faced with the
ups and downs, is that it will all work out.”
    “Thank you, Mom!” I said. “I’ll
remember.”
    “Good,” she said, wiping at the corner
of her eyes. She noticed Cooper then and stood up straight. No one will get to
see the soft side of Major Jones if she can help it.
    “Hello,” Cooper came up to shake Mom’s
hands. “So nice to meet you Mrs. Jones. I now know where Summer gets her beauty
and strength of character. You must be so proud of her.”
    “I am,” Mom said, looking Cooper up and
down. She had a quizzical look on her face as she stood back to take Cooper in.
“Have we met before?”
    “No,” Cooper said. “I tend to look like
everyone’s best friend, ex-boyfriends, or sons so that’s probably why you think
I look familiar.”
    “Okay,” Mom said, still looking
confused. “Well, I’m late for my flight, but I’ll call you, Summer, and let you
know how things are going in San Fran.”
    “Keep an eye on Rachel, too,” I said.
“She’s going up there too for a while.”
    “Ah Rachel,” Mom said. “I will. Nice to
meet you Cooper, and please, don’t let Summer get you down. If she does, do
what makes her happy and she’ll come around!”
    My face was red then. “Thanks, Mom!” I
shut the door, and faced Cooper.
    “Nice family you’ve got there,” he
smiled. “You are indeed lucky.”
     

Chapter
12
    Nat
     
    E ver since that
night I visited Summer at the Pad, I’ve been sorely tempted to reveal myself to
her, to take her back into my arms and ask her to forgive me, to be with me the
way we were before I left.
    When it comes to Summer, she can break
down any barriers I’ve erected. Any resistance I have set up, comes crashing
down when I hold her in my arms, when she looks at me with those eyes full of
love.
    Visiting her that night made it loud and
clear for me that I can’t leave Summer alone. She had taken sleeping pills…not
to kill herself with, but because she needed them to sleep. Anxiety? Insomnia?
That wasn’t Summer. She never had to use anything to go to sleep. She was
always on the go, full of energy, non-stop energy that she expended on
volleyball for school, teaching and running Aunt Sookie’s Academy, and studying
for school. They kept her so busy that by the time she fell asleep, she was
bone tired.
    Someone like the Summer I used to know
never used sleeping pills.
    So it alarmed me. Summer wasn’t taking
care of herself. She wasn’t sleeping right. She wasn’t