The Lion's Den(24)
This is the most earnest I have ever seen Rhonda—she is actually starting to tear up, which makes the rest of us misty-eyed as well. “You’ll always be my little girl, and you know I’d do anything for you. I’m so glad you’ve found such a nice man to take care of you. I always knew you would. Thank you for sharing this trip with your little mama. I love you.”
We all raise our glasses, and Summer gives her mom a hug. “I love you, too, Mom.”
They both wipe away tears and sit as Brittani stands and looks around. This should be good. “My big sister. She’s always been the smart one.” No one says anything. “Shit, don’t everybody protest at once.” She guffaws. “For real, though, good thing I could borrow from her book reports. My teachers always thought it was weird that my book reports were so good but I couldn’t actually talk about the book in class. I’m kidding. I would never steal her book reports.”
She clearly wants a laugh here, and everyone obliges (though it’s hardly a joke: Brittani can’t stand to read and would always get Summer to do her homework).
“She’s the best sister ever and has been helping me out her whole life. And now, because of her and John, I get to go to an awesome college. So, John, thank you so much for getting me in, and, Summer, thank you for making me go to junior college so that I could ‘better myself.’ Now I just have to find a husband before I graduate so I don’t have to work. I’m just kidding. But not really. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” Summer says, and blows her a kiss across the table. “And you’re smarter than you think you are.”
This is sweet but completely untrue. Brittani, God bless her, doesn’t have the sense she was born with, and that speech proves it.
John gestures to Vinny, down at the other end of the table. He stands and raises his glass. “To Summer, the most beautiful young woman. Happy birthday.”
Now it’s my turn. I stand and smile at Summer. “I met Summer when we were freshmen in high school and she moved in next door to me, way down south in Georgia.”
“Oh my God.” Summer laughs. “Don’t remind me.”
I ignore this response. “We were best friends from the moment we met, but what I remember the most was the summer before our junior year. We did a lot of trading novels, watching French movies, playing tennis…and sneaking Rhonda’s wine coolers that summer.”
“I wondered how I was drinking them so fast!” Rhonda exclaims.
Everyone laughs. I take a deep breath and continue. “Summer was truly there for me when I needed her that year, and I’ll never forget it. Even after she moved two thousand miles away, we talked as much as if we still lived next door to each other.” I don’t mention the reason I needed her was that I’d nearly been raped while escorting her to our teacher’s apartment, against my better judgment. Nor do I mention that I was a virgin until I was twenty as a result, or that though I’ve gotten past the fear of sex, the smell of Drakkar Noir can still provoke a panic attack in me. “We’ve been through lots of ups and downs together, and I look forward to many more years of friendship. Happy birthday!”
“Thank you,” Summer says, her hand over her heart. I search her face as I take my seat, trying to see how sincere she is, how sincere she thinks I am. But her eyes are nothing but a shimmering, shallow pool.
Bernard stands and raises his glass. “People think men rule the world, but a beautiful woman can have all those men in the palm of her hand, and you, my dear, deserve it. The smile, the eyes, the body, you have it all. Happy birthday!”
Lecherous old fart. We raise our glasses nonetheless and once again drink to Summer. “That’s so sweet. Thank you, Bernie.” She bats her eyes. “I’m glad my Spin classes are paying off.”
Amythest is next. I wonder what she can possibly say about Summer, having met her yesterday, and I can tell from the slightly amused look on Summer’s face that she’s thinking the same thing. All eyes turn to Amythest expectantly as she stands, spinning her already empty wineglass between her fingers. “Well, I met Summer yesterday,” she starts, “through her awesome little sister, of course.” She smiles at Summer. “I always hear such awesome things about you from Brittani, and I can tell they’re totally true.”
Summer returns her smile. “Aw, thank you.”
Amythest continues. “You’re someone I totally look up to. I hope I’m just like you when I’m older.”
The smile on Summer’s face evaporates as Amythest finishes. “Thanks for letting Brittani bring me on this awesome trip. Happy birthday!”
John nods to Claire, who stands nervously and speaks in a rushed, soft voice. “I met Summer through Wendy. You guys have such a wonderful friendship, and I know we don’t know each other that well, but you’re so sweet, and I’m just so glad to be included, and so happy to be here. Happy birthday.”
She raises her glass and sits in one motion, out of breath.
“You’re the sweet one, Claire,” Summer says. “I’m glad you could come.”
Wendy stands and looks around at the table with a smile. “I’m going to break things up a little, and before I give my toast to my best friend, give one to her wonderful boyfriend, John, without whom none of us would be here. John, thank you for being so great to Summer and for taking us all on this fantastic trip.”