We'll Always Have Summer

Jeremiah and Belly agree to wait to tell their families until they are all together next week at a garden dedication ceremony honoring Susannah’s work with a local women’s shelter. Belly realizes this will be the first time she has seen Conrad since Christmas since he canceled plans to attend Laurel’s 50th birthday party at the last minute. Belly is worried about how everyone will respond to the news of their engagement, especially Laurel and Conrad.

Belly asks Taylor to meet her at the local coffee shop so that she can tell her the news in person before her dad picks her up. Taylor is shocked when Belly tells her they are engaged, grabbing Belly’s hand to look at her ring. Taylor remarks on the sudden engagement, especially after Jeremiah admitted to cheating on Belly. Taylor is excited to be the first one Belly shares the news with but warns her that Laurel will not take the news well.

Belly tells Taylor that the wedding will be in August at Cousins and asks Taylor to be her maid of honor. Taylor begins talking about the detailed wedding plans Belly imagined for herself as a little girl, and Belly tells her that she and Jeremiah only want to do a simple wedding. Undeterred, Taylor tells her that “you should have everything you want” (69), and with Taylor’s support, Belly feels like she has permission to feel excited for the first time since getting engaged.

Belly plans to tell Anika about the engagement next but worries about what her friend will think, especially considering Belly agreed to live with Anika and a few friends the next semester. Belly goes to Anika’s room and apologizes, telling her she cannot room with them next year. When Anika asks why, Belly tells her about the engagement. Anika asks if Belly knows what she is doing, and Belly says, “I think so. I really, really love him” (72). Anika says she will figure out another roommate for the suite, and Belly grows wistful, thinking about how she was looking forward to living with Anika.

Belly asks if Anika thinks she is making a mistake, and Anika admits that while she is surprised, “You care too much about what other people think” (73). Anika teases Belly, telling her she will never have to wear shower shoes again or worry about roommates stealing food. Belly helps Anika clean out the rest of her room and returns to her dorm room, thinking about how much her college experience will change.

Belly recalls the day she moved into her dorm room at school, with help from Jeremiah, Laurel, and her father. Despite being called “Belly” for her entire life, Belly decides to go by Isabel at school. In her room, she sees her roommate, Jillian, has already unpacked.

Belly’s parents and Jeremiah help her unpack, and when it is time for her parents to leave, Belly realizes she is not ready to say goodbye. Belly’s father asks if Jeremiah is leaving too, and he says he has plans to take Belly to dinner. Belly ignores a look from Laurel, a reference to a previous conversation in which Laurel reminded Belly not to limit herself “to a certain kind of college experience” (78) just because she has a boyfriend at the same school.

Belly struggles to make friends during her first few weeks of school, trying not to spend too much time with Jeremiah, while Taylor seems to be making friends easily. One night, a girl in Belly’s hall, Joy, asks her to play Never Have I Ever with some other girls. As they play, Belly is embarrassed at how little experience she’s had until someone says, “Never have I ever dated two people in the same family” (85). When Belly puts down a finger, the other girls ask her to explain, and she tells them briefly about Jeremiah and Conrad.

After that evening, Belly becomes close friends with Anika. As Belly reflects on her relationship with Anika, she mourns the loss of never having the opportunity to live with her but reminds herself that from now on, she will only have one roommate for the rest of her life: Jeremiah.

The next day Belly wakes up early to finish packing and puts her engagement ring in a small pocket of her purse to hide it from her father. Jeremiah comes over to help her pack. After they leave, Belly’s father takes her and Jeremiah out to lunch at a steak restaurant. Wanting to be mindful of her dad’s finances, Belly chooses an inexpensive meal, whereas Jeremiah chooses the most expensive steak on the menu.

Belly’s father asks what Jeremiah has planned for the summer, and Belly shakes her head at him, a warning not to share anything about the engagement. Jeremiah shares his plans to intern with his father while Belly explains that she will waitress again this summer. Belly notices her father squint at the bill when he picks it up and wishes that Jeremiah had noticed as well.

On the ride home, Belly thinks about all the drives she has taken with her father over the years and is overcome with emotion. She almost decides to tell her father about the engagement but, at the last minute, decides against it.

Belly falls back into her regular routine at home with ease. On the night before Susannah’s garden dedication ceremony, Belly talks to Jeremiah on the phone about wedding details. Jeremiah asks Belly if she is nervous about telling their families, and Belly admits to herself that she has been keeping so busy with work so that she does have to think about telling her family about the engagement. Belly tells Jeremiah that she is both nervous and looking forward to feeling relieved when they finally share the news.

Before hanging up, Belly asks Jeremiah if Conrad plans to attend the dedication. Jeremiah says he has not spoken to Conrad but would not be surprised if he did not show. Jeremiah reminds Belly to bring her ring tomorrow, and they say goodnight. Belly goes to sleep feeling afraid that she may see Conrad tomorrow and afraid she may not.

On the car ride to the ceremony, Laurel asks Belly if Conrad will be there. Belly shrugs and tells her mother not to get her hopes up. Inside, she feels that Conrad will indeed be there, and she thinks about the extra care she took getting ready that morning in anticipation of seeing him. When they arrive at the ceremony, Adam Fisher asks Laurel if she has heard from Conrad. Laurel suggests that Belly wait outside for Conrad while the rest of them go inside to get ready. Belly waits for 10 minutes and then goes inside, thinking that Conrad is not coming after all.

Despite speeding from the airport, Conrad arrives late to the ceremony. From his place in the back, he sees Belly before she sees him. He admires her purple dress, noting how she looks so grown up he almost does not recognize her. When he watches her stand to clap, he sees a Band-Aid on her ankle and how she fusses with the barrettes in her hair, and then he recognizes her as the Belly he has always known.

Conrad listens to the ceremony, feeling shame and regret for not going to the shelter to help his mother when she was alive. Jeremiah gets up and gives his speech, and Conrad thinks about how Susannah would have been proud of him and how he should be up there alongside Jeremiah. He watches his brother return to his seat, taking Belly’s hand, and a flare of jealousy rises in Conrad, who realizes that coming back here was a mistake.

After the ceremony, Belly sees Conrad standing in the back. Jeremiah clears his throat, and Belly realizes she is staring at Conrad. Everyone greets Conrad, and Belly goes last, giving him a hesitant hug. Conrad lifts Belly off the ground, and she screeches, noting that Jeremiah does not laugh along with everyone else.

Belly rides with Jeremiah to the restaurant, and she suggests they wait to tell their families about their engagement. Jeremiah argues that they are officially bringing their families together by getting married and convinces Belly to follow their plan.

At the restaurant, Mr. Fisher thanks everyone for coming to Susannah’s dedication ceremony. After they toast, Jeremiah stands and clears his throat, stating that he also has an announcement. Belly has an urge to prevent Jeremiah from speaking. Jeremiah states that he and Belly are engaged, and the table goes quiet. Belly looks at Conrad and sees that his face is completely blank. Laurel asks where this is coming from, and Belly briefly thinks about the events leading up to Jeremiah’s proposal.

Laurel says they are too young to get married, and Adam intervenes, saying that Belly and Jeremiah must have been joking. When Jeremiah says they are not joking, Adam suggests they can wait until after graduation. The waiter returns to the table, and Laurel says they will take the check. Belly reaches into her purse and puts on her engagement ring, and Laurel stares at it before turning away. On the ride home, Laurel tells Belly that she is returning the engagement ring.