A Girl Named Summer by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online

and I thought Summer and I could get something to eat after that. Would eleven-thirty be all right?” David’s voice was so calm and reassuring.
    She stole a quick glance at him before turning back to her father. He was frowning in absolute concentration, as if David had just asked him to explain the national debt.
    “Normally our Summer has to be in by eleven,” he stated, “but I’ll make an exception this time. Eleven-thirty should give you enough time for a snack, don’t you think?”
    “Yes, sir, and thank you,” David said. He turned to Summer and grinned. “We better get going or we’ll be late.”
    “You got any gum?” Michael suddenly demanded. He wrapped his arms around David’s kneecaps, making it impossible for him to stand up.
    “Michael, it isn’t proper to ask for things,” Summer stammered. “And get your hands off David. You’re all grimy.” She shot her mother a pleading look.
    “Sure I do, Mike,” David replied. He peeled Michael from him and stood up. Reaching into his pant’s pocket, he extracted a pack of Juicy Fruit and offered a stick to her little brother.
    Michael was impressed. Juicy Fruit was one of his favorites.
    “Tell David thank you,” their mother suggested with a smile as David and Summer headed out the door.
    Neither said a word until they were on their way to the movie theater.
    “Your family is nice,” he said.
    You mean crazy, don’t you?
Summer wanted to say but didn’t. “Thank you,” she substituted instead. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
    “No,” David answered. “I’m an only child. Sometimes I wish I had a brother or a sister. Be kind of neat to share things with someone at home.”
    “Michael isn’t into sharing yet.”
    “He looks like the kind of kid who’s into everything,” he said with a chuckle. “You know, it took me ten minutes just to talk him into taking his boots off at the pool today.”
    “Yes, well…he kind of identifies with Superman,” she explained. “Mom says it’s a stage he’s going through.”
    “Were your parents surprised when Mike came along?”
    Summer was thinking the question over, trying to figure out how she was going to answer it, when David said, “Look, I shouldn’t have asked such a personal question. It’s just that they seem a little…”
    “Old?” Summer suggested.
    “Yeah, a little bit older than most parents with little kids. I know it’s none of my business, but I really think it’s neat. Mike’s a real character.”
    “It’s okay; it’s not a personal question. It’s just kind of weird, that’s all. Mom and Dad were married for five years before I was born, and then Mom was told she couldn’t have any more children. I was an only child for twelve years, and then Michael came along. Everyone was really surprised. It was a big adjustment.”
    “It must have been strange to have a baby around all of a sudden,” he said.
    “Mom and Dad were thrilled, but I…” She was suddenly embarrassed, remembering how put out she’d been the entire time her mother was carrying Michael. Why was she telling David all this? she asked herself. He couldn’t possibly be interested in her family.
    “It had to be hard on you, what with all the changes,” he said. He burst into laughter, saw her puzzled expression, and hurried to add, “‘Changes,’ get it? Diapers?” He continued to chuckle, immensely pleased with his little pun.
    “Not funny, David,” she replied, shaking her head.
    “Sorry,” he answered, but the lopsided grin he displayed contradicted his apology.
    “You know, I can’t imagine
not
having Michael around now, or Grandpa, for that matter. He moved in last year, after Grandma died.”
    “He seems real nice,” David said.
    “Tell me about your family,” she suggested.
    “Not much to tell,” he replied. “Dad’s an accountant, and Mom does a lot of volunteer work.”
    “What about you? Do you know what you want to do when you finish school?”
    “Not