It's Not Summer Without You

Belly goes to her room after Jeremiah leaves, not wanting to be around when he returns in case he and Conrad begin fighting again. Belly begins looking around her room for anything she has left behind over the years and needs to clean now that the house will be sold. She finds an old diary and some books, deciding to leave most of her things behind. She does take one thing: her stuffed polar bear, named Junior Mint, a gift from Conrad years earlier.

She also finds an old toy telescope, a gift from her father, who showed her the constellations during her astronomy phase. This memory makes her realize she hasn’t always fully appreciated the kind of man her father is—and how different he is from Mr. Fisher.

Belly explains that her father’s appearances at the summer house were rare throughout her childhood, stopping altogether when her parents divorced.

The narrative shifts back to a summer when he was visiting. The parents are heading to a fancy dinner, and when Belly goes upstairs to help Susannah and her mother get ready, Susannah does Belly’s makeup despite Laurel’s protestations.

Susannah asks Belly to help her pick out her jewelry, and Belly goes right for her opal earrings and ring.