Welcome back to my little love story. After a two year hiatus Danielle, Londyn, and friends are back. If you're new to the story or just need a refresher the original thread is here...Under The Tartosan Sun. Fair warning that thread is long (46 chapters and 40 pages on Vanilla) and a bit of a mess. The early chapters are fun just to see how I've grown as a writer and how my writing style has evolved. The later chapters are the relevent ones for the story now. This new thread picks up the story less than week after the events in Chapter 46.
I hope you enjoy, and thank you for coming along for the journey ❤️
Brenna sees herself in Summer, mostly the good qualities she taught her. She wants to make sure it stays that way. Summer gets it, but thinks mom worries too much. They're both right, but they love each other enough to be able to joke about it. Brenna is a little heartbroken that Summer decided to move to Tartosa to chase her dreams, but she's also fiercely proud of the chef, and woman, she's become.
Love this! Such a real life Mom call 🙂Summer handled it beautifully, but I do think Mom achieved what she wanted to achieve which was Summer and Darian discussing possible wedding plans! 😀You can just picture both their Moms plotting out who is going to call them and what to talk about.
Such beautiful pictures from their patio and enjoying their nectar! ❤️
It was late in the afternoon and Summer was working on getting things ready for a quiet romantic evening at home with Darian. Evenings like these were all too rare of late with the demands of work. She was enjoying a little break in her preparations when her phone rang. Seeing her phone's caller ID say "Mom", she realized it had been a while since they talked. She knew she was going to hear about it.
“Hey mom. How are you and dad?”
“It’s wonderful to hear your voice Summer. I was beginning to wonder if something bad happened to my daughter.”
“Mom, don’t be so dramatic. It’s only been a week…”
“Two weeks…”
“Alright, two weeks…”
“And four days…”
'What is it with mother's and guilt trips', Summer thought to herself.
Summer loved her mom, but Brenna struggled a bit with her only child moving so far from home. Everyone on her mother’s side of the family worked in the Willow Creek culinary world. It was always assumed Summer would stay close to home, close to her bayou roots. Her mother supported her chasing her dreams, wherever they led, though if you read between the lines sometimes, it was clear Brenna had hoped those dreams would keep Summer closer to home.
The conversation quickly settled into familiar territory. In the middle of her hectic schedule it truly was nice to hear her mother’s voice. Summer wouldn’t be here without her help and support. Cooking was in her family’s blood, it’s what they all did, at least on her mother’s side. But to achieve what she had at her age took more than just skill. It took passion and determination, qualities she had her mother to thank for.
The conversation had been going for almost twenty minutes when her mother pounced. “How’s the wedding planning going?” Brenna asked, her voice full of her sweet southern charm, tinged with a hint of mischief and lots of motherly nosiness.
And there it was! The question she'd been expecting ever since the phone rang. She'd let her guard down a bit, and her mother got her. She was a master at catching you off balance when she wanted to ask a pointed question. “It, sorta…hasn’t.” The words came out slowly, like molasses. She could never slip a lie past her mom, try as she might. “It’s been hectic lately. Doing my cooking videos and work at Il Segreto.”
Il Segreto, aka, The Secret, was as it's name suggested one of Tartosa's hidden gems. Tucked away discreetly it was the kind of place overlooked by tourists, but well known to the locals. It had been owned by the same family for generations and was beloved for its menu and the ambiance. Summer's reputation had landed her a gig as the sous chef, the right hand to the executive chef. It was a prestige job, the kind that could launch her career to even greater heights.
“You kids haven’t made any plans? You’re not having second thoughts are you?”
“No we're not having second thoughts. It’s just work, that's all.”
“Well, don’t make the same mistakes I did dear” Brenna said. “Don’t get so obsessed with your career you forget what matters most. You have a good man, don’t let him slip away.”
“It’s only been six months. And Darian is not going to slip away.” I’m not you, she thought to herself. Brenna Holiday had burned through two marriages. It wasn’t until her third, and current marriage, to Summer’s dad that she'd gotten it right. Summer had heard the story repeatedly. “Yeah we haven’t sat down and discussed all the details, but it’s not like we haven’t talked about it at all. We’re both in agreement we don’t want anything fancy, just a nice ceremony with friends and family here in Tartosa.”
“You’re not going to have the wedding here?”, a hint of disappointment in Brenna’s voice that belied the lightheartedness of their conversation. “You’re both from Willow Creek. Your dad and I were hop…”
“Mom” Summer cut in, not wanting to give her any more of an opening to lay a guilt trip. “I know you and dad were hoping we’d come back for the wedding. Tartosa is our home now. This is where our life is. Our friends. Don’t worry, we’re not having the wedding without you and dad. Darian’s mom is coming too. All of you, our treat. All you have to do is come and have fun.”
“You have a point, it would be fun to come see what all the fuss is about. See if it’s really as romantic, and picturesque as everyone says it is” Without missing a beat, she changed topics. “I suppose you kids haven’t given any thought to when you’re going to give me some grandkids either, have you?”
“Oh look at the time, getting late here. Bye mom.” she said, slightly exasperated. “Love you. Tell dad I love him too” she said before pushing end call.
Darian was already hanging out by the grill when Summer emerged from the kitchen carrying the fixings for spiedini. A few weeks before, Matteo and Liberty had gifted them two bottles of Famiglia Rossi Chianti Classico. Darian had already poured them both a glass. Matteo said it was the perfect accompaniment for a lamb spiedini. What better time than now to put that to the test. Not that she doubted Matteo’s palette or his family’s skill at crafting the best wines. As the skewers sizzled on the grill, they talked.
“So what did your mother want earlier? I have a good idea, but I’m curious.” he said playfully. The mixed aromas, skewers of lamb and veggies sizzling on the grill and subtle hints of Summer’s perfume, were weaving a spell on Darian.
“The same thing your mom wanted yesterday. I told you the other day, those two are plotting and planning together. They're trying to quietly plan our wedding themselves. The longer we wait, the worse they’re going to get.” She gave the skewers a flip, before taking a quick sip of her wine.
“So what do we do? Hurry up before they can hatch a plan.”
“They already more than one plan" Summer said. "I still like the idea of having it on the anniversary of our engagement.” Summer pulled the spiedini off the grill and plated them, before grabbing a stool. “But I’m open to choosing another date.”
“We could always elope!” Darian suggested.
“The wine's gone to your head. We’re not eloping."
"I want a real wedding.” After savoring a bite followed by a sip of chianti, she continued. “When I was little I wanted a huge fairytale wedding, to a prince, live in a big castle, all of it.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him off his stool, before wrapping her arms around his shoulders. “Now all I need for my perfect wedding is our families, our closest friends…and most of all, you.”
Well, speaking of path's crossing... look who I stumbled across by chance - the wonderful ladies of UtTS. This has brought a much needed smile to my face. Thank you DaniRose2143
BlueSeaWavessimgirl1010oolonglongEllupelluellugidget1234 Thank you so much 😊 I'm looking forward to digging into Mimi's past. Her character is perfect for flashbacks. Some of you may remember her from Schemes and Dreams and the short lived Journeys story. This timeline is about 4-5 years after the events in those. A lot has happened in that time that we never got to see. All of those things were storylines I intended to explore in Schemes. Now we'll get to enjoy them through flashbacks. 😊
It was great that they ran into Mimi! And everyone is doing so well. And they had a little reunion of sorts with Venessa on the phone! I hope that Mimi decides to make that trip to Tartosa! 🙂
