Page 20 of Faking Summer
My sister’s phone vibrated on the table, rattling her plate. She barely glanced at the screen before saying, "It’s the Barn," and lifting it to her ear.
"Hello?" she said, curiously. The barn used to be our refuge in Bayside, where we'd spent countless days helping with the animals. The owners eventually gave us our first jobs there because we loved volunteering. It blossomed into the most popular venue for events, and now they could hardly keep up with the demand.
Charlotte stood abruptly. "A month? And the next opening you have is still a five-year waitlist?"
She gripped her phone tighter, listening before she shook her head. "No, I don't even need to think about it. I'll take it." The words tumbled with urgency, and the realization hit me.
Oh no. Please tell me she's not doing what I think she is.
"We're moving up the wedding," she said softly, easing back into her seat.
My mother's hands flew to her mouth, tears welling in her eyes. "Is this really happening?" she asked in awe.
I found myself leaning forward, elbows resting on the table. "You're going to plan a wedding in four weeks? I thought you didn't want to get married until you were done with medical school."
"This is the only place I want to get married," she hissed, pushing her plate away from her like she was no longer able to eat. "Theynever have any openings... I put my name on the list years ago. We can make this work, right, Mom?"
Mom turned, her eyes crinkling at the corners just before a small smile played on her lips, the kind that held more love and understanding than I could ever know.
"Oh, honey," Mom said, "of course we can make this work. The grandparents are going to be so excited," she continued, already reaching for her phone. "I need to tell them first to get their flights scheduled."
As our mom called everyone she knew, I felt the ground shift beneath me. Four weeks. That was how long I had to find a wedding date. I should have had years—years to find someone worthy to stand by my side, someone who could withstand the scrutiny of my old school Greek family.
My Dad continued turning the sizzling meats on the grill nearby. Dan, oblivious to what just happened, stood beside him.
"Dan!" My sister yelled, and he pivoted towards us, holding a half-eaten chicken wing between his teeth. “We're moving up the wedding. A spot for us opened up so we're doing this thing in four weeks!"
I watched him, the gears turning as he processed the unexpected news. The chicken wing, now dangled limply from his mouth. Dan's eyes widened in sheer surprise.
Charlotte shrugged off his reaction. "He'll be excited," she declared, more to herself than us. "Once the shock wears off."
My entire life, all I'd ever wanted was to feel included in this family—to impress, to belong, to be enough for them. Soon all of my family would be here, and I wasn’t ready to face their judgment. To be the one who failed them at not being on the right path to marriage and whatever else success meant to them.
This was ridiculous. Charlotte couldn’t be serious. I sank in my seat, feeling like a ghost around my own family. Of course. Another summer where I’d fade into the background while she took center stage. Would the universe ever let me have my own moment? Momwas probably already creating a mental checklist. Dad was probably writing speeches in his head. And me? I’d be the only one without a date—basically human foliage. Present, mildly helpful, and completely overlooked. She was the favorite, the one who always found a way to shine. I should be happy for her. I was happy for her. But was it selfish to wish, just once, that someone looked at me the way they look at her?
"Oh, Charlotte, we’re going to have so much fun planning your dream wedding," my mother breathed out, leaning in to give her a hug.
Yaya chimed in from where she sat, still eating. "I'm so happy for you," she declared. "You’re both going to be doctors soon and now married... you go, girl."
"Caroline," a voice whispered, tugging at my sleeve. My cousin, Kim, drew me away from listening ears. "Can you believe that? A couple weeks. Crazy.”
"Yeah. Seems out of character for Charlotte," I said absentmindedly.
"I wouldn't blame you at all for finding a reason not to be there," she said, giving me a skeptical look.
"Why would I skip my sister's wedding?"
"Because..." she hesitated, her glance darting back to the crowd before settling on me once more. "You've never brought a guy around, and you cannot show up alone. Our family will never let you live it down."
I stiffened, knowing the weight of their expectations too well.
"Of course I'm going," I said with more conviction than I felt. My cousin's eyes widened slightly before she quipped, "You have more balls than I do."
The backyard began to empty, laughter and excitement vanishing as family and friends departed. In the dimming light, I felt the hollowness creep in—a shell of a person who never had a purpose. My sister had the perfect life, while I continued to be Charlotte’s shadow. Her light would always cast me further intodarkness. I used to hope that one day we could both shine, but in this family it was just her or Cooper who were allowed to be in the spotlight.
“Nights like tonight should be a wake-up call for you. Life is short, and you"—Mom paused, picking up plates on the table—"need to start getting your life together. You don’t want to be single and teaching cheerleading forever, do you?"
Her words stung, burrowing beneath my skin and nestling next to the insecurities that whispered incessantly in the darkest corners of my mind. I was never good enough—she took every opportunity she could to let me know.
