______________________________________

Liz woke up alone the next morning. Conrad left with the boys to go on their fishing trip leaving her in the house with the girls. The last situation she wanted to be in. But she sat downstairs at the counter and had yet to see anyone. Which was completely fine with her.

Though it seemed the universe had other plans as she watched Belly walk into the kitchen. She let out a deep sigh as she stood and brought her bowl over to the sink. Belly picked at her fingernails as she watched Liz move around the kitchen.

"Liz." Belly calls out. The girls voice was ignored as Liz continued to wash her bowl and then began to dry it, "Can we talk about the other day, please?"

She's ignored again as Liz placed the bowl in the cabinet. Belly sighs, "Did you tell Jeremiah?"

Liz stops her movements and turns to Belly with narrowed eyes, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"I just- I need to know because I want to tell him and I wanna do it the right way."

"Wow." Liz chuckles humorlessly, "You bring up these random unresolved feelings the weekend of your own wedding and expect things to go your way?"

"I get it, okay? But he's my fiancé and-"

"Was he your fiancé when you wanted to kiss Conrad?"

Belly stammers, "Yes."

"So, what are you gonna say to him now? Because you're marrying him." Liz says, "What, are you gonna let him stand up there knowing what you did and how you feel?"

"I will talk to him. I just don't want you to say anything to him to make things worse."

"Do you seriously think you get a say in how this ends? When you're the one who fucked up?" Liz asks with wide eyes, "You're seriously a fucking joke, Belly."

"I'm just asking for you to be considerate."

"You ruined that the second you tried to kiss my fiancé!" Liz yells, "What is your fucking problem?"

"I didn't mean it like that." Belly tries, "But I love Jere and I want to marry him and I will tell him about what happened. I just need time."

Liz steps closer. Anger swarming in her eyes, "You don't get to come to me and ask me to spare your feelings when you did what you did. You've made this entire summer borderline impossible for me the second you threw me under the bus and I forgave you. Then you turn around and try to kiss my fiancé. I don't know what planet you're living on, but things don't get to go right for you in this scenario."

Belly stares back at Liz as she continues, "You don't get to get out of this with any of your pride or dignity. You don't deserve to be happy with Jeremiah when you have feelings for Conrad." She spits, "The second this wedding is over, if it still even happens, we're leaving and no matter what we will never be the same again. And it is your fault. You're the heartless one."

Without another word, Liz turns away and walks out of the back door, slamming it behind her. Liz only makes it over to the chairs by the pool before she has to sit down. Her heart slamming against her ribs. Her hand comes up and rubs at her chest as she takes deep breaths. She takes another deep breath as she looks up at the sky. Her eyes shutting as she focuses on calming herself.

She barely hears the door open behind her. She hears steps descending down the stairs, "Liz?"

Liz turns quickly, "Mom? What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you." She says stopping beside her, "Are you okay, honey?"

"I'm fine. I just-" Liz says as she looks away, "I'm fine."

Megan takes a seat beside her. She rubs the girl's shoulder, "I talked to Laurel. She told me you weren't going to the rehearsal or the wedding."

"Well, she's right."

"You wanna tell me what happened?"

"It's a lot, Mom." She sighs

"Is this because of Belly outing you and Conrad at the lunch?" She asks, "Because if that's it, honey, your Dad's fine with it now. It can be resolved."

"Mom, that doesn't make it okay." Liz scoffs, "I can't keep letting people just walk all over me. Shit's been happening all summer."

"Like what?" She asks. Liz's mouth shuts before she clenches her jaw, "I just don't want you to regret not being there. You've known Belly and Jere your whole life."

"I won't regret it." She says shaking her head

"If you don't want to be there for Belly, be there for Jere."

"God, Mom." Liz says standing up, "Why are you so hellbent on forcing everyone together? I'm telling you that I don't want to be there and you're still trying to convince me."

"Liz, please."

"No, and you did the same thing with Dad." She says, "You constantly ignore how I feel."

"I'm not ignoring it." Megan says standing, "I just want everyone to get along."

"Why?"

"Because I promised Susannah." Megan says shakily. Liz's heart drops, "I told her before she died that I would keep everyone together. You guys have been so busy living your own lives and this is the last chance that I have to try to establish a foundation to try and build what we had while she was here."

Liz shakes her head, "We're never gonna have that again, Mom. Susannah's not here anymore."

"She's here." Megan says gesturing around the backyard, "She's all throughout this house and she always will be. This wedding could be the start of everyone truly reconnecting and maybe we can spend our summers here again."

"Susannah cannot keep being used to brush over our problems. She wouldn't want things to be done this way."

Megan sighs grabbing Liz's hands, "She would want everyone to be okay. To be together. So, please, for the next two days, please, just put whatever is going on aside and be at the rehearsal. Come to the wedding. For me and for Susannah."

Liz swallows back tears, "Mom, that's not fair."

"Please." Megan says as her eyes well up with tears, "Just please. Think about it, okay?"

She gently releases Liz's hands before turning away. Liz watches her walk into the house before tears cascade down her cheeks.

______________________________________