Chapter 24
Emmitt rested his hands on the tabletop, peering at Summer as the corners of her lips curved into a bittersweet smile. “I guess you could say that.”
Spotting his expression, Summer’s face softened with concern. “Haven’t settled on a school yet? If that’s the case, I’ll just give my dad a call right now…” She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone.
“No need for calls,” Emmitt interjected, “it’s not that we haven’t chosen a school.”
Summer’s hand, poised to dial paused mid–air as she looked at him, puzzled.
After a slight tug at the corner of his lips and a two–second silence, Emmitt revealed, “She’s already picked her school. It’s Parkside High School,”
Summer blinked in disbelief as if she hadn’t quite heard him right. It took a moment for it to sink in, then with a voice tinged with incredulity and something else, she laughed, “Emmitt, are you talking about Parkside High School? That’s my school isn’t it?”
Seeing Summer’s astonished look, Emmitt knew she was as skeptical as he’d expected. After a pause, he spoke up. *She’ll be registering at the school tomorrow. Actually, the reason I asked you out so late is to see if you could keep an eye on her for us.”
He paused before adding. “Mira’s been raised in a small, out–of–the–way town and hasn’t seen much of the world. We’re not exactly clear on how her grades are, but they’re definitely not Parkside High material. I have no clue how she got her hands on that transfer acceptance letter from Parkside High, but she’s adamant about going. So, Summer, I’m really counting on you.”
Though Emmitt had reservations about Mirabella, she was family, and he intended to help where he could.
Summer listened intently, her gaze dropping momentarily as she suppressed certain emotions within. It took only a second before she looked back at Emmitt with a sweet smile. “Don’t worry, Emmitt. You didn’t have to ask–I’ll take good care of Mira.”
Emmitt had always known Summer to be a sweet girl, and looking at her now, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret. If only there hadn’t been that baby mix–up.
“But Emmitt, you just mentioned you’re unsure where Mira’s transfer letter came from?” Summer quickly resumed her questioning with a feigned puzzled look.
Emmitt nodded, “Yeah, Mom and Dad are clueless too.”
“I see…” Summer fiddled with her phone’s edge, then put on an uncertain expression. “You know, I vaguely remember last month. I think I overheard my dad on the phone with the principal of Parkside High.”
At this, Emmitt visibly stiffened. Last month? Wasn’t that around the same time as the date on his sister’s admission letter? But then it struck him–Mirabella hadn’t been raised in the Gilbert family. She’d been left to grow up in a distant town with her grandmother. Considering her rather unprivileged upbringing, would the Gilberts really pull strings to get her into such a prestigious school? He found it hard to believe.
Keenly observing Emmitt’s shifting expressions, Summer saw his brow furrow and quickly added, “But you know, a school as demanding as Parkside High might be tough to get into, even with my dad’s influence. Maybe I misheard.”
With an innocent shrug and a playful stick of her tongue, she looked every bit the harmless girl next door. “Don’t sweat it, Emmitt. As long as the transfer letter is legit, it doesn’t matter who helped her. We’re all just looking out for Mira.”
Emmitt’s frown deepened at her words.
Summer glanced at Emmitt’s silent brooding, a sly smile tugging at her lips, but she said no more.
