Free Elm Creek Quilts [06] The Master Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini Page B

status.”
    “They have a right to object,” Summer countered, “but I have the right to make my own choices.”
    “So you do,” said Sylvia, nodding. “Then you believe Jeremy is ‘the one’?”
    “I don’t know. I suppose not.”
    “My understanding is that moving in together is often a precursor to marriage.”
    Summer shook her head. “Jeremy has to know that isn’t possible. My life is here, right?”
    “Are you asking me or telling me?”
    “My career, my mom, my friends are all right here in Waterford,” said Summer firmly. “I couldn’t leave if I wanted to.”
    Sylvia’s eyebrows rose. “Couldn’t you?”
    Summer let the question pass. “Jeremy will eventually get his Ph.D. and move on to some faculty position elsewhere. He knows I can’t come with him.”
    “Are you certain he knows? Men have a way of ignoring what they don’t want to see.”
    Summer couldn’t argue with that. She toyed with a loose string on her shirtsleeve. They had never discussed marriage or made any long-term plans. Summer loved Jeremy, and she would be brokenhearted when he left, but she knew it would happen and accepted it. He occasionally mentioned different colleges he aspired to work for after receiving his degree, and Waterford College was not among them. Even if he did prefer a small, rural school, departments seldom hired their own Ph.D.s for tenure-track positions. It was just the way things were.
    “I know our time together is limited,” said Summer. “One of the reasons I moved in with Jeremy was to make the most of that time.”
    “I see.”
    “He has less than a year before he graduates.” Summer forced a laugh. “Most couples break up sooner than that. Jeremy and I probably will, too, and so none of this will matter.”
    “If none of this matters, why haven’t you told anyone? And if you honestly believe you’re going to break up anyway, isn’t it rather foolish to move in with him?”
    Summer had no answer for her.
    Sylvia reached over and patted Summer’s hand. “I believe you two should have had this discussion before you gave up your old apartment, but you should still have it. Better late than much too late.”
    Summer nodded. Sylvia was right, but that meant one more discussion she loathed to have. Speaking to Gwen seemed easy in comparison.

    On Sunday, Summer decided to get it over with.
    She waited until after supper, then, in a calm, controlled voice, told Gwen she had moved in with Jeremy. She omitted a few details, such as when the move had taken place and her former roommates’ assistance in deceiving Gwen. She waited for her mother to respond, but finally prompted, “Mom?”
    “Why?” Gwen choked out.
    With barely a tremor, Summer carefully went through the reasons again. Jeremy needed someone to share the rent. She was tired of her old place. The new apartment was better in every respect, including rent. She loved Jeremy and wanted to spend more time with him, something their busy schedules would not permit otherwise.
    “But you’ve only been dating since last summer,” said Gwen, with remarkably less hysteria than Summer had anticipated. “How could you give up your freedom, your independence?”
    Summer couldn’t help it; she rolled her eyes. “I knew you would say that. I’m not chained to the kitchen table. Jeremy doesn’t shove a toilet brush into my hand when he leaves for campus in the morning.”
    Gwen shook her head. “I can’t believe you didn’t discuss this with me first.”
    “I’m not a teenager, Mom.”
    “But apparently still not mature enough to understand the consequences of your decisions.”
    Gwen rose and began to clear the table, refusing Summer’s offer of help. Summer carried plates to the sink anyway and tried to change the subject by asking about Gwen’s progress on her new research project. Gwen told her she did not want to stir up more negative energy that evening, and maybe they could talk about it another day, when Gwen felt less