The Webster Grove Series

by Puckett, Tracie

  “Yeah, what's up?” I asked, leaving the room and walking toward the bathroom to find seclusion.

  “I needed to give you a heads up about something.”

  “Okay...”

  “I'm bringing Karen to the wedding tomorrow—”

  “Like hell you are--”

  “Steph—”

  “Fine!” I yelled. “Sure! The whole day is going up in flames anyway. Why not add fuel to the fire?”

  “Steph—”

  “Thanks for the heads up.”

  I ended the call and threw the phone against the wall, watching it shatter into pieces and fall to the floor.

  Saturday April 07, 12:30PM

  I skipped dinner last night. And breakfast this morning. I somehow reasoned with myself that a quick fast would get me back into the size zero. Here's to hoping.

  “It worked,” Bridget squealed, successfully closing the zipper. “You musta been bloated yesterday—”

  “Right,” I said, trying to ignore the pain of my crushed torso. “Am I fat?”

  “I'm not even going to answer that.”

  “Baby,” my mother nearly whispered, taking time to glance away from her mirror. “You look stunning.”

  Bridget and I exchanged wide eyes. Compliments from Caroline come few and far between.

  “Thanks mom... you too.”

  Her gown was unforgettably beautiful; long and traditional with gorgeous laced sleeves.

  “Sweetheart,” she said. “Will you go check on the boys? Make sure everyone is accounted for.”

  The ceremony was scheduled to begin in less than an hour; here, in the most expensive and extravagant hotel just outside of Webster Grove. I walked out of the reserved bridal room, down the short hall to the final door, and knocked.

  “Come in!” Alex's voice made me melt.

  I stuck my head in. “Mom wanted me to check up—”

  “Steph.” He smiled and adjusted his tie. “Good, I could use your help. Is this straight?”

  I ignored him. “Where's Cal?”

  “Bathroom. Now, my—”

  “It's fine.” I said, secretly wanting to admit that he looked downright sexy in his dark suit.

  I turned to walk away.

  “Abcdef Ghijk, I'm not done talking to you.”

  “Yeah?” I stepped back into the room and slammed the door.

  “You look beautiful—”

  “Funny,” I spat. “It's not often you hear that from a guy on the same day he brings a date to your mother's wedding.”

  “I'm bending over backward to keep that woman from getting me fired,” he said. “She knew I'd be here with you today and she couldn't take it. The wedding came as part of the package, kiddo.”

  “She has her claws in you—”

  “Not the way you do,” he assured me, taking me in his arms. “Have I told you how gorgeous you are?”

  “You mentioned it—”

  “You could use a few pounds, I won’t lie.”

  “Popular opinion,” I said. “You don't look so bad yourself, Mr. Rivera.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Mmm-hmm.” I nodded, taking hold of his tie. “But this is a little crooked.”

  I rested on his shoulder and breathed in his intoxicating scent.

  He lifted my chin with his finger and met my gaze.

  His nose brushed mine.

  I sensed his lips getting closer and my instincts forced me to pull away.

  “Steph?”

  “We're... you're... every time we... I relapse. Being this close makes it hard for me to play the waiting game—”

  “Then maybe… we don't wait anymore.”

  My back hit the wall as he wrapped me in a warm embrace. His thumbs brushed my cheeks as the kiss deepened further.

  I'd kissed this man before... but I'd never felt the things he was making me feel in the moment.

  My toes were curling. Fingers trembling. Heart pounding. Blood boiling.

  I pushed him away long enough to turn the lock on the door.

  “Precaution.” I quivered, pulling him into another heated kiss.

  I ran my hands up his chest and tugged at the knot he'd worked so hard to perfect.

  “Steph,” he quietly protested before finding my lips again. “He'll be back any minute—”

  “Then you should probably stop talking,” I whispered, sliding the tie away from his neck and working the buttons of his shirt.

  Saturday April 07, 1:35PM

  I stood with my hands in front of me, clutching the bridal bouquet as the bride and groom stared at one another.

  The elaborate hall was decorated with flowers, candles, and laces. Mom had a knack for planning weddings; she'd truly outdone herself.

  I surveyed the crowd. Nate sent a heart-warming smile. Miss Holt sat in the third row clutching her purse and staring with her eyes of evil. Emilio and Adriana were already knee-deep in used tissues. Most of the staff from the restaurant, Nick included, was scattered throughout the crowd. Isaac sat next to his father making googly eyes at Bridget.

  I looked past the bride and groom and met Alex's gaze. He bit his lip and grinned, reminding me once more how much I truly loved him. I needed to tell him how I felt…

  Dizziness set in.

  The small, yellow, size zero dress closed in on my torso.

  My body went numb.

  My eyes fell heavy.

  The minister's words were nothing but garbled slurs.

  The last thing I vaguely recall hearing was the intense volume of, “if any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together - let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

  I attempted to meet Alex's stare when I suddenly saw him slipping away.

  He stood straight and in his rightful place, though the perspective changed. It was as though I had to look up at him from the floor through a haze of fog.

  And then the world went black.

  Chapter Eight

  Saturday April 07 5:00PM

  The overwhelming brightness of florescent light pierced my sight.

  “Steph!” Nate rushed over.

  I shifted in the uncomfortable bed below me.

  The room was small. The walls were insanely white and covered with charts. An IV ran from my arm to a standing bag behind me. Machines were blinking and buzzing.

  “God, you scared us to death,” he whispered, stroking my hair. “You've been out for hours.”

  “Where am I?”

  “They rushed you to the hospital after you passed out. We couldn't wake you up.”

  “I missed the wedding?”

  “It's postponed. You're more important, Steph.”

  “Did you run that by Caroline?” I asked, trying to smile.

  “How do you--”

  “Tired...”

  “Try to stay awake,” he said, stroking my cheek. His eyes softened as he shook his head. “I feel so responsible for you ending up here.”

  “Why? Are you the one who knocked me out?”

  Nate wasn't in the mood for my attempted jokes.

  “You don't remember? The minister was mid-sentence and you towered over. You hit the ground so hard--”

  “How's that your fault?”

  “You haven't been eating... I should have known something was wrong.”

  “I just needed to fit into the dress...” I lifted a heavy arm and rubbed a bump on my forehead. “Where is everyone?”

  “The others stepped out for coffee. I'll send a nurse in and then see if I can find the rest of ‘em.”

  With a quick kiss to the top of my head, he turned and disappeared.

  Saturday April 07 9:45PM
/>   “She's a worthless piece of crap, that's what she is.”

  I heard Isaac's voice, but couldn't bring myself to open my eyes.

  “Isaac,” his father scolded him.

  I kept trying to lift my eyelids without success.

  “They didn't even get married! What kind of low-life mother leaves her daughter in a hospital so she can go on her honeymoon?”

  The room fell silent.

  Mom and Calvin left?

  “Still nothing?” Alex asked from a distance.

  Come on, Steph. Open your eyes!

  Even the most natural bodily functions were failing me.

  “The doctor said she could be out all night,” Nick said.

  “Are you staying with her tonight?”

  “I'm not going anywhere,” Isaac said, firmly.

  “Likewise,” Alex nearly whispered, rustling on the left side of the bed. I figured he was taking a seat amongst the Peyton duo. “I imagine you're gonna have to tell her the truth now.”

  “Yeah,” Nick mumbled.

  “How long have you known, Mr. R?” Isaac asked.

  “Since the day I met Nick. The moment I shook his hand…”

  “That long?” Isaac sounded amazed.

  “At least I suspected it,” Alex continued. “You confirmed the suspicion the night I opened my door to find your fist in my face.”

  “You kinda deserved it--”

  “So much for keeping a low profile, huh son?” Nick cut in.

  “Why didn't you tell her, Mr. R?”

  “It's not my place. I figured there's obviously a reason you've kept the secret—”

  “We've been waiting on the right time,” Isaac's father said.

  The right time for what? Come on, Steph. Open your eyes!

  “It's a delicate situation,” Nick continued. “We have to approach her with caution—”

  “Which is why we came to Webster Grove,” Isaac cut his father off. “We wanted to find out if she even had a place for us in her life.”

  “What makes you think she’ll accept the truth? Up until now you haven't been part of her life—”

  “That wasn't our choice,” Nick said, heatedly. “After the kids were born, Caroline took off with Steph and left me to care for Isaac. I missed out on raising my daughter. I spent eighteen years looking for her—”

  “And you found her,” Alex said with an edge in his voice. “But don't think for one second you're going to convince her to leave with you. Her life is here. She's belongs in Webster Grove with her family... with the people who love her—.”

  “You?” Isaac scoffed. “You think you deserve to be with her more than her father and brother?”

  Wait... what?

  “Steph deserves to be somewhere she's loved. And I'm sorry, but she doesn't see you two the way you want her to. You're nothing more to her than the guys next door. She won’t accept the truth with open arms—”

  “What makes you so sure?” Isaac spat again.

  “He's right, Isaac,” Nick said. “No one wants to hear that their whole life has been a lie—”

  “She deserves to know what Caroline has done—”

  “And she will,” he assured his son. “But Steph was raised to think her father was a deadbeat loser. She never even knew you existed. She grew up with a fake name, fake identity, and a compulsive liar for a mother. You can't spring all that on her at one time.”

  “Come on guys,” Nate suddenly said from the other side of the room.

  When did he come in?

  I heard him move closer. He stopped next to the bed and took my hand. “If any of you three actually love and care for Steph as much as you claim to,” he continued. “You'd know that she's been awake for the last five minutes. Looks like your secret's out.”

  Coming Out

  “Coming Out” is a fast-paced contemporary chick lit novella for teenage/young adult audiences; the fourth in a five-part series.

  Eighteen year old Steph is facing many uncertainties, and the problems just keep piling up! Secrets from the past are slowly unraveling, close relationships are falling apart, and big revelations stand to test the strength of true friendships. Will love and forgiveness be enough to conquer all of the truths that are coming out? Steph can’t find the answer, but she’s praying she can figure it out before she leaves for Paris… if she decides to go at all.

  Chapter One

  Sunday April 08 9AM

  I shifted into a sitting position.

  The bed beneath me was uncomfortable and lumpy. The white-washed walls were blinding even at this hour in the morning. The overhead florescent bulbs were off and the only light shining was coming from behind the cracked bathroom door to the right. The sunshine peeked through the edges of the closed curtains as I took a minute to absorb the reality of the small, mundane hospital room.

  Nicholas and Isaac Peyton were passed out on the couch to the left.

  Alexander Rivera sat on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through my brittle hair.

  “Good morning sleepy head.”

  “Morning,” I said, sitting straighter.

  “Are you ready for breakfast?”

  “Not hungry,” I mumbled, repositioning the pillow behind me. “Have you been here all night?” He nodded. “Did you sleep? Maybe you should go home and take a nap—“

  “You're the one with an IV stuck in your arm, Steph. Let's agree that you are priority number one.”

  Priority number one... God, I love him.

  I stared at the Peyton duo as they slept uncomfortably on a small green sofa near the window.

  “A lot to take in, huh?” Alex asked, still stroking the loose strands of hair.

  “Why didn't they tell me the truth from day one? Why lie?”

  “They wanted to earn your trust—“

  “By lying to me?”

  “Like you haven't told a lie or two of your own lately?” he asked, leaning forward to press a kiss to my forehead.

  “I've kept a secret. That's different.”

  “Is it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay,” he said, rubbing the top of my head playfully. “Then you won't mind if I point out that Isaac and Nick never lied to you. They only withheld information.”

  “You're on their side now?”

  “I'm Switzerland.”

  “Noted,” I mumbled, rolling my eyes.

  In the given situation, Bridget would defend Isaac. Nate would hop on board and fight to the death for me, and Caroline would flee the country without second thought. Only Alex would hang around and adamantly remain neutral, refusing to get mixed up in someone else's affairs.

  Stubborn jerk.

  Have I mentioned that I love him?

  “Question.”

  “Answer,” he prompted me to continue.

  “Do you care if you lose your job?”

  “Steph... you're—“

  “Priority number one, I know,” I interrupted. “I'm curious, though. Where is... she?”

  She being Karen Holt—the haughty, porcelain doll math teacher at WGHS.

  “You don't have to worry about Karen anymore,” he said without hesitation.

  I lowered my gaze and tried to interpret his expressionless face. I found it difficult to believe that the woman who’d blackmailed Alex into dating her would suddenly give up her grip just because I’m bedridden in the hospital.

  “What did you do?” I asked, hoping his answer wasn't somewhere along the lines of knocked her out and threw her in a closet.

  “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”

  Doubtful.

  His eyes grew heavier with each blink. He propped himself up and rested his back next to mine.


  “Alex,” I started. “I'm fine here. You need sleep. Go home and—“

  “I'm not going anywhere.”

  “Stubborn.”

  He leaned closer and brushed a gentle kiss against my lips.

  Warmth.

  Security.

  Love.

  Only a few of the things I felt in these magical moments.

  Seconds into his embrace, a loud series of monotonous beeps sounded beside the bed. Alex pulled away and grinned as he stared at the heart rate monitor next to me.

  “Well, that's reassuring,” he teased, brushing my cheek with his thumb.

  A small, plump nurse rushed in, waking Nick and Isaac with her clattering steps across the cold, hard floor.

  Alex leaned back and stood as nonchalantly as possible. I caught both of the Peyton men glaring at him as he crossed his arms and avoided making eye contact.

  The nurse checked the cords and reset the machine. “How are you this morning, Miss Ghijk?”

  “Awake,” I said, noting that turned on probably wasn't the answer she was looking for.

  “I imagine you are! You've been asleep for the better part of twelve hours,” she said, still bustling around. “Is there anything I can do to make you comfortable now that you're awake?”

  I shook my head. “Nope.”

  “Alrighty.” She checked the monitor once again. “I'll be back in a bit to check on you. Buzz if you need anything before then.”

  She left as quickly as she'd appeared.

  “What was that all about?” Isaac asked, still staring at Alex.

  “Little heart palpitation,” I assured him. “Nothing out of the ordinary—“

  “Steph,” Nick said, leaning forward. “Can we talk?”

  “I'm not ready—“

  “Don't you want to know the truth about who you really are?” Isaac interrupted me. “Don't be a coward--”

  “The name calling stops there,” Alex spat at Isaac. “She already said she's not ready to talk-“

  “Could you just listen?” Nick asked me. “Please.”

  I bit my lip and shook my head. “Caroline Ghijk may not have been the most kind and considerate person, but she never lied to me—“

  “You must have hit your head pretty hard there, Baby,” Isaac raised his voice. “Or do you prefer to be called Jess? Mary? Caitlin? Lynn? I could settle for Steph, if you'd like. Obviously you're happy with your fake identity—“