We Grow Together: Then Comes Hope Collection, #3

By Regina Walker

Teenagers. Alcohol. A bonfire. What could go wrong?

 

Too many things if you're Riley Hamilton. Drinking for the first time ever, on Christmas Eve, leaves her too inebriated to go home on time, so she goes back to her boyfriend, Kyle Green's place to sober up. They fool around, going further than they ever have before. Then, much to Riley's surprise, Kyle breaks up with her before school starts back after winter break.

 

Six weeks later, a missing period and the weight of the world rests on Riley's shoulders. She has to sneak around Kyle's new girlfriend to tell him about the positive pregnancy test. He doesn't consider the problem his, or even theirs, and demands that she figures out what to do by herself.

 

♥ Tyler and Ella don't want Riley to make a choice she'll regret, so they offer the opportunity for a different outcome. Adoption. Married, and a few years older than we left them in Still With Us, they volunteer to raise Riley's baby as their own. ♥

 

We Grow Together is a powerful tale of the choices a young mother faces, and how she overcomes the odds stacked against her.

 

This is book three in the Then Comes Hope Collection.

① We Go On

② Still With Us

③ We Grow Together

These books can be read and enjoyed separately, and each features its own conclusion. There is a small cliffhanger at the end of We Go On. This book, We Grow Together, is about Riley and the decisions she has to make for the baby growing inside of her. Tyler and Ella are part of her story, but this book is about Riley.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Regina Walker
• Release date: Apr 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393316350

Regina Walker

Regina Walker crafts compelling characters facing some of life's hardest challenges. Her heart's desire is to always point toward Jesus through the way her characters face challenges, relationships, and adversity. Regina is an Oklahoma import, although she was born and raised in the beautiful state of Colorado. She likes to curl up on the couch and binge-watch crime shows with her hard-working husband. When she's not wrestling with a writing project, she can be found wrangling their children, riding their horses, or working around their small hobby farm.

Book preview

We Grow Together

Regina Walker

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Check out the latest about Regina Walker at http://reginawalkerauthor.com

We Grow Together

Copyright 2021 © by Regina Walker. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

We Grow Together is a work of fiction. Where real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales appear, they are used fictitiously. All other elements of the novel are drawn from the author’s imagination.

Published in the United States of America by:

Regina Walker

PO Box 492

Jones, Oklahoma 73049

Contents

Dedication

Epigraph

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Author Note

Books by Regina

About the Author

For Dad

Thank you for believing in me. I love you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalms 139:13 NLT

One

Carefully directed lights shone on Christmas ornaments of all different shapes, sizes, and colors hanging from the ceiling, making everything sparkle. Riley pushed her wavy, auburn locks behind her ears and pulled her cardigan tighter around her.

Grab your coat, it’s cold.

The words her mom had said as she headed out the door for Christmas Eve church service came to her, but she brushed them off. The cardigan was cuter and didn’t hide her black and red Christmas dress.

Hot chocolate for the, Kyle’s voice dropped to a whisper as he pressed his lips close to her ear, hottest girl here.

Riley blushed and accepted the paper cup with a plain, brown cardboard sleeve. The cup was warm in her hands and she cradled it close. Thank you.

Anything for you. Kyle grinned at her. His blue eyes seemed brighter in the sparkling Christmas lights and Riley stared back at him, her own brown eyes full of wonder. Was it the Christmas season or the attention of the handsome young man standing in front of her that delighted her so?

The ushers opened the auditorium doors, and the crowd moved together to enter the big room. Red, green, blue, and white lights danced around the stage and auditorium walls. Kyle linked his arm through Riley’s and tugged her close. You know, we could split and have a fun little Christmas Eve date tonight. He wiggled his eyebrows up and down.

Riley scrunched her face and shook her head. This is a fun Christmas Eve date. I love these services. Usually we come as a family, but Mom is getting ready for Grandma to arrive.

Oh, I like church, don’t get me wrong. But taking you to see Christmas lights, just the two of us, sure sounds nice right now. Kyle tipped his head at the usher holding the door and led Riley toward a pair of open seats.

That does sound nice. She looked wistfully at him. Maybe we could grab a bite and look at some lights after church.

There’s a bonfire down by the river tonight, too.

She raised her eyebrows and tried to smile. It was cold out and she didn’t bring a coat, but she didn’t want to be a spoilsport. I can’t be out too late. You heard Mom when you were picking me up. Ten O'clock, on the dot, or my parents won’t let us go anywhere again.

I heard her. He turned his head as the worship pastor came out on stage with a drum.

The band struck up Little Drummer Boy, and the crowd sang along. Riley tugged on Kyle’s arm and told him this was her favorite Christmas song before joining in the chorus. She couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, but this song brought her to tears.

The band played on with the crowd on their feet worshipping together. As the music quieted, the pastor came out and read a passage from the Scripture before instructing the crowd to take a seat.

Are you sure you don’t want to split now? He’s going to talk about how Jesus was a baby in a manger and about Mary accepting the Lord’s will. That’s all they ever talk about at Christmas. We, he gestured from her to him and back again, already know all of this.

We do know the story, she said slowly, contemplating his words. I don’t know. What if we get caught?

By who? We came, we are here. Unless you think your mom is roasting marshmallows by the river, I think we are good.

I have to be home by ten, Riley reminded him.

You got it, babe. Kyle kissed the back of her hand.

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The fruit flavored concoction in Riley’s red plastic cup sloshed up the side, splashing out and hitting Kyle. He laughed but leaned in as she swayed. You owe me. This is my favorite shirt.

She giggled as she swayed again, raising the cup to her lips for another gulp of the ice-cold drink. It warmed her insides as it flowed down her throat. I’ve never—

Kyle pressed his finger to her lips. Just enjoy it.

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and took her in a wide circle around the blazing fire. Some twenty or thirty other kids their age stood around, holding cups that matched Riley’s, belting out songs as they played from the speakers in one guy’s truck.

Riley focused on Kyle and stammered about how much fun she was having. Another girl, equally fixated on the guy she was walking with, walked toward Riley and Kyle. The two girls bumped into each other and the blonde swiveled around. Sorry about that.

Riley turned her head, lifting her cup to wave the girl off. It’s okay.

Riley? The blonde tilted her head to the side and raised her brow.

Hey Lace, Riley slurred.

I’m surprised to see you here. Lacey hugged her wobbly friend. I thought you’d be at church tonight.

I was. Riley giggled. She covered her mouth with her hand, but that didn’t stop the giggles.

You’ve been drinking, Lacey lowered her voice. She pulled Riley away from Kyle.

The guy Lacey was with started talking to Kyle, but he watched Riley closely.

How much have you had to drink? Lacey asked.

Riley swayed and bumped into her friend, a little too unsteady to walk on her own. Two, I think.

You think? Lacey frowned and pulled the cup from Riley’s hand. She tossed the contents toward the fire, which caught the flames and emboldened the blaze. Tell me if I’m wrong, but have you ever had alcohol before?

Riley giggled and shook her head, stumbling. Lacey caught her by the arm.

I think I’m going to drive you home.

Have you been drinking? Riley slurred.

No, I just came to hang out. Who convinced you to partake?

Kyle scooted up on the other side of Riley, wrapping his arm around her. I’ll get Riley home, Lace. She’s fine. C’mon, we all have to have our first time, his eyebrows popped up, don’t we?

Caught in the middle of her boyfriend and Lacey, Riley swayed on her feet.

I think you should let me get her home. Her parents won’t really question me, and I can get her to bed so she doesn’t get caught, Lacey said.

I’m in the Hamilton’s good graces.

Yeah, but isn’t she supposed to be home in thirty minutes? They never let her stay out past ten.

Is it really that late? Riley slurred her words as she shouted at Lacey.

Don’t yell, Lacey looked around, it really is that late. We need to get you home. You need to drink some coffee and some water. We’ll stop on the way home.

Lace. Really? I’ve got this. I’m lookin’ out for my girl. She’s not going to get in any trouble, I promise.

Riley leaned against Kyle and looked up at him with her big, brown eyes. She smiled as she swayed, and she let her lips land on his cheek.

Riley? Lacey asked.

Slowly, Riley turned her head. She tried to lift her eyebrows, but she looked wasted. Yeah?

Will you let me take you home?

Riley pointed at Kyle and shrugged Lacey off. We’re fine.

Lacey frowned. The guy she was there with was waving for her to come with him, because it was time for him to leave. You promise to take care of her? Lacey stared at Kyle.

Promise. Kyle held up his right hand.

Fine. Lacey leaned in and hugged Riley. Be safe. Love you.

Riley slurred her parting words and slumped against Kyle, telling him, as sickness swirled in her stomach, that she couldn’t go home like this.

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Kyle led Riley back to his car, but as she held her stomach, he instructed her to stand against it, but not get in. He jogged over to the coolers sitting at the edge of the fire and fished a sports drink out of the ice. Returning with the drink in one hand, he couldn’t see Riley. He called her name and then he heard it. Losing the contents of her stomach, she hunched over, about ten feet behind the car.

He stood back and turned his head, feeling sick at the sight and sound. She straightened after several long minutes and he grabbed some napkins out of the car.

Feel better? He asked as she wobbled toward him.

She shook her head. He handed her the blue drink with the lid off. Drink up.

I don’t—

It will help, promise.

She took a swig of the cold liquid. It was soothing to her stomach, which surprised her. She took a couple more swigs and held onto the car for balance.

I can’t take you home like this, he muttered.

She shook her head.

Think you’re going to get sick again?

She shook her head again, which she instantly regretted as it made everything spin around her.

I didn’t expect you to get so quiet after a few drinks.

She shrugged. Her thoughts were as slow as molasses, and everything felt out of place. She just wanted to go to sleep.

I tell you what, my dad isn’t even home. We’ll go to my place and get you a hot shower, a cup of coffee, and another one of these, he held up the sports drink and wiggled it back and forth, then I’ll take you home.

Riley’s head and shoulders sunk. Getting home late would be better than showing up drunk, but either way, she was going to be in big trouble. She let Kyle help her into the car.

He was right, no one was at his house. Muttering something about a big company Christmas party that his dad’s employer always threw, Kyle guided her through the house. He rattled on about his dad always being hungover, or sometimes still drunk, on Christmas morning, and then he’d go to his mom’s house where she’d rail on about his dad’s behavior.

Sometimes I don’t even like Christmas, he said.

I like Christmas. It’s always been fun at home, she slurred.

Leading her into the bathroom, he asked if she needed help to get in the shower. At first, she seemed horrified that he asked and shook her head. But as she fumbled around, her head still cloudy with the booze, she asked him to come back.

He helped her out of her shirt, and then he pushed her hair back from her face and off her shoulders. He breathed against her neck and she leaned into him.

Steam from the shower clouded the mirror and fogged up the room, and one thing led to another between them, until they found themselves wrapped up with one another on the cool tile of Kyle’s bathroom floor. He breathed heavily and watched her as her eyes fluttered shut and she drifted off to sleep.

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Riley smoothed down her damp hair and studied Kyle’s profile as he walked with her around the back of her house. All the lights were out. She had no missed calls or texts from her parents and neither did Kyle.

While the sides of her head throbbed and her eyes burned, the world seemed steady, and her words were clear again. Every step she took brought her vague memories from Kyle’s house, as she had a dull pain between her legs. She laid her hand on his arm as they reached the back of the house.

Did we… She looked away, across the backyard. Did we… She paused again, clearing her throat. She turned her head and looked at his shadowy face. Did we do something last night?

Something? Kyle raised a teasing eyebrow. He leaned in close, dipping his face to her neck.

More memories came to her mind still shrouded in the fog of the alcohol and spinning room. She knew what they’d done.

Was it as good for you as it was for me? he whispered.

Kyle, she gasped. She pushed herself away from him.

Better get to bed before they find you missing. I’ll see you tonight. He pecked her on the cheek and then rounded the house and slipped out of the gate. She waited for the sound of his car passing the house before she unlocked the back door and slipped inside.

The kitchen was dark and the only light in the living room came from her dad’s big fish tank in the corner. The hum of the pump was familiar, and the bubbles rose in a steady stream to the top of the tank. She crossed the living room and slipped into her bedroom.

Nothing was amiss in her room. No note. No parents waiting. Did she really get away with being out until four in the morning? It would only be a couple of hours before her twin brothers woke the family up to enjoy the fun of Christmas morning.

She slipped under her royal purple fleece sheets and pulled them up to her chin. Maybe a couple more hours of sleep would stop her head from hurting so badly. Maybe she would wake up ready to celebrate Christmas with her family.

What were you thinking?

The thought racked her with a deep guilt. Guilt, a familiar, heavy cloak that weighed her down after a night of awful choices. She’d found herself in a few bad spots lately, but she didn’t know what to do about it. Tears wet her lashes, and she squeezed her eyes shut tight as sleep overcame her.

Two

Walking down the hallway of the high school, Riley rubbed her neck with one hand and held the shoulder strap of her backpack in place.

Lacey jogged up beside her and elbowed her. Ready to be back in class?

Riley glanced at her best friend and shook her head. Dark circles under her eyes highlighted how heavily her eyelids hung over her eyes.

Whoa. You look exhausted. First day back jitters kept you up all night?

No. It's Kyle. He said he doesn't think we should see each other for a while. He hasn't even really explained why. Tears filled her eyes again and her lips curved downward.

Aw. I'm sorry Riley. There are hundreds of other boys here to choose from. Don't let it get you down. He's a jerk anyway.

Riley shrugged, but she didn't agree with Lacey. She liked Kyle.

Are you excited about your birthday? The big sixteen. You'll be driving this month! Have your parents mentioned car shopping again?

Yeah, Dad said we would go the week before, so he could have everything ready to go. He's been making me drive every single day, for at least an hour. Even my mom said it was a waste of gas and he could cool it. But you know how he is.

Lacey laughed, picturing Mr. Hamilton insisting on all this extra driving. Sounds just like him. She wondered if her mom and dad would have things between them like that, if her mom was here, that is.

The girls reached their lockers and written in red lipstick down the front of Riley's was a curse word.

Mortified, she stared at it in disbelief. Lacey's nose scrunched up and she shook her head. "What a ridiculous thing for someone to write on your locker."

Riley's cheeks flamed red, and she ducked her head, trying to get the locker open. She grabbed her box of tissues from inside the unit and then tried to wipe away the word. She mostly just smeared it around, but with enough work, it was no longer legible.

Lacey tapped Riley's shoulder. She bent her neck and tried to get Riley to look at her. You're not going to let something silly like this bother you, are you? Everyone knows you're not that kind of girl.

Having not even been able to tell Lacey what her and Kyle did, she wondered how anyone knew. Was Kyle talking about it? What was he saying? She gave Lacey a sideways glance and shut her locker. I've got to get to first period.

Yeah. Okay.

Riley sulked away, holding her arms close to her body and wishing the floor would swallow her whole. During her first hour class she sent Kyle a text message.

Did you tell anyone about Christmas Eve?

The read marker popped up at once, but the minutes ticked by slowly as he didn't respond. Finally, as class was ending, the three dots popped up, indicating he was typing a reply.

What, about how you got so drunk you couldn't stand up? I didn't have to tell anyone. Everyone that matters was there.

Riley gritted her teeth together. That wasn't what she was asking. She hesitated as she stood from her chair and made her way out of the classroom into the hallway.

I was talking about what happened between us.

The dots popped up quickly that time.

Nothing to tell. It wasn't anything.

Her heart squeezed in her chest. What she dreamed would be an act of love, between two people married before God, she gave away on a bathroom floor in a drunken stupor, and it wasn't anything to Kyle? She clenched her phone and her jaw, and her eyes blurred with hot tears.

Where are you going in such a hurry? Lacey asked, trying to keep up with Riley.

Not now, Riley said between her teeth.

Lacey looped her arm through Riley's and skipped her way into the girl's bathroom. Finding it empty, as she hoped, she turned to face her friend. "Listen, I may not know a lot. But I know you haven't been to church since the bonfire. I know you were out past ten but didn't get caught. And I know something is wrong. Like really, really wrong. Now, you are your own person, so you can keep it from me if you