Page 5 of Before the Storm

Tara twisted her head around and gazed back up at Josie. “Mom and Dad can’t find out.”

Josie understood now. This was why Tara hadn’t wanted to tell their parents she’d dropped out. This was why she’d thrown herself so completely into the Christmas Festival. She was trying to figure out the real problem at hand—the fact that she’d gotten pregnant out of wedlock, and their parents would not be pleased.

Josie had been victim to the wrath of Bob and Cindy Steiner numerous times. But Tara had always been their perfect daughter.

Always, it was Tara who Bob loved. It was always Tara who got everything she wanted.

“They’ll understand,” Josie whispered. But she wasn’t sure that was true. Bob and Cindy were incredibly religious. They were upstanding members of the Nantucket community. They were extremely proud. Beyond that, they believed Tara to be their perfect daughter; she could do no wrong. What would happen when they learned Tara wasn’t half as perfect as they’d always thought?

Up at the hospital, Tara was forced to undergo a series of tests. This left Josie alone in the waiting room, watching the little television in the corner. About a half hour after they’d come in, their parents bustled into the waiting room, looking stricken.

“Where is she?” Bob demanded.

“She’s okay,” Josie assured them. “They’re just doing some tests.”

“She should never have thrown together the festival so quickly,” Cindy said, furrowing her brow. “It was too much for her after a difficult semester. She always does too much.”

“She’s an academic,” Bob blared. “She shouldn’t be out in the cold this long. She shouldn’t be doing such menial tasks.”

Josie hesitated. She remembered telling Tara to lie to their parents about dropping out of school earlier in the night. Just tell them you fell in love with event planning instead! Lie about your failure! But Tara couldn’t very well lie about the baby. A baby was coming whether she wanted it to or not.

But this was Tara’s news to tell. It wasn’t Josie’s.

Suddenly, the doctor came out of Tara’s hospital room.

Bob burst forward to talk to him. “Hey, Mike,” he said because he knew everyone on the island. He was a born and raised Nantucketer. “How’s my little girl doing?”

Josie knew that Bob would never call Josie his “little girl.” She wasn’t even sure Bob would hurry to the hospital if she were unconscious.

But these weren’t helpful thoughts right now. She knew that.

“She’s stable,” the doctor said. “You can go in and see her if you want to.”

Bob tore past the doctor with Cindy hot on his heels. Josie grimaced and hurried after them. How could she protect her sister from the horrors of their parents? But Bob and Cindy were already on either side of Tara’s bed, looking down at her, doting on her.

Tara’s face was pale as ivory. Josie tiptoed to the edge of her bed and touched Tara’s hand.

“We were worried sick!” Cindy declared. “Bev came up to us and told us you fainted. You’ve never fainted, Tara! I’ve never known you to faint, anyway. Did you faint back in college? Is it all the stress of finals? Oh, I don’t know why you wanted to plan that Christmas Festival. Nantucket didn’t need one this year! We just need our little girl home safe! And what’s this nonsense about you living with Josie? We have your room ready for you.”

Tara remained quiet. Her eyes searched for Josie’s. Josie gave her a look that meantI’m here, no matter what.

Josie was surprised by what happened next.

“Mom? Dad? I need to tell you something,” Tara breathed.

Was she really going to come out with it? So easily?

Cindy’s face was suddenly as hard as stone. Like any mother, it was as though she knew right away what was coming next. Bob was as confused as ever, though.

“What’s going on, sweetie?” Bob asked. “We’ll help you. Whatever it is.”

Tara exhaled deeply. Josie wanted to scream out and tell her,Don’t do it! It’s a trap!

But Tara was already explaining herself. “It’s just that, well, the thing is…” She stuttered and then seemed to instill herself with strength. “I’m pregnant. Three months, I think.”

A stony silence fell. Josie had never seen her father like this—his shoulders hunched, his hands to his sides. He lookeddefeated. Cindy looked on the brink of tears. She sniffed and looked up at Bob. But Bob couldn’t look at Cindy, either. Suddenly, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Cindy scampered after him, leaving Josie and Tara alone.

Tara stared dully at the ceiling. Tears rolled from her eyes and into her hair. Josie squeezed Tara’s hand. “They’ll come around, Tara. They’re just in shock.”

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