All Chapters of Found Spring Without Them: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

I fed our photo into the studio shredder while Stefani fixed Wesley's tie.At the sound, she glanced over. "Nate, it's just a picture. Don't make a scene. It's embarrassing."Wesley sat on the couch, looking sorry."Is Nate upset? We can use his photo at the reception instead. I don't mind."Mom grabbed his hand and frowned at me."Your brother was born with a heart condition. He's rarely this happy. Do you really have to ruin it?"Stefani handed the invoice to the clerk."We'll use Wesley's photo at the reception. Put two of Nate's on the digital display so he doesn't feel too bad."I stared at the shredded strips inside the machine and said nothing.Afterward, Stefani drove us to the luxury hotel hosting the wedding for the menu tasting.The private dining room had dark red tablecloths. A menu sat beside me, but she didn't even let me open it."Cut all the seafood and spicy dishes. Replace them with mild, steamed options. Wesley's heart can't handle anything too intense. A

I unplugged the shredder as Stefani walked into the guest room with her phone.The door didn't shut all the way, and her voice slipped through the gap."Wesley, don't write stuff like that. Nate might get the wrong idea."The next day marked seven years since Stefani and I got together.Before leaving that morning, she set a reservation card on the dining table."Seven tonight. Skyline Restaurant. I'll make it up to you with a real date. Let's forget everything that happened yesterday."I stared at the card, and for a second, I almost believed her.At seven, I put on her favorite white shirt and waited by the restaurant window.At seven-thirty, my phone rang.Chaos filled the background on Stefani's end—medical equipment, hurried footsteps."Wesley's having heart palpitations. I'm outside the ER. Go ahead and eat. Don't wait for me."I tightened my grip on the fork. "Is it serious?"She paused, then her voice went cold. "Are you asking because you're worried about him, or b

Stefani's face darkened."He's throwing a tantrum. Have someone wait for him at the entrance."The wedding coordinator handed her a tablet, her voice shaking. "Look at the ballroom screen. Mr. Neilsen scheduled something to play before he left. Every guest has already seen it."Stefani's head snapped toward the main screen.Frozen there was the wedding schedule she'd approved herself.[The bride will wheel the groom's older brother down the aisle first. The groom will enter afterward.]Her hand stopped midair.Under the bright lights, the color slowly drained from Wesley's face.Then the ballroom doors flew open.Phoebe rushed in carrying a custom tuxedo. "Ms. Lundberg, the apartment's been cleared out. This was the only thing left on the bed."The tux slipped from her arms and hit the floor, dust smearing the hem.Stefani bent to pick it up, her fingers tightening around the fabric.Whispers rippled through the crowd."My God. Wesley always acted so sick. Who would've gue

Mom struggled, but Audrey didn't let go. Her face turned red. "I'm his mother. I have every right."Audrey released her wrist, then stepped in front of me. "He's an adult, not your property."Stefani stared at Audrey's hand, her expression turning cold. "This is a family matter. You have no right to interfere."Audrey met her gaze. "If he doesn't want you here, then it's not your family matter."I stepped out from behind Audrey.I thought seeing them again would make me shake. Hurt. Maybe even cry.Instead, I felt nothing but distance.I looked at Mom. "When I came in first in my class in elementary school, you told me not to tell Wesley because you were afraid it would upset him."On my birthday in middle school, you replaced my cake with a sugar-free one he could eat."When I was applying to college, I wanted to go to art school, but you said the family could only afford Wesley's medical bills and made me pick a cheaper major."Mom's expression shifted. "Your brother's heal

I looked down at the ring, and tears spilled down my face.Audrey looked up at me. "With me, you'll never have to give up your place for anyone. You'll always come first. And you'll be the only one."I held out my hand.As she slipped the ring onto my finger, something landed outside the courtyard gate with a soft thud.What I didn't know was that Stefani was standing in the shadows.The art book had slipped from her hand onto the stone path, its cover streaked with mud.***A year later, Audrey and I got married on the lawn outside the bookstore.Postcards of my paintings decorated the space.Wearing a wedding dress, Audrey straightened my tie."Nervous?"I shook my head."Just a little hungry."She laughed and slipped a piece of candy into my palm."This should hold you over. After the ceremony, I'm taking you out for tacos."Then my phone buzzed.A message from an unknown number held a single photo.Stefani sat in a wheelchair, both pant legs empty. She'd grown so t