Right There Waiting For You

Chapter 7

Stef's POV

The night came and went. I woke up at 8AM the next morning to meet my mom for a 9:30 breakfast.

I hopped in the shower and did my hair when I got out. I put on jeans and a nice shirt.

I left my apartment and walked down to the lobby. To my surprise, there was Lena, walking to the front door as well. She didn't see me at first.

"Hey beautiful. Where are you headed?"

She turned around upon hearing my voice and smiled.

"Gotta get my morning cup of coffee!" She laughed. "Are you heading to breakfast with your mom?"

"Yeah...I'm nervous, Lena."

"Oh, Stef I know you can do this. Just remember...don't be ashamed of who you are."

"I'm not. And I never will be." I pecked her on the lips and put my arm around her as we walked out to the parking lot.

"Good luck, Stef. I believe in you." She kissed me on the cheek and got in her car. I closed the door for her and watched her pull out of the parking lot.

I got into my car and starting driving toward the breakfast place that I was meeting my mother at.

'What if she disowns me?' I ask myself.
'No, she won't.' I reassure myself. 'But what if she thinks it's weird?'

All these terrible thoughts of her reaction were running through my head.

When I pulled into the breakfast place, I saw my mom's car and pulled up right next to it. I walked into the diner and my mom was sitting at the booth closest to the door.

"Hi Stefanie!" She said waving me over to the table.

She was the only person that called me by my full name.

"Hey mom." I said hugging her and then sitting at the other side of the booth.

"How have you been? What have you been up to? Wow, I haven't seen you in too long." She rambled.

"I've been good. Work is going good. In fact, I just got promoted to Sheriff." I smiled. I knew she'd be proud.

"Get. Out. Oh my gosh that's amazing Stef!! Im so happy for you! You know, I never thought busting perps was your calling, but you have proved me wrong, Ms. Foster." She smirked at me.

"Thanks mom. I really do love what I do. And now that Paul and I are done, I think it'll be easier to focus on my job."

"I guess you're right." She said sadly. She always really liked Paul. "How are you doing by the way? You know, since the breakup."

"I'm doing better. There's actually, um-"

Just then, the waitress came over to take our orders. Right when I was about to tell her about Lena.

Once the waitress had left, my mom had forgotten I was even saying anything before, and moved onto a different subject.

We talked about her recent trip to The Bahamas while sipping on our coffees. She brought up how she thinks I should find a better place to live, but I explained that my apartment is affordable and also close to my work. I didn't say this, but Lena being there too gave me all the more reason to stay.

Our food finally came. I got two chocolate chip pancakes and my mom got French toast and home fries.

"So, what else is new? Anything?" She asked as we ate our breakfast.

'This is it, Stef. You need to tell her once and for all.' I thought to myself. 'Here I go.'

"Ummm, I'm gay, can you pass the syrup?"