After I Fall

by Amity Hope

  After scouring the area, I decided she was right. We were all packed up.

  “So did you have fun today?” I asked. “You both look like you’re improving a lot.”

  “We are,” Madison confidently informed me. “We’re getting really good.”

  “And so modest too,” I teased.

  “Uh-huh,” she blindly agreed.

  I decided to bypass the pool. It meant taking the longer way around. It was a gorgeous day so I didn’t mind. We followed the sidewalk that looped around the fenced-in pool area. I listened to the girls chatting with each other. Mostly they argued about who was going to be the best tennis player.

  As we rounded a corner I glanced back to make sure they were right behind me. In the instant that I looked away, I collided with a solid, masculine body. His hands flew to my elbows to steady me.

  “I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed the same moment he said, “Are you okay?”

  I stepped back and found myself looking into a pair of espresso colored eyes. His espresso colored hair was hopelessly rumpled. It was a bit too long and…perfect, really.

  “I’m fine, just clumsy,” I admitted.

  “She’s not good at paying attention,” Madison informed him.

  He chuckled, setting a single dimple free. “I’ll have to remember that.”

  “Sometimes she crashes into my dad and makes him spill his coffee,” she somberly explained.

  “Madison, hush! That happened one time!” I said with a laugh.

  “He didn’t get mad though. My daddy likes EmLynn,” she continued on. “He says we have to be patient with her because she can be kind of moody sometimes. But he says that she still loves us. Even when she’s grumpy.”

  Of course I loved them.

  And I wasn’t that grumpy. At least not lately.

  Natalie, who was standing a step behind Madison, nodded in wide-eyed agreement.

  “EmLynn, huh?” he asked. “Pretty name.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’m Eric.”

  “And you’re new around here,” I added.

  “Yeah, I am.” He didn’t look too pleased about it.

  After what I’d seen today, I couldn’t really blame him.

  I slid a glance toward the pool area, scowling at Jace when I realized he was watching our interaction.

  “Well, don’t let them get to you,” I said as I vaguely motioned toward the pool area.

  He frowned. “You saw all that?”

  I nodded sympathetically. “I wish I could say they weren’t all bad. But that whole group is. I do my best to avoid them.”

  “Emmm,” Madison said as she tugged on the hem of my shirt, “can we go home now? I want to see if my daddy’s home yet.”

  “In a minute,” I assured her. I turned back to Eric. “So was this your first day?”

  He shook his head. “No. It’s my third.”

  “Have all the days been like this?”

  “Nah, just the first day and today.” He shook his head, realizing how bad that sounded.

  Two days out of three? I shook my head in sympathy. “What happened the first day?”

  He shrugged. “Nothing.”

  His answer was clipped, letting me know that was the end of the discussion.

  “Let me guess. Was Jace involved?”

  “Jace? If he’s the blond guy, yeah. But anyhow, my supervisor sent me on break but it’s just about over so I should get going,” he said.

  “Maybe you should look for a new job,” I said, only half joking. I couldn’t imagine having to put myself through the humiliation of serving some of my classmates.

  He eyed me up. “Yeah, well, not everyone is qualified to have a sweet nanny gig.”

  Nanny? I glanced down at my ensemble: Cheap flip-flops, worn, faded, frayed cut-off jeans, a simple tank top and a messenger bag that had seen its better days at least a year ago. It was easy to see how he got that idea. Especially considering the pristine white tennis ensembles the twins wore. Their tennis racket cases probably cost more than my whole outfit. Their red hair was a stark contrast to my own chestnut hair.

  Not to mention the girls surrounding the pool area. They wouldn’t be caught dead in the flip-flops that adorned my feet. And if their jeans were faded and frayed, they’d spent an astronomical amount of money to purchase them that way.

  I opened my mouth to correct him but he’d pulled his cell phone out of his pocket to glance at the time.

  “Nice bumping into you,” he said with a wink as he walked backwards.

  I laughed at his attempt at a joke.

  “Maybe I’ll see you around,” he added.

  “Maybe,” I said with a smile. “Nice meeting you, Eric!”

  With that he gave me a wave and then spun around and hurried back toward the main building.

  I ushered the girls to the SUV, barely listening to their chatter.

  For the first time all summer, I was glad that I had a reason to hang out at the country club. I got the girls in the vehicle, made sure they were buckled in and headed for home.

  They raced into the house before me, nearly plowing our mother down.

  “Did you have fun today?” she asked them.

  “Yes!” Natalie cried.

  “No,” Madison pouted. “Coach said I need to pay closer attention.”

  “Then you probably do,” Mom agreed. “Now why don’t you both go up to your rooms? I laid out some clothes for you to change into.”

  They scurried up the stairs without arguing. Most likely they were too worn out from their lessons to put up a fight.

  Mom turned to me. “EmLynn, Phillip is having a business acquaintance over for dinner tonight. Would you please change into something more presentable?”

  I glanced down at my outfit, the one that had caused Eric to mistake me for the nanny. “What’s wrong with this?” I innocently demanded.

  “There’s a difference between shabby chic and just plain shabby,” my mother said.

  “You know, if I cared about your opinion, that might actually hurt.”

  She sucked in a dramatic breath and released it on an equally dramatic sigh. “EmLynn.”

  “Fine,” I said, “I’ll go change.”

  I spun on my heel to leave the room. I didn’t stay in the main house with the rest of the family. I had the pool house all to myself.

  “I laid out a dress for you, too,” she called after me. “And please, take some care with your make-up!”

  “As you wish, Mother!” I sarcastically returned over my shoulder.

  Chapter 2

  I walked into the main house earlier than usual the following day. I had no idea if Eric worked today but I was anxious to find out. I didn’t believe in love at first sight. But a good old fashioned crush? Yeah, I definitely believed in that.

  I headed for the staircase that led up to the girls’ bedrooms.

  When I reached the bottom I heard voices coming from Phillip’s study. He and Mom weren’t exactly having a heated discussion but judging by their tones it did sound serious.

  I hadn’t intended to eavesdrop but when I took a step toward the door I heard my name. My interest was piqued. I froze for a moment having a quick mental debate. Eavesdropping was wrong but so was talking about me behind my back. Or at least that’s what I told myself as I crept closer to the partially opened office door.

  “I just want her to have the best of everything,” Mom said.

  “No,” Phillip argued. “What you want is for her to want everything you want.”

  “Is that so bad?” Mom asked. I could hear the pout in her voice. “What teenage girl prefers Payless to Prada?” The tone of her voice implied that this was nothing short of a travesty.

  He was silent for a moment. Then he said, “Maybe you ought to put a little less effort into trying to turn her into a version of you. Instead, maybe you need to spend a little more time thinking about what she needs.”

  “What she needs?” Mom scoffed. “I’ve offer
ed her things most girls her age only dream about.”

  “What she needs,” he said patiently, “is to feel secure.” I rolled my eyes. “To have friends that understand her. To have friends she can trust and count on. You know as well as I do how some of these Roseville kids can be. Just let her be herself. That’s what she needs.”

  He was met with silence and I knew Mom was stewing, trying to cook up an argument. Phillip cut in before Mom got a chance to get going.

  Smart man.

  “Look, all I’m saying is that she’s a good kid. Frank did a great job with her.”

  My heart squeezed so painfully at the mention of my father that I sucked in a sharp breath. For a moment I was afraid they’d hear me. I tensed up, trying to press myself further into the wall. As if that would actually do any good.

  “And if we can do half as well as he did,” Phillip continued, “we have nothing to worry about. Her grades are good. She’s not out getting into trouble at night.”

  “That’s because she has no friends,” Mom said, her voice full of irritation.

  “She has friends and you know it,” Phillip corrected. “Furthermore, the twins adore her.”

  “And she barely tolerates them,” Mom said on a sigh.

  I cringed. Maybe that’s how I’d acted at first, but they’d grown on me. She had to have noticed that. I loved my sisters.

  “She’s warming up to them. Overall, I think she’s doing remarkably well. She went through hell with her dad. Then she moved across the country and into a house she’s barely spent any time in. With a family she’s barely spent any time with. Try to put yourself in her place.

  “Maybe you should plan a weekend away together,” he continued. “Just the two of you. I can stay home with the girls.”

  “Yes,” Mom said. I could hear the smile in her voice and the cogs of thought turning in her brain. “That’s a wonderful idea! We could go into the city and go shopping. We could make it a spa weekend.”

  No, I inwardly groaned.

  “I think some mother-daughter time would be good for both of you.”

  “All I want is for her to be happy,” Mom said quietly. “After everything she’s been through, I just want her to be happy. I want to keep her from anymore heartbreak.”

  Phillip chuckled at that but it wasn’t a condescending sound. “I don’t think there’s been a parent alive that’s been able to keep their kids from experiencing heartbreak. It’s just the way life goes. And it’s her life. You need to let her live it.”

  The conversation continued on but I hurried up the staircase. I’d heard enough and the last thing I wanted was to get caught. I frowned as I reached the top of the stairs.

  I wasn’t sure what I was more displeased with. The fact that Phillip was psychoanalyzing me, or the fact that he was mostly right.

  * * *

  “Another afternoon at the country club,” Clara said with pity in her voice.

  “It’s not too bad,” I said into my phone.

  “Since when?” Clara asked.

  “There’s a new guy,” I admitted. “He works here and he’s adorable.”

  I’d been tossed into the mix of juniors at Roseville High School right after Thanksgiving break last year. Clara had sat alone in the cafeteria. Nothing to keep her company but her physics book and tuna fish sandwich. I’d placed myself at her table and pretty much pushed myself into her life.

  Her other two best friends, Janelle and Mona, had a different lunch break at the time. It had been a good thing or I probably wouldn’t have invaded their table if all three of them had been there. Since then, I’d successfully managed to insinuate myself into their group.

  “He’s adorable?” Madison asked from beside me.

  I internally groaned. After all these months I still sometimes forgot that little ears were always listening.

  “Him? He’s adorable?” she pressed. I realized she was pointing in the direction of the pool. At Jace.

  “No, sweet girl,” I said with a laugh. “He is not.”

  “Him?” she asked. She randomly pointed to one of Jace’s friends.

  I shook my head. “Him,” I said, pointing at Eric. “The guy carrying the tray.”

  “You like him!” Natalie squealed.

  Both girls covered their hands with their mouths and giggled.

  I heard Clara giggling on the other end of the line.

  “Not you, too,” I moaned.

  “I might have to take you up on your offer,” Clara said. “I could brave being your guest for the day to check this guy out.”

  “I just said he was cute, that’s all,” I answered in my own defense. “You’d be looking for something to entertain yourself too, if you had to sit here for an hour every day. Day after day after day,” I droned on. I was exaggerating a bit. They only had lessons three days a week.

  But still.

  I watched as Eric exited the pool area. He was empty handed now and fiddling with his nametag. I wondered if he was going on break again.

  “Good point,” Clara said. “But unlike you, I have no reason to be there.”

  “The girls just finished so we’re getting ready to go. Call you later?”

  “Do you want to just come over?” Clara offered.

  “Sounds good,” I agreed. She knew I was always eager to get out of my house.

  We disconnected and I stuffed my phone in my bag. The twins were watching a pair of older girls practicing on the courts. I took advantage of their distraction and scanned the area for Eric. He still hadn’t reappeared, leading me to believe he really had gone on his break again. I wondered if I’d have the same luck running into him as yesterday. Well, not literally running into him. But the fluttery feeling in my stomach left no room to deny that I wouldn’t mind talking with him again.

  “Come along you little rascals,” I teased as I tugged on each of their hands.

  Natalie giggled.

  Madison pouted. “I’m not a rascal.”

  “Twerps?” I teased, trying again. “Precious little darlings? Sweetie pies? Sugar plums?”

  “You’re weird,” Madison accused.

  This time when I tugged at her hand she didn’t resist.

  “Can we get ice-cream?” Madison asked.

  “Can we?” Natalie repeated. She grinned up at me expectantly as I towed the two of them along.

  “Not today,” I said. “Ice-cream should be for special occasions. But I think there’s some of your favorite yogurt in the fridge. With strawberries swirled in?”

  They both grumbled an “okay” as we neared the parking lot.

  I vigilantly scoured the pool area and the sidewalks. There was no sign of Eric. Maybe I’d have to take Clara up on her offer of visiting the country club with me. I knew she’d be willing to sit by the pool. That seemed to be the area where Eric worked. Today, at least, there weren’t nearly as many people there. Just Jace and a few of his friends. I wasn’t sure why I had to have the bad luck of seeing him every time I was here with the girls. I wished he’d choose a different time to hang out at the pool. It wasn’t like I could change the girls’ tennis schedule just so I could avoid him.

  Though I wanted to.

  My heart dropped a bit when we reached the car. I’d walked slowly, hoping to run into Eric. No such luck.

  I opened the door to Phillip’s SUV and ushered the girls into the backseat.

  “Do you need help buckling?” I asked.

  “Nope,” Natalie said as she crawled in.

  Madison ignored the question, but I knew she could do it herself. When both girls were seated I closed the door behind them.

  Eric was sitting on the curb straight across from us, in the employee parking lot, looking bored out of his mind.

  I pulled the front door open, stuck the key in the ignition and rolled down all of the windows. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

  I was sure that Madison would protest so I didn’t wait for a response. I closed the door again and quickly made my w
ay across the parking lot.

  Eric glanced up at the sound of my flip-flops scuffing across the hot pavement.

  “Hey, what are you up to?” I asked. It was hard not to wonder because this was the last place I’d want to sit around, killing time.

  He gave me a sheepish smile and got to his feet. “I lost my keys.”

  “Oh. That sucks,” I commiserated.

  “Yeah, kinda,” he agreed with a smile. “I’m one of the last people hired for the season. They didn’t have enough lockers to go around. I left my sweatshirt hanging on a hook. My keys were in the pocket.” He shrugged. “Someone took the jacket. Now I don’t have any keys.”

  “Someone stole it?”

  He shrugged. “I talked to management. They said someone probably grabbed it by accident. He said it’ll probably show up as soon as they realize they grabbed it by mistake.”

  “Right,” I said. Most likely “management” didn’t want to acknowledge that there could be a case of theft at the country club. A morsel like that would be bad for business.

  “So you’re just going to sit here all day?” I asked lightly. Maybe he was waiting for someone to turn the jacket in. I had a feeling if that were the case, he’d be waiting a long while.

  “Uh,” he cleared his throat. “I plan on hanging out for a while. The couple I’m staying with,” he said evasively, “they’re both at work. I don’t want to bother them with this. They both get off in a few more hours. I figured I’d give them a call a little later.”

  “Hours?” I echoed. I glanced back at the Lexus LX. I had the windows down but still, I didn’t want to leave the girls sitting in the toasty car too much longer. “I can give you a ride somewhere. I mean, I can bring you home. It’s hot out and this parking lot…well, it’s a parking lot.”

  He cocked his head to the side, an indecisive look on his face. I thought he’d agree but he didn’t.

  “Nah, that’s okay.”

  “Really,” I insisted. “It’s not a big deal. We have nothing planned for the afternoon.” I began to walk backwards towards the vehicle. “It’s up to you. You can sit under the scorching sun, sweating, breathing car exhaust or you can swallow your pride and let me give you a ride home.”

  He laughed at that. “Pride has nothing to do with it. But if you insist, yeah, I’d appreciate a ride home.”