After I Fall

by Amity Hope

  When his hand fell to his side I took a step into the room. “I’m just looking for Madison. Have you seen her?”

  “Which one is she?”

  I resisted the urge to smack him alongside the head. He’d met the twins on several occasions and couldn’t be bothered to remember their names?

  He shrugged. “Guess it doesn’t matter. I haven’t seen either one of them.”

  “I’m right here.”

  I followed the sound of her voice. She poked her head out of the tent that Eric had made. Mom had agreed they could keep it up as long as they still played in it. So far, they still used it daily.

  “Natalie has been looking everywhere for you, you little trouble maker!” I was half-teasing, half-scolding as I sidestepped Jace. “I thought you hadn’t seen her.”

  He cleared his throat as I treated him to an irritated look. “I, uh, I didn’t know she was in here. I thought the room was empty.”

  “I was in Eric’s tent,” Madison explained. “I came out when you were looking for me.”

  She came all the way out and made her way over to me. I picked her up and gave her a squeeze, grateful she was okay. She squirmed and I let her slide back to her feet.

  “What does trashed mean?” she asked.

  “You know what?” Jace said loudly. “I bet it’s time for dessert. Hey, kid, should we go see what they have? Maybe they have cake. Or something. I bet you like cake. Every kid likes cake, right?”

  My sister and I both looked at him as if he’d momentarily lost his mind. Then my mind shot back in reverse.

  “Wait, Madison, what did ask?”

  “Oh, come on!” Jace said. “We don’t want to miss dessert!”

  “What’s wrong with you?” I scolded him. “If you want dessert, go get it!” I turned my attention back to my sister.

  Her brow was furrowed causing deep creases in her forehead. Our mother would not be pleased to see that. Her eyes were narrowed and she was looking at Jace with more than her usual amount of grumpiness.

  “You,” I said as I pointed at him. “Either get your cake or be quiet. My sister has something to say.” I turned back to Madison, kneeling down in front of her, giving her my full attention.

  “Him.” She pointed Jace’s direction. “He said it.”

  “Said what?” I glanced over my shoulder at Jace. His expression was livid and he was fidgeting.

  “The movie was on,” he said. “I don’t know what she thinks she heard but I’m sure she didn’t hear anything.”

  “He said he trashed his house but everyone thinks Eric did it. He said it’s too bad he didn’t go to jail but it all worked out even better than he planned.”

  I flew to my feet. “You said what?”

  His eyes shot daggers at my little sister. I stepped in between them.

  “She’s full of it. She just made that up.”

  “She’s barely even five!”

  “I am five!” she grumped.

  “She wouldn’t know to make something like that up!” My hand flew to my mouth.

  “Am I in trouble?” she asked quietly. “You said no more tattling. I was tattling.”

  “No,” I said as I squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. “You’re not in trouble. But you,” I said as I swung back around to Jace, “I think you have some explaining to do.”

  His expression hardened. “I don’t have to tell you anything. That little shit doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

  Madison pulled in an indignant gasp and then she burst into tears. “He said a bad word, Emmm! He called me a naughty name!”

  “Happy now?” I asked Jace.

  Madison darted between us. “I’m telling!” she sobbed. “I’m telling Daddy what he called me!”

  “Shit!” Jace ground out again. He raked his hands through his hair, leaving it standing on end. The messy look, paired with the panicked look on his face left him looking slightly unhinged.

  I looked at him and shook my head, unable to comprehend what I’d just heard.

  “She has no idea—”

  I didn’t let him finish spewing whatever lie was about to come forth. I sidestepped him and rushed out of the den. I hurried toward the front door when I realized Madison must’ve left it open. I reached the bottom of the steps before Jace caught up with me.

  He grabbed me, an iron grip on each of my biceps. He squeezed and then shook me hard. “I didn’t do anything! Understand?” he growled.

  Large hands grasped Jace’s.

  “Get your hands off of my daughter. Understand?” Phillip grated out. He tugged on Jace’s clenched fists and they fell away from me. My hands instantly crossed over my chest, messaging what I was sure would be finger shaped bruises within the hour.

  “Don’t you ever,” Phillip said slowly, “lay a hand on her again. Or any other female. Is…that…clear?”

  Jace swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “Yes, sir.”

  “What’s going on out here?” Mr. Devereux demanded.

  “Here she is,” Mom said as she rushed around the side of the house. She was towing the twins along behind her. Her steps slowed as she drew closer to us. “What’s wrong?”

  Janette was the last one to join our small group. She looked as confused as the rest of the adults.

  “He called me a naughty name!” Madison accused again. Her lower lip trembled as she pointed at Jace. “And he did bad things to Eric. He said mean things about EmLynn.”

  “Oh, come on!” Jace griped as his hands flew up in exasperation. “I didn’t realize she was in the room. I made a phone call. She was watching a movie. It was on pretty loud. I’m sure she didn’t hear whatever the hell it was that she thought she heard.”

  “Watch your mouth in front of my daughters,” Mom said in a hard tone.

  Phillip went to Madison and crouched down in front of her. “What did Jace say? Why are you so upset?”

  Her lip continued to tremble. Her eyes were narrowed at Jace, showing the utmost dislike for him. “He said he set Eric up. He said he trashed his house and blamed Eric. He said he was lucky that he stole Eric’s keys when he did. He called everyone stupid, even the police.”

  “You,” I said as I pointed an accusatory finger at him, “I knew you stole Eric’s keys from the country club.”

  “Why on earth would he steal someone’s keys?” Janette asked. She appeared appalled at the thought.

  “Because honestly? He’s not a nice person. He’s hated Eric since the first time he saw him.” I paused as I reconsidered that. “Or maybe he only did it because, like I said, he’s just not a nice person.”

  Jace scoffed but his face was flushed, red as the setting sun. I had a hunch the coloring was from anger rather than embarrassment.

  “Is this true?” Phillip asked as he rose to his full height again. “Did you take Eric’s keys? Did you steal from your own parents? Trash their house? Set that boy up?”

  An unpleasant sound erupted from Jace’s mouth. It was somewhere between a growl and a contemptuous laugh. “She’s just a kid! She made that up!”

  I shook my head. “No, she didn’t. It all makes sense. What I don’t get is why you ever pretended to be interested in me in the first place.” I felt stupid for having brought it up. With everything else that had been admitted, that should really be the smallest of my concerns.

  Jace didn’t say anything but his helpless gaze drifted to his father. Carl scowled and shifted uncomfortably.

  We all listened to the silence for a moment.

  Phillip finally nodded to himself. “You sent your son after EmLynn to try to get close to me, didn’t you?” he asked Carl.

  Carl sputtered a denial. “I would never have him stage a break in.”

  “I’m not just talking about that,” Phillip said.

  I allowed Phillip’s question to sink in. Then I was the one nodding in understanding. I turned to Jace. “That’s what it was about, wasn’t it?” It had never made sense that he’d be intere
sted in me. I had known all along I was so not his type. And I’d been fine with that. “Always hanging around me at the country club? Showing up at the coffee house?”

  Jace gaped helplessly at his father who did not come to his rescue.

  “Fine,” he snapped. “Dad thought it wouldn’t hurt for me to get to know you better. Happy?”

  “Not in the least,” Mom said. “How dare you try to use my daughter that way! How utterly despicable!” She turned her glare to Janette.

  “I…I had no idea this was going on,” she quietly murmured.

  “Nice touch, smashing your own windshield,” I said with a shake of my head. “I mean, it’s a bummer to have to get that replaced but it sure beats having to fix body damage on the car. Who’s going to suspect you when the car you love gets all smashed up? I mean, I thought you’d taken advantage of the robbery. I didn’t think you were the one who actually broke in and destroyed everything.”

  “You had your own house broken into?” Phillip asked, clearly bewildered.

  Carl’s expression clouded over. He turned to Jace with a grim look on his face. “No. Absolutely not. I would never approve of such a thing.”

  “Neither would I,” Janette agreed. “I think we should be leaving. We have a few issues to address.”

  Jace cowered under the scrutiny of his mother.

  “I would imagine that you do,” Mom said.

  “It goes without saying,” Phillip added, “that there will be no business deal between us. Not now, not ever.”

  Carl clenched his jaw. He looked as though he were about to argue but he had nothing to base an argument on.

  “I most certainly hope you call the Roseville PD,” Mom said. “They need to be sure that Eric’s record remains clean, as it should be. On second thought,” she said as she suspiciously eyed up the Deverouxs, “I’ll call them myself. That way we can be sure that it gets done.”

  Carl looked as if he were ready to explode.

  “Come along,” Janette said quietly. She quickly ushered her husband and son away from us.

  We watched in disbelieving silence as they hurried toward their car. As it cruised out of the circular driveway Phillip turned to me.

  “I think we need to call the Zierdens,” he said. “Would you like to make the call?”

  I shook my head, feeling numb.

  And guilty.

  I felt so guilty for doubting Eric.

  “You call them, please.”

  Chapter 23

  I ignored the incessant knocking on my front door. Instead I grabbed the pillow I was lying on and pulled it over my head, trying to cover my ears. It did little good.

  I knew it had to be either Mom or Clara. Or maybe even Phillip.

  If it was Clara I wouldn’t have to worry. The door was locked and she didn’t have a key.

  A few moments later I heard the door open and Mom’s voice calling out to me.

  “EmLynn?”

  I continued to ignore her even though I knew it was useless. Moments later I heard her footsteps clacking across the tile, getting closer to my bedroom with each passing second.

  “EmLynn.” This time my name came out sounding like a sigh. My bed dipped down as Mom took a seat next to me. A moment later she tugged the pillow off of my head.

  “I really just want to be left alone. Isn’t that kind of obvious?”

  “I’ve left you alone all morning. I don’t think that letting you wallow is doing anyone any good. Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

  With her? Not really. Then again, if it were Clara here, I wouldn’t want to talk to her either. I simply shook my head.

  “All right then,” she started, “you don’t have to say anything. You can just listen.” I fought the urge to groan. “I think I was wrong about Eric.”

  I hoisted myself into a sitting position. “Now you decide that?”

  “I may have been trying a bit too hard to find fault with him. I…I definitely was. I see that now. But I also see how miserable you are without him. I was wrong to hire a private investigator. My motive, I promise you, was out of love. But still, I should’ve approached things differently. Or maybe I shouldn’t have interfered at all.”

  “What changed your mind? The fact he jumped in after Madison?”

  Her cheeks flushed. “I may have overheard the conversation the two of you were having the day he came to apologize.”

  I let out a sound of disgust. I was not the least bit surprised that eavesdropping was not beyond her.

  “I saw him drive up. I didn’t want him here. I was walking to the pool house to tell you that. Your window was open. I caught part of the conversation. He sounded so desperate. And truthful,” she said quietly. “At first, I was angry that he had the nerve to show up here. But later, when I had time to think over what he said, I really gave some thought to what he had to say. I think you should too. I think I was wrong about him. After what took place here last night, I’m simply grateful that you aren’t dating someone like Jace. I never would’ve thought…” She shook her head and faded off.

  “What’s going to happen to him?” I wondered.

  Now she was the one making a sound of disgust. “Oh, you know how these things go. I’m sure his daddy’s money will find a way to keep him out of trouble. If I had my way, I’d see to it that he didn’t get away with this. But it’s not really my place to stick my nose in their business. On the other hand, I think Janette will see to it that he is dealt with in some way.”

  “And Eric? The police department knows it wasn’t him?” I asked.

  “Yes, I spoke with them personally,” Mom said.

  “Thank you,” I said in the most heartfelt way that I knew how.

  “It’s the least I could do for that boy. I know I don’t know him well, but I think I really ought to get to know him a little better.” She let out a soft, remorseful laugh. “I was shocked when I heard him defend me. I didn’t treat him very kindly and yet, he defended me to you. He was right you know. Everything Phillip and I have done, it’s been out of love for you. Perhaps it has sometimes been misguided. I see that now.”

  I raised a skeptical eyebrow at her.

  “I hate seeing you so miserable. You were so sad all school year. Then you met Eric and you seemed happy for the first time since you moved here. I should’ve just left well enough alone. I should’ve just let the two of you work things out in your own timeframe.”

  “It’s not your fault,” I admitted. “He’s the one that lied to me.”

  “But don’t you think, maybe, that he’s dealing with his own struggles as far as his parents are concerned? They may not be the same as yours, with losing your dad, and having to come here. But he’s had an awfully rough time of things as well.”

  I cocked my head to the side. “Where is this coming from? You decided all of this from eavesdropping?”

  “Lisa invited me to lunch today.”

  “Lisa Zierden?” I didn’t think she knew any other Lisa, but I still felt the need to clarify.

  “Yes. Eric’s foster mother. We had a nice, long chat. Let me tell you, she really put me in my place. But she also made me see I was wrong to judge him the way that I had. And Phillip,” she said on a sigh. “He’s been furious with me ever since he found out what I did.”

  That didn’t surprise me.

  “Seeing your sister lying there, looking so lifeless, even if it was only for a second…” She shook her head and swallowed down tears. “It put things into perspective for me. So yes, what happened the other day changed my opinion of Eric. He moved so quickly, didn’t even give a second thought to what he was doing. If she’d been in the water any longer…she could’ve suffered long-term damage, if not worse. We owe that boy a lot right now.”

  I nodded, absolutely agreeing with her.

  “I really messed up.” She reached for a tissue, plucking one out of the box that rested on my nightstand. She laughed but it was a strained, self-deprecating laugh. “I’m sorry. I’ve
already apologized to him. Now I’m apologizing to you.”

  “You apologized to Eric?” I asked.

  She nodded. “I did. He accepted my apology very graciously. I have to say,” she admitted with a small smile, “that boy is growing on me by the day. I think I actually quite like him.”

  “I quite like him too,” I said with a pitiful sigh.

  Her sigh matched mine. “I think it’s fair to say we’ve all made mistakes. I know I’ve made mistakes as a mother. I can readily admit that. I am hoping that maybe you and I can just start over?” She looked at me hopefully. “I already asked the same of Eric. He seemed willing to let us put the past in the past.”

  I wasn’t sure what to say to that. I wondered if he was really, or if he was just trying to avoid further confrontation with my mother. It was possible he’d agreed to whatever she had to say just to get her to go away.

  I wasn’t sure I believed that.

  Eric had a good heart.

  “I really think you should talk to him.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. Everything has just turned into such a mess.”

  I cocked my head to the side and looked at my mother suspiciously when I heard a knock on my door.

  She raised her eyebrows and gave me a hesitant smile.

  I groaned. “You didn’t.”

  “Of course I did,” she said.

  “Mom!” I exclaimed as I bounced off of my bed. The motion put me directly in front of my dresser’s mirror. My hair was tangled. My face was blotchy, my nose red, my eyes puffy. In other words, I was a mess. “Look at me!” I said as I turned to face her.

  She rose from the bed. Her hand settled on my head, smoothing my disastrous hair. “Take a moment to wash your face. Brush out this tangled mess. I’m sure he won’t mind waiting a few minutes for you.”

  I really didn’t see any other option. Not when my mother was insisting and Eric was right outside of my door waiting.

  I bolted into the bathroom. Several minutes later I looked far from stunning but at least I felt presentable. I didn’t take the time to bother with make-up. My hair was pulled into a presentable ponytail. Splashing cold water on my face had made my complexion a little clearer.