After I Fall (23 page)

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 interested 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.”

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.

I listened from inside of my bedroom door. I was met with silence. Either Mom had left, or Eric. As nervous as I was about facing him, I found myself hoping that it was Mom who had gone.

I slowly pulled the door open and stepped out from the security of my bedroom.

Eric was seated on the sofa. He rose to his feet when I entered the room.

“Hey, Em,” he said.

“How are things going?” I asked. I cringed at how strained the conversation was. It sounded like we were strangers, scrounging around for something to say.

A small smile curved up the corner of his lip. “Things…aren’t too bad. I hope you don’t mind that I’m here. I took your mom up on her offer to come over. I thought if I waited for you to invite me…” He faded off and shrugged.

He was right with his implication. He might’ve been waiting awhile.

“I’m glad you’re here,” I said as I closed the distance between us. I dropped myself onto the chair. He lowered himself back onto the couch.

“I need to thank you,” he said, “for clearing my name.”

I immediately shook my head. “Your name never should’ve needed clearing. Jace only set you up because of me.” I’d come to that realization earlier in the day. If it hadn’t been for his desperation to get close to me, Eric would’ve been nothing more than a blip on his radar. Sure, he probably would’ve tormented him if the chance arose. But he wouldn’t have gone after him the way he had. “He set you up because of me…and I fell for it. Eric, I am so sorry. I’m sorry that I didn’t believe you. I’m sorry that you had to go through all of that.” My ponytail trailed over my shoulder. I nervously tugged at it. “You were arrested because of me.”

Worse? I hadn’t had the decency to stand by him. At the first sign of trouble, I’d turned on him.

“
You
didn’t do anything to me,” he disagreed. “That’s all on Jace.” His smile kicked up a notch. “His mom, she doesn’t seem so bad. She called to apologize on his behalf. She even mentioned to Lisa that she’s strongly considering reform school.”

I was momentarily speechless as I let that news sink in. “Wow. Well that would be…”

“Freaking awesome,” Eric finished for me. “I wouldn’t mind not having to see him in the hallways all of my senior year.”

I nodded my agreement.

Eric blew out a breath. “So. This week has been…” he faded off, apparently at a loss for words.

“A huge, endless mess?” I supplied.

“Pretty much,” he agreed. “I wish we could go back to the start of the week.” He paused to shake his head. “Actually, I wish we could go back to the start of the summer. I would do things so differently.”

A peel of laughter floated through my open window.

“Girls! Come back here!” Mom said.

“We want to see Eric!” Natalie said.

“Yeah!” Madison agreed. “He saved me my life!” she said dramatically.

“He’s a hero,” Natalie somberly added.

He grinned as he listened to their conversation.

“We can do it later,” Mom said.

We could hear the clatter of small feet coming closer.

“We can do it now, too!” Madison suggested.

“Do you mind if they come in?” I asked as I got to my feet. I wasn’t sure if we could stop them.

“Not at all,” he said.

“After they’re done fawning all over you, maybe we could get out of here? Go for a ride?” I suggested.

“Definitely,” he said with a grin.

*  *  *

“I said it before and I’ll say it again and again. I’m sorry,” Eric said.

We’d driven to the place out of town where the weekend movies were held. It was quiet here. While it wasn’t the most romantic spot, I knew we wouldn’t be interrupted.

“I just didn’t want to drag all of my baggage here with me when I moved. I thought this year could be a clean start. I could leave the past behind. I never really thought about making friends. I really never imagined meeting you. At my old school, I just kind of blended in. I mean, yeah, I had friends. At least I did until the last year or so,” he admittedly quietly. “After everything happened with my mom I guess I just shut down. I shut them out. I took a lot of crap from guys like Jace. I got suspended twice, defending my mom when I knew better than anyone she didn’t deserve to be defended.

“I planned on just getting through this year and getting on with my life.” He let out a mirthless laugh. “No one has ever really been all that interested in me before. I mean, in finding out about me. No one’s really tried to get to know me like you have. I wasn’t counting on that.

“When I first noticed you at the country club,” he shook his head, a small smile appearing at the memory, “you stood out. You just had this quiet grace about you. You were nice to everyone. I thought, at first, that you were just being nice to me because that’s the kind of person you were. Even after you gave me a ride home that day, I never thought anything more would come of it.”

I realized what he was saying was true. He hadn’t even realized our first date was a date.

“I never thought through the implications of implying my parents were dead. I just wanted to avoid questions about my past. I thought that would cut anyone off from asking. I barely knew you then. I honestly didn’t think I’d see much more of you after that day. I realize now that after you said you lost your dad, I should’ve cleared it up. But I didn’t think it would matter. I really didn’t think we’d talk again. I definitely didn’t think we’d become what we are. Then the words were out there, and they’d sat out there for too long. I didn’t know how to take them back.”