by Chloe Walsh
Break My Fall
Chloe Walsh
Copyright 2014 by Chloe Walsh
All Rights Reserved.
The right of Chloe Walsh to be identified as the Author of the work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form or binding or cover than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
This book is a work of fiction. All name, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my family and friends who supported and encouraged me to write this book:
To my mother, who pushed me to carry on when I felt like tearing my hair out, thanks mam.
To my husband John and my children, Ava and Darragh who coped with my disappearance and lack of cooking like troopers, Love you guys.
A huge thank you goes to my good friend Aisling O Callaghan, who gave me endless advice and support, and help with Break My Fall.
To my friends who fell in love with Kyle as much as I did, he’s all yours now.
Finally, to my sister Julie, who refuses to read this book until I finish The Fae. I promise I’ll crack on with it now. Love you.
LEE
I stood outside the red-bricked two-story house on 13th Street, and with any hope, my new home. Several similarly styled detached houses sat side by side on either side of the road. I was stalling. I knew I was.The record-breaking heat wave was causing me to sweat profusely, not the ideal look for an uninvited reunion, but it could not be helped. I had been sitting on a bus with no air conditioning for the past god knows how many hours, in one hundred degree temperatures. I was happy not to be dead; sweat was the lesser evil. My desire to bathe overcame my nervousness; I braced myself, stepped forward and knocked.
Muffled footsteps came from behind the white door. I could see someone approaching from the tinted glass panel in the centre, but the distortion of the glass rendered it impossible as to see whom exactly. Please be her, please be her. The door swung open. “Lee?” Oh my god what are you doing here?” Relief flooded through me at the sight of Camryn Frey. She was as gorgeous as the last time I had seen her, though much taller and more blonde now. I hadn’t seen her since she moved away from Montgomery seven years ago. But we stayed in touch, and I was praying for her mercy now, and her bathroom. “Get in here girl.” She grabbed me before I had a chance to respond and dragged me inside, encasing me in a massive bear hug. I forced my body to relax. I needed to calm down. I was in no danger now. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you Cam,” I told her, meaning every word more than she could ever know. “I actually need a place to stay, temporarily of course. I don’t want to burden you. I just need a few weeks until I can get a job and get on my feet. Will you help me Cam?” She looked down at me, smiling, “What kind of a dumb ass question is that, of course I’ll help you.”
She helped me with my bags; there were only two. That was all I could carry when I left. “So, let me guess, you finally got sick of the sticks, and you’ve decided to join me in the land of the living?” I frowned at her words, and Cam noticed. I loved my home town of Montgomery, Louisiana. I was a small town girl. Being here wasn’t a choice. “Okay, okay that was low. Just warn me beforehand if I’m gonna have you’re crazy ass daddy banging on my door, looking for his baby girl anytime soon,” A lot had changed since Cam had left. “Don’t worry,” I said, “Daddy isn’t going to come looking for me.” He would have to find me first. “Cool, because not even I am ready to face Jimmy Bennett right now.”
I followed her down a short hallway into what must be the kitchen/dining room. “This is a real nice place Cam.” It was. The room was modest in size, the beautiful hand carved oak built in cabinets that were taking up the entire wall from floor to ceiling on the left oozed expensive taste. A glass sliding door occupied the wall opposite the kitchen door, along with another row of oak cupboards holding a stainless steel sink and glass hob. Instead of ceiling high cabinets on that side there was a window, looking out on a small patio garden. “Yeah, it’s pretty sweet.” That was an understatement. The heavy set of the kitchen table and chairs looked more expensive than everything in my father’s house combined. Grabbing two bottles of water from the refrigerator Cam beckoned me to the table. “You’re actually in luck Lee, we have a spare room.” I sat down beside her, the large back of the chair swallowing me. “We?” Cam grinned, passing me a bottle. She opened hers and took a swig. “My roommates, Derek and Kyle. We house share. They’re pretty cool guys.” Oh. “You share with boys?” Cam laughed out loud, “Jeez Lee, you’d swear I just told you the devil was camped in the living room.” I flushed. “Relax, Derek and Kyle are cool, besides they’re hardly boys, they’re the same age as me.” The thought unsettled me. “Maybe this isn’t such a great idea.” I opened my water and swallowed deeply, trying to push down the hot ball of anxiety rising in my chest. “This was the best idea you’ve had in years.” Cam patted my shoulder, “I can’t count the times I’ve asked you to come up here. I still can’t believe you did it.” I could, thirty four times. Cam phoned me once a week since she moved away. We had to be careful to talk at certain times of the day, usually late at night when my father had passed out. She started asking me to come to stay with her since I turned eighteen last October. “Yeah this place is certainly different to home. I wasn’t sure I had to right place until you answered the door. Are you sure they won’t mind me being here Cam?” She swatted her hand at me as if I had said something ridiculous. “It’s not going to be a problem Lee. I’m dating Derek, so he does what I tell him, and Kyle is always so busy with work and school that he’s hardly here to begin with, so he won’t care.” Cam was seeing a man she lived with. I could imagine the scandal that would cause back home. “Besides, you’re gonna love it here. This place is the shit.” I doubted it. Cam had regaled me with tales of her many adventures while living on ‘The Hill’, all of which made me feel a little queasy. “Okay, if you’re sure Derek and Kyle won’t mind then I would be very grateful for the room. I will pay of course. I plan on getting a job as soon as possible.” Cam grinned and clapped her hands, “Excellent, now let me show you our crib.” I stared blankly, “Crib?” Cam sighed in exasperation, “Damn Lee you’re sheltered. Haven’t you ever watched MTV?” I shrugged. I never watched television. The only set we had at home was in daddy’s room.
Cam stood up and left the kitchen with my bags. I got up and shuffled after her. “Mine and Derek’s rooms are down the hall, along with a bathroom and wreck room.” I nodded and followed her up a wooden staircase. She stopped at the top of a narrow landing. It was simple in style, painted in a soft shade of green, with a few pictures of bands and one of The Rocky Mountains ordaining the walls. “That’s Kyle’s room.” She pointed to first door on the right. It was closed. “Expect a lot of traffic when he’s home.” Traffic? “The bathroom is on the left.” Cam pointed at the door on the opposite side of the hall. “You guys share the upstairs bathroom, and Derek and I share the downstairs one.” I grimaced and Cam noticed. “Consider yourself lucky that your bedroom isn’t downstairs. You only have to share with Kyle. You don’t want to know half the shit I’ve had to clean up after the assholes that visit have used it.” Cam opened the door next to Kyle’s. My eyes took in the soft cream carpeting and long cream coloured curtains dra
ping to the floor. The room looked too nice to belong to a house full of college kids. “This room is never used, it’s the smallest of the bedrooms but it’s decent.” A large window occupied the majority of the yellow painted wall opposite the door. A double bed with a white timber frame took up a large portion of the room along with a matching wardrobe, locker and “I get my own TV?” I blurted out the question, when I noticed the flat screen television mounted on the wall opposite the bed. “Uh huh, don’t get too excited, it’s just one of Kyle’s old ones, and it doesn’t receive channels. It does have a dvd player installed that works so that’s a bonus.” I turned around and grabbed Cam for a hug. “Thank you so much Cam.” She squeezed me back, “Get some sleep Lee. I’ll see you in the morning.” “Do you mind if I take a shower?” I called after her. “Go for it babe,” she replied, pulling out the door. I stood for a moment, breathing in the silence and allowing a small smile to creep across my face. I could relax, finally.
“Good morning,” I said quietly as I walked into the kitchen. The shaved headed man sitting at the table raised his head in surprise, “Good morning to you too. I take it you’re the infamous Lee?” His razor sharp green eyes studied me and I began to fidget nervously. “Yes, and you’re Kyle? I asked. I hated how my voice sounded so meek. He threw back his head and laughed. What was so funny? “Nope you have the wrong man sweetheart. I’m Derek.” I blushed and muttered a half-hearted “Sorry.” He grinned broadly, “Don’t be. Although when you meet Kyle, you’ll wonder how you ever confused us. I’m way better looking.” I wasn’t sure what to say to that so I just nodded. “So Lee, are you in town for business or pleasure?” I blanched, “Oh, I’m… Business. I need to find a job,” I stuttered.Derek stood up from the table and I automatically took a step back. Breathe, just breathe. “Well yesterday’s paper is on the table if you want to have a look through it? I’d give you a tour but I’m late for work,” he said as he rinsed his cup and placed it on the draining board. “Oh thank you. I will check that out.” I tucked my tangled curls behind me ears. Derek walked right up to me and I flinched. He furrowed his brow and regarded me with a hurt expression. “I’m not a rapist you know?” he snapped, “I need to get into the fridge. You’re blocking my way.” I jerked away from where I was standing, “I’m sorry,” I mumbled. Derek didn’t say anything as he pulled out a container of food. “If you see Cam, tell her I had to go into work early.” I nodded, “Okay.” He regarded once more before blowing out a breath and muttering something about a nodding dog. I waited for the front door to slam before I released my breath. I needed to get a handle on this. I had made it. I was safe. I was free.
I walked through the glass doors of The Henderson Hotel. The paper I had seen on the kitchen table this morning had advertised a job opening in the housekeeping department, so here I was. I had been all over downtown Boulder looking for work, but to no avail. The sheer size of the city made me want to crawl into the ground. It was a miracle I stayed calm. Crowds made me nervous. I slapped on my bravest smile as I approached the counter on the other side of the spacious lobby. The middle-aged blonde-haired woman in a navy suit jacket looked up from behind the counter as I approached. She stared at me for a moment, her eyebrows raised, “Can I help you?” Her voice was raspy, like she smoked twenty a day for a few years too many. I sucked in a deep breath. “Hello, yes, my name is Lee Bennett and I would like to apply for the housekeeping job advertised in the paper.” The woman eyed me from head to toe, “Sorry Hun, we don’t hire highschool kids, too unreliable. Besides there are application procedures you need to go through to secure an interview.” I blanched, my heart sinking a little. “I’m not in highschool.” I stood a little taller, trying my best to look more grown up, “I can promise you I’m a hard worker, and very reliable.” She smirked, “You starting college soon? Because the boss is not interested in college kids either, he needs staff who are serious about their job and are committed.” Her straight-laced attitude put me at ease. Straight talking I understood, it was insinuations and code talk that I didn’t. I smiled at her, “I’m not going to college, and have no plans to ma’am. I need the job, and I can promise you that I am serious.” She leaned forward a little, her gaze drifting over me, “You got any experience in housekeeping?” I shrugged, “I’ve got experience serving and till work, and I keep a clean house. I’m a real fast learner.” After a pause, her face broke out into a wide grin. “Perfect, you’re in.” Thank god. “Thank you ma'am.” I beamed at her. “Come on back here sweetheart, and let’s get you set up. The name’s Linda by the way.” I followed Linda through the door behind the counter, amazed at how easy this had been.
KYLE
“Are you even going to consider it? It’s what’s best for the company Kyle.” I glared at the man sitting in front of me. He looked exactly like me, thirty years in the future. “Nope,” I replied, shifting my legs onto my desk. That irritated him. Good, let the bastard squirm. I folded my arms across my chest, just to make a further point. “Why do you have to be so fucking awkward? I’m only trying to help you out son.” I flinched at his words. “It’s a little late for that. Why don’t you go focus your attention on that shit stain of a son of yours, and let me take care of myself?” His face reddened and I could tell he was losing his cool façade.
“You stupid little shit. You know what you problem is? Your too goddam proud to ask for help.” I smirked, relishing the fact that I was annoying the crap out of him. “Let’s just cut the crap here David, you’re pissed that your dear old daddy trusted me with his empire, and not you.” He slammed his chair back and leaned over my desk, “You’re going to destroy everything he built,” he snarled, “You’re a fucking kid. You haven’t even graduated from college. You don’t have the first clue of how to run this place, nor will you have the time once you go back to school. He was my father, this should have been mine.” Ah finally, a little truth, I was wondering when he would admit it. “It sucks when your father lets you down, doesn’t it dad?”
LEE
I should have known coming here was a bad idea from the get go. Parties were not my thing. This was my first one actually. Leaving home and moving across the country was now most definitely coming back to bite me in the butt. The Hill was a million light years away from the world I left behind. I was shy. I kept myself to myself. Cam was my polar opposite; vivacious and wildly spontaneous. This party had her name stamped all over it, and I knew I hadn’t a hope of escaping. As it stood, the bedroom she had allocated to me was occupied, with a drunken couple. I should have locked it like she said. I would in future. “Heads up Lee.” I turned just in time to catch a beach ball in the face. I glared at the perpetrator, whose face was newly familiar to me, Derek Porter. From the brief amount of time we had spoken this morning at the breakfast table, I gathered he was a joker. “Excuse me Derek,” I muttered as I moved past him. I needed some space.
Outside in the back garden was not much better, but at least I wasn’t in danger of beach ball attacks or food fights. Were these people really over twenty-one? I felt forty beside them. “Will you lighten up and have some fun?” Cam approached me in all her partial naked glory. I took in the skimpy beige stretch dress she wore, that barely covered her girly parts. I loved the girl but she flaunted herself. The colour of her dress complemented her sun kissed skin and long blonde hair. She was stunning to the eye. I could never wear anything so short and revealing, I hadn’t worn a dress since the second grade. I looked frumpy beside her, still in my white shirt and black pants I had worked in today. I discreetly pulled my long dark hair from its ponytail. My curls, now a tangled mess flowed down my back. My sneakers were worn, but clean and they were staying securely on my feet. God knows what could be on the ground at a party like this with all these drunk people. “I can’t help it. I’m not used to this Cam. I have to get some sleep, I need to be up early for my shift.” I started work at seven in the morning.
The hotel was uppity on the large scale, scattered with several bars and
dining rooms on the ground floor. Thankfully, I was upstairs cleaning the rooms. There were sixty-one bedrooms, twelve on each floor and the penthouse suite on the eighth and top floor. My only previous experience in the workforce had been as a cashier at Moe’s Gas Station in Montgomery, and that was a poor comparison to the Henderson hotel chain. Linda said the hotel was just one in a chain of twenty across the country. The pay at was great; eleven dollars an hour. The only downside was the uniform. I had been relieved when Linda had told me I could work in the black trouser pants and plain white blouses I had on. I had been instantly deflated when she had called me into her office and handed me a bundle of clothing covered in a plastic wrapping and a nametag at the end of my shift. I had taken it out of the packaging and gaped at the indecent length. For the first time in my life I had thanked Jesus for being short. A short, fitted black pinafore dress was to be my uniform from tomorrow on. I predicted the pinafore would fall just above my knees, hopefully... I was definitely not the type of girl who could dress skimpily. I smoothed down my t-shirt at the back; the thought of showing too much skin made me self-conscious. I worked my first ten-hour shift today, and it was good, the other staff seemed friendly, especially one of the bartenders who I had met on my break, I think his name was Mike. I was grateful for the job, it meant I could pay my way here from the get go.
“Lee I know you’re not used to parties and crowds but could you please try and enjoy yourself. This is for you.” Cam batted her big baby blues at me and I wanted to strangle her. This was so not for me. I hadn’t had a chance to speak to her about my job, since when I got back here the party was in full swing. “Oh come on you dry balls let’s have a shot,” she said when I made no attempt to answer her. Grabbing my shoulders, she led me back to the kitchen and poured some black liquor from a bottle into a pair of glasses. “To your fresh start,” she smiled at me and clinked her glass against mine. “Cheers,” I muttered begrudgingly and tipped the foreign substance to my lips. I was not a drinker, my only experience had been when I was twelve and Cam had swiped a bottle of daddy’s whiskey. I had been so sick afterwards and when daddy caught us. I was punished so badly, I had never touched a drop since. However, the appeal of fitting in for once in my life swayed me, and I swallowed it. The taste burned my throat, and my eyes watered and stung. My head swam. “Yeah that’s it girl, chug it back,” Cam cheered, flicking her long blonde hair behind her shoulder. I sputtered holding my hand across my mouth. She filled another shot of the black stuff and this time I swallowed, this time without choking.