Page 19 of Break My Fall

It was a very symmetrical building, in a colonial style, built in bright white stone. It had three storeys that I could see, and on each end there was a wing that stuck out slightly. At its entrance was a huge set of heavy wood, double doors, surrounded by stone pillars and a huge porch area that was perfectly framed with beautiful hanging baskets of white flowers. The roof was dark grey shingle and contrasted with the white stone beautifully. I counted seventeen windows I could see across the front and wondered just how many rooms could possibly be inside.

“We’ve updated most of the rooms since we moved in, so it’s more modern inside,” Hunter told me.

“It’s beautiful,” I told him, still pretty awe struck by it all.

“It’s huge. It’ll be nice to have some more people filling it up,” Kai told me and when I looked to him nervously, he smiled comfortingly.

“Can we go inside now?” Willow demanded excitedly.

“No running around, peanut. I’m sure this beautiful house will be filled with lots of fancy things and I don’t want you breaking anything,” I warned her. I knew she was pretty well behaved on the whole – a side effect of life with Edward and his short temper – but she was very excited and I knew it could get the better of her.

“I won’t, mommy! Pleeeaaase can we just go now. I wants to see the dog,” she begged.

“Come on, sweetie. I’ll give you the grand tour while Hunt helps your mom,” Kai said, then he was out of the car and making his way to the back.

“Can I go, mommy?” Willow asked as she looked to me hopefully.

I looked to Kai, feeling unsure. The smile he gave me in return quieted the argument going on inside my head though. I trusted him with my daughter, just not with my heart,

“Sure, but just be careful and do what Kai tells you, okay?”

“I will,” she easily agreed as she clutched Mr. Roar and practically leapt out at Kai as he opened the door.

“Keep an eye on her. She can disappear in the blink of an eye,” I laughed to Kai.

“I won’t let her out of my sight.” He winked at me again, then hoisted Willow up into his arms and carried her inside. I fumed at the way the sight made my heart flip flop. I needed to remember I was angry with him, no matter how beautiful he looked with my child in his arms.

“She’ll be fine. Kai’s a lot more responsible than he used to be,” Hunter assured me from where he still sat in the passenger seat. “You ready to head inside?”

“This was a mistake,” I uttered, my thoughts slipping from my mouth.

“What do you mean?” Hunter asked.

“I don’t fit in here. I barely fit in where I lived before and it was nothing like this,” I sighed. I may have spent my time with Edward pretending I fit in with his life full of fancy parties and fundraisers. I had worn designer dresses, spent hundreds of dollars on ridiculous haircuts and manicures, but none of that was me. It never had been. I did it because Edward expected it, and I had even been good at blending in and mixing with stuck up people who I couldn’t stand. I had made a career of it all in an attempt to keep Edward happy and avoid what I knew would come the minute we got home if I didn’t please him. But at heart I was still that lost, scared foster kid who just felt so alone in the world. It was who I had always been, except for the times I got to have under that willow tree, as a teen, with four guys who could make me feel like maybe I could be something else. Something more. When I was with them I hadn’t been alone, lost, or scared. They saw me and showed me who I could really be. Until suddenly they were gone and once again I went back to all of those things I knew I was deep down.

“You’re wrong, Maddie. This is exactly where you’re supposed to be. You belong with us. You always belonged with us,” Hunter told me firmly. Before I could say anything he was out of the car and coming to help me out of the back seat.

“I can manage, thanks,” I dismissed him as I slid from the back seat of the car. He stepped back, but looked poised to jump in at any second.

As soon as I stood, my head felt like it was spinning and the whole world around me tilted as a rush of heat washed over me. I wavered on my feet and Hunter quickly stepped forward and grabbed my arm, surrounding me. I fell back heavily against him, terrified I’d pass out of I didn’t.

“Woah,” Hunter cried as he held me steady. “I’ve got you.”

“Sorry.”

“This can’t be normal, Maddie. Maybe we should have you checked out, just to be safe,” he suggested, worry clear on his face.

“I’m just tired and sore. I’ll be fine once I eat and sleep,” I assured him, annoyed with myself that I needed to lean on him so heavily.

“Okay, but if you’re not better tomorrow I’m getting you an appointment. Maybe they let you out of the hospital too quickly.”

“I’m fine. I can take care of myself.”

Hunter didn’t look convinced, but he dropped the subject as he helped me up the three stone steps and into the front door of the house.

“Wait!” I panicked just as we entered.

“What’s wrong?”

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