Falling from Grace

By Chloe Behrens

When we last left Van Steenburgh Manor, Hope and Trent thought they'd finally found forever-happiness. When we return, it’s for the funeral of the man who brought them together.

Now a perceptive, pretty seventeen-year-old, Grace Forrestor grew up surrounded by the luxuries of the manor, and she took everything for face value. She knew there was a dark cloud that hung over the palatial estate, however it seemed that Lawrence’s passing unleashed something even more powerful than his presence when he was alive.

Tragedy after tragedy causes life at the manor to fall apart, and while Grace and her beautiful, brilliant sister Faith do everything they can to keep it together, their mother Hope continues to fall apart.

It doesn’t matter how many layers of dirt you throw over a casket... Some things just can’t stay buried forever. And the secrets that live on at Van Steenburgh Manor refuse to stay covered up.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chloe Behrens
• Release date: Jul 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476284668

Chloe Behrens

Chloe Behrens was born in Hudson Valley, NY and now resides in the suburbs of Dallas, TX."I fell in love with writing as soon as I learned how to read," she says. "Picture books progressed into lovelorn poetry. Poetry turned into short stories, and then the Van Steenburgh Family began in my teenage years. The story began, and then it wasn't until my early twenties that the second novel in the series came out. The last novel in the series was written this year. It was hard to put it to rest after it being with me for so many years." Still, she triumphed on.After the release of her Van Steenburgh saga, she penned two more books -- neither of which belong to a series. "Breaking Berlyn was so fun to tell because of the characters. Gavin and Berlyn's banter is so witty, and I love how he keeps her on her toes. He finds ways to open her up to new things, and she really needs that. Sometimes, we all do."Happily Ever After: A Tale of a Wedding Planner, has become more popular as a chick-lit/contemporary romance. It's being featured in the Frankfurt International Book Fair 2012, and is her best-selling book, yet! "I think it's because the main character Banner is so flawed, and independent. A lot of the fun, fearless women of today can relate to her. She's strong-willed, career-oriented, and she's human. She makes mistakes." Her male counterpart, Christian Brenhoff, is the epitome of what every woman wants, but doesn't want. "Or so she thinks. I don't know. We are all guilty of judging people, and when it backfires on us, we sometimes don't know how to handle that."She is currently working on her second series, and when she's not typing away on her laptop working on a story, she enjoys traveling, spending time with her pets, and life with her longtime boyfriend/best friend Shaun. "My life is an adventure," she adds. "One I thoroughly enjoy with each passing minute!"

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Falling from Grace

Falling from Grace

The Final Installment in the Van Steenburgh Family Series

Chloe Behrens

Published by:

K R Cimorelli

Chloe Behrens

Falling from Grace

The Final Installment in the Van Steenburgh Family Series

© 2012, Chloe Behrens. All Rights Reserved

ISBN 978-1-476-28466-8

Smashwords Edition

Published by K R Cimorelli

First Edition: 2012

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited in any form. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

Chapter 1

A Passing

My eyes panned the crowd of people in black, reaching far and wide. The sky was grey, and rain from the night before caused a dampness in the air, which felt like it was collecting on my skin. It smelled of freshly cut grass, with a faint mixture of perfumes and colognes coming and going in the breeze. My eyes landed on the mahogany coffin before me, and then I quickly diverted them over to my parents, standing nearby.

My mother stood like a pillar of stone; her chin held high, and her shoulders back. Except for the dark hair, she reminded me of the portrait that hung in Papa’s office of my late, great-grandmother. Her simple black dress was topped off with eyeliner and lip-gloss. Her dark hair was pulled back neatly into a sleek bun. My father looked handsome in his black slacks and matching dress shirt. His dark eyes stared intently downward, as the priest spoke of living life to the fullest, and of things above and beyond. I wasn’t really listening. It felt like I was lost in a dream.

I caught my sister Faith’s ebony eyes for a brief moment before we both looked downward again. How was I supposed to be acting? It was a sad occasion, no doubt. My grandfather, who had continued building his family’s colossal empire, had finally passed away. Many years he had struggled with his health, since before I was born. I never knew him to be completely well, but when you have more money than God, I suppose you could afford only the best doctors and medicine.

I should’ve been sad, but tears eluded me.

I felt sorry for my sister. She was closer to him than I was. He loved us both, and always treated us the same, but I guess that bond between he and I just wasn’t there like it was with Faith. Glancing back at her, sadness washed over her face as they began to lower the closed casket into the ground. No one really knew what was going to happen next. The entirety of Van Steenburgh Manor, and its inhabitants, now had an air of uncertainty.

I imagine anyone would take a look at the beautiful mansion we called home and wonder how someone couldn’t be happy there. Just the grand entrance alone from the main road could spark a hundred inspirations for art, or poetry. Set in the distance, down a long, winding cobblestone drive, trees over a hundred years old stood triumphantly; looming high as you made your way to the incredible stone palace that was built two centuries ago. The Van Steenburghs had been some of the original settlers in the area. A stone cottage buried in the trees had been their first home, until the family worked to build a fortune from investing what little money they’d had in businesses and trade. They were smart people, as evidence today would show. I went to school with kids from all the prominent families in the area, and still had never seen a house as grand.

Our mother openly voiced her distaste of the manor. She insisted a black cloud hovered over it, and honestly I felt the same way. Faith was always enchanted by it, and I think it was mainly because she was just a happy person, regardless. She didn’t sense all the shadows that continuously lurked around like ghosts in corners. I couldn’t explain it, but sometimes when I walked up and down the old hallways, I occasionally felt as if I were passing someone by.

Doors to rooms never used were always kept closed, instead of open to let the sunlight fill the hallways. Curtains were always drawn. Even if the manor wasn’t haunted, the darkness lent an eerie feeling to the aged house.

So now we stood, amongst so many people that considered my grandfather a friend, a colleague, or just an upstanding citizen in the community, and we all mourned the loss of a man who outwardly led a most perfect life. We, however, all knew a different side of Lawrence Van Steenburgh. A side that was rarely spoken about, and only sometimes alluded to. Maybe he’d always meant well. Don’t most people always mean well? Sometimes people without thinking just make decisions that end up causing a ripple effect that end up disrupting many lives for years to come.

I didn’t know most of these people. I didn’t even know if their tears were genuine. Really, their tears just served to make me feel guilty for not having any of my own. I shifted uncomfortably onto my other foot, and wondered how my sister looked so at ease in heels much higher than my own. I somehow caught the eye of a man standing amidst the sea of nameless faces, and his eyes flicked away as soon as they made contact with mine. Curiously, I studied him for a moment and wondered why he looked familiar. Then again, my grandfather was known for throwing his elegant dinner parties, which seemed to come straight out of a long-gone era. It was hard to say whom I had or hadn’t seen at any of them over the years.

I was just ready for it all to be over. I wanted everyone to leave and for life to go back to normal.

It seems a little creepy, doesn’t it? I leaned in and whispered. To have dead bodies on the same grounds that we live on.

She struggled to stifle a chuckle. Only you would say something like that right now, she quipped with our father’s smirk. Maybe a little. I guess you just need to look at it as… they aren’t just random dead bodies. They’re family.

I shrugged. Still creepy. My eyes caught sight of our father eyeing us with a raised eyebrow. Right. Back to being serious.

Once the service was over, we remained where we stood, while people either went on their way, or came to us to personally offer their condolences. Some of them would remain, and go into the ballroom where a small banquet of finger foods had been catered in. Even at a funeral for one of our own, our family was still all a show. Hospitality was everything.

My sister stood with Brandon, her boyfriend since the start of her college years, and he must’ve been saying something hilarious, because she threw her head back and her laughter was audible even from across the ballroom. His eyes lit up every time he saw her, still. It was definitely comparable to the love my mother and father shared to this day. I hoped one day to find that same palpable energy and chemistry with a man, and live out a fairy-tale romance. Those around me made it look easier than I believed it to really be.

I knew those who now remained at the manor, offering my parents their support for our loss. Clients of my father’s, or friends of my mother. Her longtime best friend since school, Aunt Jackie, was in attendance, and her upbeat demeanor kept my mother disarmed during a time when I had never seen her more stressed.

How dare you and your sister share jokes at a funeral, my father appeared beside me, and for a second I thought I was in trouble, until I saw the mischievous smile on his face. Without me being in on them.

I don’t care if I never attend another one of those things as long as I live.

That’s a nice thought, isn’t it? He looked around at all the faces that remained scattered about. For a man who wasn’t much older than forty, he certainly didn’t look it. Neither did my mother, who was four years his junior. They were ageless. The fountain of youth was present in my family for many generations. Unfortunately, I think that was the result of someone way back when, making a bargain with the devil.

How is Mom holding up?

He eyed me thoughtfully. To everyone else, she’s always alright. Until we’re alone. He gave me a sideways smile. Then I always have to pull out my best jokes to make her alright. It was never a hard feat for him. It’s better that Jackie is here, I think. I nodded in agreement. She tends to keep your mother grounded. Try to stay down here as long as you can to just be a presence, he urged softly, swinging his intensely dark eyes down to me. For your mom.

I sighed. I’ll try, Dad. It was good enough for him. He gave me a light squeeze before he left my side to go mingle and thank everyone for their sympathies.

Grace! Jackie approached me, grinning wide. Hi honey! She pulled me in for a hug. You look so pretty!

Thank you, I beamed a smile at her. How are you?

Eh. Married life, she shrugged with a wink. It’s nice to have someone to sit around and be bored with, she cracked.

That’s quite an interesting take on it, I smirked at her.

You’ll find out one day, she winked.

She headed over to Faith’s direction, and as soon as Faith caught sight of her, her entire face lit up. I sipped my drink, just observing how everyone interacted, and then out of the corner of my eye I saw my mom and dad quickly moving out the ballroom doors. She was speaking in hushed tones, and adamantly using her hands to prove whatever point she was making. On that note, I decided to excuse myself and go outside for some fresh air.

I was intrigued to find my paternal grandmother all by her lonesome, on one of the many lounge chairs spread out around the pool. She was just sitting, staring out at the beautiful landscaping that panned across the horizon. She wasn’t too deep in thought, however. She noticed me immediately, and smiled softly. Her ebony hair was laced with gray, and pulled back in a fashion similar to my mother’s. Hi Nana. I took a seat on the chair beside her.

It feels wrong that I’m sad, but relieved, that this day has finally come, she spoke thoughtfully. I feel bad for even saying that.

I nodded. Papa was sick for a long time.

He was.

I flicked my eyes to her. He wouldn’t have made it this far if you hadn’t always looked after him, I gave her a small smile. You were good to him.

Even when I shouldn’t have been.

They had gone down a rocky road, indeed. Even now, I could see why many years ago a man like Lawrence would stray from his beautiful wife Vivien, to have an affair with my grandmother. She was older now, but she was still striking. Call me crazy, but up until his death, I could swear Lawrence still looked at Nana with adoration in his eyes. You two had something unique, I spoke wistfully.

We were lust-ridden young adults, she chuckled.

If that were really true Nana, you wouldn’t have been by his side until the moment he died.

She looked surprised by my revelation. You look more and more like your grandmother every day. She was now referring to my mom’s late mother. Nana’s eyes were sparkling in the same fashion Faith’s, and my father’s did. Lindsay was such a pretty girl. Sometimes when I see you, I have to do a double-take.

I smiled at her flattery. Thank you.

Hope seems to look more and more like Vivien by the day. Her smile slowly faded. Vivien was beautiful, even in old age. In fact, I think she looked better as she got older. So does your mother.

I stared at my grandmother as she talked about the women she’d seen come and leave Van Steenburgh Manor. She’d been just a child herself, when she started on, there. Shortly after she turned eighteen, she married Charles Forrestor, one of the butlers at the manor, and then at some point carried on an affair with Lawrence after he’d married Vivien. I had often wondered what kind of illustrious relationship he and Nana had. I imagined it to be wild, and exciting. It was how my father was conceived. It was a spark I saw in their eyes when they looked at one another, up until the very end.

But now she was alone. Charles had stuck by her side even after the affair, either because he loved my grandmother, or he was just comfortable. I wasn’t sure which. But after Lawrence’s first heart attack, my grandmother devoted a lot of her time to taking care of him. Too much time, perhaps. Charles left. She didn’t really seem to care, though. Even my mother had mentioned in passing that they never really had a loving marriage. He had been taken with the pretty, young Italian maid, and I couldn’t imagine the circumstances behind her marrying someone that wasn’t even remotely attractive. Perhaps it was just convenient. Perhaps he smart enough to take advantage when s someone as beautiful as she even gave him the time of day. Whatever the circumstances, all of those events led us to where we were, now.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

To rewind and give you a crash course on the complexity that has become my family lineage, Lawrence Van Steenburgh married my great-grandmother Vivien long ago. Vivien already had a child Lindsay, who was my maternal grandmother, and she didn’t want any more children. Apparently, Lawrence did. He ended up having an affair with the beautiful young housemaid at the time, and conceived my father, Trent.

To make things even more multifaceted, my grandmother Lindsay took off as a teenager, and Van Steenburgh Manor behind when she became a pregnant teenager. She made a life for herself with her boyfriend, and gave birth to my mother. She had found happiness. But when my mother’s parents died in a horrible accident while she was a teenager, Lawrence and Vivien stepped in and of course brought her to live at the manor under their care. Thrown into a world she didn’t even know existed, it was a struggle for my mother to come to grips with the rags-to-riches lifestyle, but that’s where she met Trent Forrestor, and she (Vivien’s biological grand-daughter) and my father (Lawrence’s biological son) took quite a liking to one another. That’s the story of how my parents met.

And while one might think that our family is now scraping genes from the bottom of the barrel at this point, it couldn’t be further from the truth. My father was a genius, both literally and creatively. He whizzed through school at an accelerated pace, and finished college by the time most people would be graduating high school. Faith was no different. She inherited not only our father’s looks, but his brains as well. At only twenty-one years old, she was currently pursuing her doctorate in psychology, taking a much different path of life than what our finance-minded relatives took on. Our father channeled his intellect into managing people’s finances and investing their money, and he tried to let it take up as little of his time as possible. His foremost interest was art, and his pieces were scattered about in many galleries, and featured on walls throughout homes all over locally, expanding over many states and countries. He once had a man in Italy employ him specifically to fit his home with his original pieces. I think if it weren’t for his father pushing him to have a stable career to fall back on, my dad would’ve been content as an artist through his whole life.

As for my mother, she had actually become an established Broadway actress before she had me. She and Aunt Jackie, who wasn’t actually my real aunt by blood, and was just my mother’s closest friend since the day she’d been brought to live at the manor, started their lives post-high school in New York City, where my mother pursued her first love – acting. When my grandfather first became ill was when everyone’s lives shifted, and then when my great-grandmother passed away shortly after, my mom and sister came to live at the manor full-time. My sister was only four at the time. Then I was born.

Only being seventeen, I had no clear picture of where my life was going, or even where I wanted it to go. I should’ve. My sister had her life all mapped out by my age. I had no idea where I was going after my upcoming final year of high school ended. I don’t really think my parents would be put off by anything I decided to do. Writing was my only passion, and I was active in Springcrest Academy’s school paper and yearbook staff. Making a life out of that seemed the only reasonable prospect.

I had zoned out until my grandmother broke our thoughtful silence. I knew this day would come, she mused aloud. I just wasn’t prepared for it. I don’t think anyone can fully prepare for death, really.

I fear you’re right, Nana.

Her eyes were sad. Genuine sadness. She cared about her former lover more than she would ever let on. Hell, if it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have had any of the life she enjoyed now. She wouldn’t have lived at a grand estate for her entire adult life. She certainly wouldn’t have the son she loved so dearly.

I should probably get back inside, was all she could manage, slowly rising from her seat. I stared down into the deep blue of the pool, and I heard the door close behind me.

It wasn’t too long before I decided to go on back inside, also. I really just didn’t know what to do with myself. The people inside the ballroom were talking amongst themselves. My sister and her boyfriend were talking to Jackie and another couple. I wasn’t in the mood to socialize, so I quietly moved away from the entrance to the vast, elegant space. I paused when I reached the staircase, and then looked down the hallway to my right. Light poured in the windows that spanned down its façade that curved outward. I headed down that hall, in the direction of the library, but didn’t quite make it that far.

I stopped just outside the door of what had been my grandfather’s home office, and it was cracked open slightly. I could hear my mother and father’s voices muffled from inside. Shamelessly, I eavesdropped on what seemed to have my mother worked up, but the clues were too vague. I’m just afraid he won’t listen to any reason, she huffed.

Let me handle him, my father’s voice calmly spoke.

He definitely won’t want to hear any of what you have to say, she spat bitterly.

Once they read the will, what would be left to say?

I heard my mother sigh. I don’t care. He can have everything.

I believe you meant that once, milady. But I know you don’t mean that, still.

I heard someone clear their throat, and I whirled around to find Faith standing at the end of the hallway to the foyer. I tiptoed away from the door and down the hallway to her, and she gave me a bewildered look. What were you doing?

Mom and Dad are in Papa’s office talking about wills and something about ‘he can have everything’. It kind of sounded like they were talking about the manor, I spoke quietly.

She shook her head quickly. It’s probably nothing. Just legal stuff. Quit eavesdropping, anyway. Brandon and I want to get out of here for a while, and I know you’re tired of all the funeral stuff. Want to go catch a movie with us?

I did give it a quick thought, but shook my head. Nah. I’ll just stay behind. I think I want to take a long bath and go read on the terrace.

Suit yourself. I’ll catch up with you when he drops me back off. I nodded and watched her tall, slender form hurry for the door.

I retreated up the stairs, and locked myself behind the doors to my spacious bedroom suite. I tossed my shoes into my closet, and the tile of my bathroom floor felt cool against my aching feet. High heels and I still didn’t get along very well, even though I’d had much practice in them.

I began running the bathwater, and grabbed my cell phone to see if anyone had tried to contact me through the day. My best friend Melissa from school sent me well-wishes, and that she was sorry she couldn’t be there to support me. Her parents didn’t know my family personally, and I especially wouldn’t want to subject any good friend of mine to a funeral they didn’t absolutely have to waste their time going to.

I sighed and settled back, resting my head against the tub. The water steamed, and the sound of the bubbles fizzing soothed me. It was the only sound audible. Life at that house was quiet. Sometimes too quiet. It served to amplify every odd creak and moan of the floors and walls throughout.

I hated seeing my mom so uptight. The weight of the world was sitting atop her shoulders, right now. I have no idea what she thought was in such peril, but it had me slightly worried. Only slightly, seeing as how my dad was so calm.

There was so much I didn’t know.

Chapter 2

Rainbows and Butterflies

I heard a door open from somewhere behind me, and from the sound of the exhausted sigh, I knew it was my sister. She sat down in the seat beside me, and gazed out into the distance from behind her Dior sunglasses. A birthday gift from her boyfriend. He knew he didn’t have to impress her, yet he always tried to anyway. What rich boys will do for a beautiful girl…

What an incessantly long day, she muttered aloud. I’m glad it’s over.

Me too. I looked up from my book just in time to see the sun begin to set beyond the Catskills, casting an orange glow over the Hudson out in the distance. What’s everyone inside doing?

She shook her head. I didn’t see anyone. I think Nana retired already for the evening. I didn’t see Mom and Dad anywhere, but their car was out front.

What a crappy way to begin summer break, I mused lightly.

It does suck, but it will get better. Always the optimist. I’m glad to be home for the summer. She propped her feet up on the ledge.

Not yet, you’re not. I gave her a wry look that she returned back to me. In a week, she was jetting off with her