Cracks in the Sidewalk

By Lillis Lish

After her divorce, Paige Parsons moved from a small Idaho town to start a new life, homeless, alone and Epileptic, she met Mitch, a chamer. Paige thought she had a second chance at love when Mitch brutally beat her, almost killing her. With the help of her friends, Paige found strength and courage to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and move on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499037869

Lillis Lish

Currently Ms. Lish resides in Seattle, Washington, with her very well-loved and spoiled cat, Boots. She creates characters in her book by observing life. She enjoys writing, ceramics, as well as spending time with her Asian boyfriend. When she is not writing, she works in nursing. She enjoys working closely with her home health clients from different backgrounds, experiences, cultures, as well as various professions. Her motto is, life is her muse as well as her teacher. She would love to hear from her readers and can be contacted at: www.facebook.com/iwritefromlife lillisearline2002#yahoo.com lilish.blog.com

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Lillis Lish.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014910671

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4990-3784-5

                Softcover        978-1-4990-3785-2

                eBook             978-1-4990-3786-9

All rights reserved. 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 permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 06/16/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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636707

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Author’s Note

For Allen Kenneth Lish and Lillas Mae Christensen Lish

the first one is for you.

Some of the proceeds from the sale of this book will

go to the Epilepsy Foundation, Women’s and Children’s

shelters as well as organizations that help the homeless.

One

I felt my chest tightening, my breathing ragged. Struggling for breath I saw him above me, straddling me with his hands around my neck. Squeezing, laughing that evil laugh. My face with mottled red from anger, from lack of oxygen. I was lightheaded. I kicked and screamed and bucked at him for freedom.

Still he continued to straddle me. My arms and hands were pinned beneath him. His knees were holding them. I could feel his knees on my wrist, even today; I can still feel the pressure of his hold. My breathe still constricts when I recount these memories. My heart is beating fast, as if it is leaping out of my chest. I can still feel his sweat on my face, my brow. I still hear his ragged breath. I can still see the pillows as he pushes them in my face. First one, then two, then three. He was trying to suffocate me. These memories bring pain, bring tears, and bring back my fears. But I have to tell my story. I have to share in hopes that I can help someone. Someone who wasn’t there to help me.

I suppose that I should start at the beginning of when I met him, Mitch." I had just moved here to begin a new life, single. I knew no one outside of Jeff and Jenn whom I had befriended when I was homeless for three months, but now I am getting ahead of myself. I will later tell that tale as they are both intertwined.

I had joined a singles group when I first moved here. I wanted to make friends, I needed to make friends. It was a large group with lots of members from everywhere, not just here, but surrounding areas and counties.

It was 80s ladies night at a local night club. I was wearing a brown paisley polyester dress and Tan cowboy boots with pink flowers on the heel. I wore my hair down. I know not very original, but I tried with the limited wardrobe that I had.

I had entered the nightclub and signed in. The organizer greeted me. This was my first meet up with the group, so I had never met him before. He was dressed like Jimi Hendrix. There were several Jimi Hendrix’s that night.

I was kind of shy so it was a big step for me to join an unknown group of strangers. I saw him, Mitch sitting in a booth over by the fireplace. I was sitting alone near the front of the nightclub, when he approached me.

Why don’t you come over and join me. I noticed that you were just sitting by yourself. I should have told him that I was waiting for someone. Okay, I replied.

I joined him over at his table. Suddenly I had a bad case of diarrhea of the mouth. I talked about why I moved here. My job. My new life. I should have shut up and listened.

So How about you? I asked. By the way, my name is Paige Parsons.

Nice to meet you Paige, I am Mitch. He went on, To answer your question, I am Vice President of a party bus company. I make lots of money.

I wasn’t impressed by the money. Money has never impressed me. He was fairly easy on the eyes and a good listener. He later told me that he drove a Mercedes Benz. He liked to dance. I wasn’t a fairly good dancer and was discouraged as a child. He asked me what I wanted to drink. Just a coke, I replied. I wasn’t a big drinker either. He ordered me another Coke and we hit the dance floor. We danced until my feet ached. I was tired and wanted to go home. I told him that I wanted to leave.

Okay, sit here and I will have one more dance, than we will leave. He led me to a table just off the dance floor. I was falling asleep. He was still dancing. I left. Next thing I know he was running to catch up to me. He called it his Stealth mode.

I will take you home,.

I don’t live that far. I can walk. I was bone weary so I didn’t argue when he led me to his car.

Looking back now, a few years later. I can see where the cycle of control and abuse started. I was more naive than I thought I was. I had been married before, however I did not know men like I thought that I did. I had no examples to compare too. My father had passed away several years ago as well as my much loved uncle and grandfather. My mother always looked down on my father as if he was a flea. Even after his death. She is a cold woman.

Mitch drove me home. He lived in Edwards and had to get the car back as it was his roommates. She let him use it. I was so relieved to be home and out of those boots that I ignored my internal warning signals to be careful. We exchanged phone numbers. This is a practice that I have since changed whenever I met someone or someone wants to meet me. I don’t give out my phone number to someone that I meet online. I don’t give them my real name. This is done only after I

Reviews for Cracks in the Sidewalk

[georgiann-4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When the McDermott family lose their only Daughter to a brain tumor all they wanted was to spend their years sharing and spending time with their three Grand Children. Once a loving family their daughters husband became heartless and mean when she became ill. He blamed all his failures on everyone and everything but himself. When his in laws refused to give him one more loan for his failing business he kept the children from them. This was a very emotional heartbreaking read for me. A story about family, love , loss and faith.

[acorley84 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First of all, what's not to love about this book? The characters, the story, everything about this book is top of the line!

This story is gut-wrenching and bittersweet all at the same time. I felt as though I could feel the character's heart aches right along with them throughout the whole story. There was never a dull or boring moment throughout the entire story. It flowed nicely, smoothly, and easily. This was a story that pained me to stop reading each day as it felt like I was propping my eyelids open just to read!

The characters were so superbly written. You had several characters that you couldn't help but love and a few that you couldn't help but hate and those feelings never changed! The sad truth of it is, that there are so many despicable people in the world, just like Jeffrey, Kelsey, and her sister!

I felt super involved throughout the whole story but often found myself with a little grin as I read at the truly endearing parts of Elizabeth with her children, and Claire's undying love for Elizabeth. I also could feel the anguish right along with Claire as she was dealt blow after blow but never gave up.

This is truly a story of a two mothers (and father's) unconditional love, faithfulness, unwavering devotion to her family.

Spectacular read!