"Simone?"

Her head turned. It was Joan.

"Hey?" she looked to the clock on the dresser. It was a little after ten. Joan said she was coming over and she'd completely forgotten.

"Are you okay?" Joan asked.

"Yeah, silly accident. Cut my finger while making breakfast."

"So now you're lying to me?" Joan asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Simone said. She went to her closet and located her suitcase. The sooner she got out of that room, this house, this town, the better.

Joan tossed her hands up in exasperated flare. "Unless Tonto came over this morning to do a little knife show while you were in the shower, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Cut the s.h.i.t. What's going on? Where's your husband, and why is Cain here?"

"Stop! Okay!" Simone shouted. She grabbed her suitcase handle and rolled it back out of the closet. She returned and yanked clothes off the hangers and marched back in throwing them on the bed. After several trips, she stopped. She panted. She felt Joan's eyes on her. Before she knew it, she was crying again. d.a.m.n it. She hated being weak! Joan was there to embrace her. "It was Keith, wasn't it? You two fought?"

"He's a monster."

"If he hit you, then you need to tell me. I saw the knife. How can I help if you won't talk to me?"

"He attacked me. He raped me," she confessed.

Joan withdrew her hand. She didn't look for her reaction. Simone couldn't stomach the disgust in her eyes. To confess her husband's violation of trust to another was not the hardest thing she could do. Admitting it to herself, was. The silence between them lengthened. Simone finally looked over. In that moment, she didn't know if the vile act had happened to her or Joan. Her new friend looked that tormented.

"He raped you?" Joan finally managed to repeat.

Simone couldn't believe she said it aloud. The shock of last night couldn't be described as anything but rape. Keith took her in the most brutal manner to make sure she knew what it was. It wasn't about s.e.x or love. It was about control. His over hers. "Yes. He raped me, a.n.a.lly," she said softly, mournfully.

"Okay. Okay, it's going to be okay, sweetheart," Joan said touching her back, her shoulders.

"The h.e.l.l it is. My husband raped me. He did it on purpose. He wanted me to know and to show me how far he'd go. He won't let me out of this marriage, Joan. And if I try, it'll only get worse. I'm terrified of him," Simone admitted. "I'm terrified of what I might do. That was my knife. I-I-I wanted to stab him. I almost did."

"It's okay. We got him now. We got him Simone."

Simone frowned. "What?"

"We need to call the police." Joan turned for the phone. "Get you checked out by a doctor."

"What? No!"

"We need to report the f.u.c.ker! Have his a.s.s arrested. Put it on record so we can get him removed from your house. Get a restraining order too. The f.u.c.king b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He went too far, and we got him now!"

"No!" Simone yelled.

"Sweetie."

"No! I said no!"

"He's violent."

"Oh G.o.d, you aren't listening!" Simone exclaimed.

"I'm calling the police."

"I said no! I won't talk about the rape, with no one. NEVER! Do you hear me! NEVER!"

Joan put her hand to her forehead. She looked back over to the suitcase. "Is this why Cain is downstairs? Did you call him? Tell him?"

"No," she answered softly. "I won't ever tell him. He'll kill Keith. Then his life is ruined. This is my mess. If you want to help me, then help me get my divorce. But don't ever mention the rape to me again. I'll just deny it." She walked around her to her things, to finish packing. Joan paced the floor behind her. She could see her, without seeing her. She should have kept it to herself.

"Where are you going? If you don't want to fight back, then what is the plan? Run off with Cain?"

"Huh?" she looked back, "No. My sister is in the hospital. I'm going to New York."

"How bad is she?"

"I don't know. I need to get to her. I need to be with my family." She looked at the bed. The cold hard memory of being dragged across it was forever burned to the front of her mind. Her hand began to shake again. "To be honest, I don't want a man. I don't want Cain or Keith. I want to get the h.e.l.l out of here. I want to go home. I need to catch my breath."

"s.h.i.t! I forgot. That's why I came over." Joan grabbed Simone's hand and squeezed. "I spoke to my friend. She wants to meet with you. The moment I told her who your husband was and what he has done, she said she could help."

"Help how? You said it would take years to get out of this." Simone pulled her hand away and picked up a blouse to fold and place in her suitcase.

"Stop the f.u.c.king packing, okay? It's making me crazy." Joan s.n.a.t.c.hed the shirt and threw it aside. Simone sighed.

She turned and faced Joan. "Fine, what's different?"

Joan smiled. "Annulment."

"Annulment?"

"My friend says that she thinks we can nullify the marriage based on fraud."

Stunned, Simone sat down. Her mouth gaped. Joan now had tears in her eyes too. She stooped before Simone and nodded, rubbing her hands. "He defrauded you when he married you and didn't disclose that he was sterile, sweetie. He broke your marital contract."

"But an annulment? I've been married six years. How is that possible?"

"You ready for this. This is the good part," Joan grinned. "The annulment clock doesn't start ticking until the day you discover the truth. You got three years after the fraud has been perpetrated to file. I'm talking about getting his a.s.s where it hurts and then suing him for taking what was yours."

"I don't believe this. I thought I didn't have any choices. I thought-"

"Now, we fight back, Simone. You go to New York and you meet with Sue. Together we get that f.u.c.ker. I swear to you, we will destroy his a.s.s," She gave a wider grin, "after we get you divorced of course."

Simone dropped to her knees before Joan and hugged her. So much hope filled her. So much hope and happiness in that moment. She burst into tears again. Joan held her. There was a way out. Finally, she found the light at the end of the tunnel. She could believe it now. Joan let her go. Together, they laughed. They sat on the floor laughing their heads off. It felt good to laugh, and they didn't even know why they were doing it. How this woman just appeared from nowhere into her life and changed it was remarkable. She had a new love in her life and her name was Joan Nelson.

Joan's smile faded. Her laughter quieted. She shook her head, thinking. "I really wish you'd let me call the police. It's true what you told me. You got that knife, didn't you? Got it to keep from stabbing the son-of-a-b.i.t.c.h!"

"Yes. How did you know?" Simone smiled.

"Because, honey, I'd have served his c.o.c.k as breakfast sausage if it were me."

Simone chuckled. "There's no point in calling the police, Joan. It's something I can't prove. I'm not stupid. I know it will be his word against mine, and I... I don't have the energy. My sister needs me, and I need her."

"It makes me uncomfortable for you to be dismissive over this. It's rape. A crime. You may be in shock today, but soon you are going to have to deal with this."

"It's my decision, Joan."

"Okay." Joan put her hands up. " Keith is going to regret the day he hurt you. I swear that to you." She reached over and touched her hand. Simone squeezed it back.

"I believe it."

He heard movement and voices above. They were in the hall. Cain closed his mobile and slipped it into his trouser pocket. The appointment was set. He needed help and he knew where to go to get it. Rising from the sofa, he walked around the coffee table, nervous and anxious to see Simone again. That knife incident was only part of the story. He needed to hear the rest. But when she emerged with her bags, the question died in his throat. She looked up at him with a beautiful patient smile. Her face had a glow under that smile. Simone had changed into a nice pair of designer jeans and a pink v-neck cotton shirt with a thin matching sweater. Her hair, stylish in her new cut with bangs, was combed over one eye. Her make-up was flawless. She even smelled pretty. She looked as she did before he arrived and saw her pain. He had to wonder if Joan Nelson was a miracle worker.

"Hi," he said in wonder.

"Hi," she smiled. "Joan wants to come to the airport with us, if that's okay?"

"I think I should take her, Cain," Joan interjected. "If you're seen with her, it could be awkward."

"I'm taking her." He took a step toward Simone, still unable to look away from the smoky brown beauty of her eyes. She blinked at him, and his heart beat a little faster. Just for her. "You okay, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine, Cain. Really. I'm sorry about earlier. I was-" she looked to Joan, then to him. "I was worried about my sister."

"Is that all?"

"That's all."

He didn't care how Joan glared with disapproval. He slowly brought his lips to hers. This time she didn't flinch. Her hands lifted to his shoulder as he ran his tongue over the seam of her lips and pressed his way in. A long sweep of her inner mouth drew her shy tongue out and gave him the access he sought. The kiss tasted as sweet as she was. His beautiful, tender hearted, caring Simone was going to be okay. He believed.

"Okay, you two really need to stop. Seriously!" Joan huffed, going to the door. He let her go, only because he had no choice. But he kissed her once more, again because he had no choice. He just couldn't express himself any other way. "I want to come to New York. I have to take care of some things here. Set my life in order and then I'm coming. Okay?"

"No. You can't do that. It's not good for either of us," Simone said.

"Let me worry about what's good for me. Tell me that I can."

She shook her head sadly. "I'm not just leaving Keith. Cain, I can't do this. Not now. My life is s.h.i.t."

"But-"

"I'm sorry. I will miss you and miss what we found with each other. Most of all, I will miss this friendship we have. Do you know why? Because I swear when my world came crashing down, this friendship with you kept me hoping it would change."

"Then don't run away from me. Tell me I can come see you when my life is settled? When your life is settled?" Cain asked.

"That's enough!" Joan exclaimed. "Let's get out of here now!"

Simone grabbed Cain's face and forced a kiss. He clung to her, afraid of letting go. She chuckled and pushed free.

"We aren't over. And you just gave me a little more motivation." He winked and picked up her suitcase with his free hand. They didn't even bother to lock the door. He carried the luggage to Joan's car, since she was at her trunk loading the other bag anyway. She adamantly refused to let him drive, which was smart since he was coasting on autopilot, unable to process a rational thought.

The three of them rode to the airport in Joan's Mercedes. Simone and Joan sat up front talking about the person she was to meet in New York and how to contact her. He listened quietly, but attentively. All the while, he ran down each piece of the corporate hustle he needed to move in place. They can work on Simone and Keith's divorce, but he had other plans for Keith Livingston.

The fact that his wife was threatening a pregnancy never left the back of his mind. He continued to hold out for hope. It was all he ever had in his miserably complacent life.

When they arrived at the airport, Joan insisted on paying for her flight out. She reasoned that their affair had to remain beyond the eyes of Castle Rock, beyond Keith Livingston's reach. He went to the ATM and withdrew the maximum allowed from one machine, eight hundred dollars. He wished it was more. He put the crisp bills in Simone's hand and told her to call if she needed anything. Joan groaned, but held her tongue. Cain was bold enough to take Simone aside. Before they said their goodbyes, he held her hand, away from the traffic of travelers, away from the ears and eyes of Joan.

"I don't know what happened last night. I just want you to know that I'm here for you. Always," Cain said.

"You're not my hero. I don't need one anymore. You're a man with a complicated life. A man I can't help but want to take care of. And that scares me."

"Don't do this to me, Simone. Don't give up on what we shared."

"I'm not," Simone smiled sadly. "You and Joan are my angels. I'm okay now. Don't worry about me. Figure out what Cain needs, and stay in touch." She touched his cheek. The warmth of her palm heated the side of his face and made his chest burn with that familiar ache to have her again. Looking into her eyes, he remembered the motel and their brief time together. He turned his face into her palm and pressed a kiss there.

"Guys, cut it out! I'm serious! Not here! Are you crazy?" Joan said, in a loud whisper, her heels clicking as she rushed over to them. He gave Simone another kiss, ignoring the risk, ignoring Joan. He ignored the travelers that had to give wide birth to the way they blocked the breezeway. He didn't want to let her go.

"Enough!" Joan hissed between her teeth, separating them.

Reluctant, he gave in and let her go. He kissed Simone's forehead before he was pushed away. "I'll be online tonight. Or you can call me."

"No." Joan put her foot down, looking between them both. "No written communication between you two. None! We aren't out of the woods yet. Simone, go. Here's your ticket. Go."

She hesitated, staring at him with that familiar look of longing. He winked at her, and she smiled. "Guess what, Cain?"

"What?" he asked as she backed away from them both.

"I love you too!" she said aloud.

Joan smacked her forehead, "I don't believe this!"

Cain grinned. "Same here, babe!"

Simone turned and disappeared in the small crowd headed for the security gates. "What the h.e.l.l do you think you're doing? She's fragile. Can't you see that? You know d.a.m.n well you aren't divorcing that Hollingsworth brat. Are you that much of a selfish b.a.s.t.a.r.d that you would cause Simone more pain?"

"Shut up. You have no idea what I will and will not do for her. I love her. I do plan to have her. At any cost," he said. He walked off in the other direction with Simone's perfume on his clothes and the warmth of her mouth still lingering on his lips. Maryanne wasn't pregnant. No f.u.c.king way. Andrew Hollingsworth couldn't control him. Not anymore. He was going to set them both free, his way.

Later New York, Mercy at Mercy Hospital Simone had only brought her phone to keep in contact with Cain. The minute the plane landed she turned it on and saw the text from him. It made her smile. All it said was: I miss u already.

She wore a smile through the airport and out into her cab. She had to drag her luggage into the hospital. She couldn't afford to keep the meter running with the cab. She walked through the same hospital she hadn't visited since the day they turned off the machines for Dennis, and they said their sad goodbyes. She used to wonder how her sister managed to work there after such a painful experience. Now she knew the truth. Her sister didn't manage at all.

When Simone stepped up to Kim's door, she hesitated. She was so angry at Kim for keeping this secret, but she was also so very afraid for her. She needed to set fear and hurt aside when she saw her. She would try. Slowly, she pushed the door open.

Kim lay in bed with her head turned away from the door. Simone wasn't sure if she was awake. Also in the room was Diane, slumped over, sleep in a chair. Simone entered. Kim's head shot around. Her eyes held a weary, weepy look.

"Kitt, that you?" Kim asked in a hoa.r.s.e whisper. Her bottom lip quivered with the uncertainty she heard in her voice. She never called her Kitt. Typically, the nickname was reserved for Diane's use only. Her sister looked so lost. Simone swallowed the sob in her throat and blinked the tears away. She hurried over to the bed and embraced her the best she could. Holding her again made her feel as if she could breathe. Kim broke down into sobs.

"It's about time you got here," she heard Diane say groggily behind her. Simone couldn't let Kim go. She wouldn't let her go. No matter what happened. She was back home to stay.