The fighting over toys confused Simone. She a.s.sumed that playing would help them feel balanced. She brought out two of everything and still they'd fixate on the same truck or action figure then fight to the bitter end over it. How did poor Kim manage it at all?

Carrying Danny on her hip into the kitchen in nothing but bare feet and her sleep shirt, she went straight to the cookie jar. Yes, sugar was another instigator but it was also a silencer, peacemaker and laughter generator. And right now, she needed all three.

She was suffering major withdrawals over missing Cain. Two weeks ago, a courier delivered an envelope. Inside she found over three thousand dollars and a note. The note simply said, I love you. She wanted to call and thank him but she knew better. They had to be strong.

Planting Danny on his two feet, she offered a gingersnap, then put another in his other hand. "Give one to your brother. Share, Danny, okay?" Danny took a bite into the cookie, his eyes wide, glistening and bordering with tears. He was happy again. Turning, he fled, waving the cookie in the air. "There is peace in the valley." Simone threw her hands up in celebration.

Next were the dishes she let sit over night. Another fault of hers was keeping up with domestics while balancing surrogate motherhood. It had worked until she got the call from Keith.

"Baby? Baby, you there?"

Simone groaned. She lingered on the edge of sleep. Cain's name was on the tip of her tongue. Half awake, she smiled, remembering their short time together and how he'd watch her in the night. She turned to her side, snuggling the phone. "Yes, sweetheart, I'm here."

"I miss you too."

Her eyes flipped open. "h.e.l.lo?"

"I'm on my way to the airport. Flying back in, couldn't really take another day out here. d.a.m.n, baby, I wish you were there when I landed. I feel like celebrating," Keith said.

"Keith, what time is it?" Her head lifted from the pillow and she strained in the dark to see the red block numbers of the clock. "It's almost two."

"Here in Phoenix, it's almost eleven," he chuckled back. "Catching a late flight out. Got a big day in the office, and stuff. How soon can you come home to your man?"

"I-"

"Is Kim okay? I spoke to mother. She said you came by. Been calling the past few weeks and you haven't called me back. Guess you were busy, huh? I'm glad you went to see the folks. She said, well she said you were in a good place now. Ready to put all that s.h.i.t behind us. I was hoping the little separation worked for you. Looks like it did."

"Kim is still sick. I won't be able to come."

"That's not what I want to hear." The cadence in his voice changed. "You're my wife. I expect you home, now. Get someone to see to her and those kids, and then get back here. I'll call in a plane ticket for you. Hey, got to go through security. I'll call you tomorrow to tell you what flight you're on. Later, babe."

"Keith!"

The line clicked off.

Simone stood at the sink. Her eyes focused on the dewy mist covering the kitchen window, her thoughts still with Keith. That call haunted her. She wanted a do over to tell him to go to h.e.l.l, and she was never coming back. She would soon, maybe even sooner than she thought. Her eyes slipped over to the phone when it began to ring. She plucked it up from the cradle.

"Ms. Wilson?"

No one called her Ms. Wilson. She was Mrs. Livingston only. "Yes."

"This is Sue. Sorry to wake you."

"Oh! Hi, yes. It's okay. I was told the other day by the a.s.sistant, uh...Mindy, yes, she said after I gave her the information, you'd call."

"Are you free this afternoon?"

"Ah, yeah... yes."

"Good, you will need to come to my office. Today is the day."

"The day?"

"Liberation day. Today is your day. I have it all in order. We're filing so you and I need to talk about next steps."

"Today?"

"Today."

"That was fast. But good, yes, okay. I agree we need to talk."

Simone put her hand to her eyes. Her heart raced. It was time to face the devil and show her hand. She had to be ready.

"Ms. Wilson?"

"Sorry, yes I'm here."

"Can you be here around 2?"

"Yes, Ms.-Sue. Yes, I'll be there."

"Good, see you then."

Simone figured things were as they should be, but she'd love one more touch from Cain to remind her differently. She wiped her hands down her hips then stepped to the sink when the doorbell rang. Confused, Simone froze. The ding came again and the boys both squealed. They loved visitors. However, Simone wasn't expecting any. Diane had been missing for over a week. She gave up on looking for her.

As she approached the door, the bell ringing changed to a fist pound on the door. The twins stood there staring up at the door, each eating a cookie.

"Who is it?" she called out.

"WHO IS IT?" the twins repeated.

"Me. Diane. Let me in!"

Simone opened the door, bracing for the worst. Her mother coming off a drinking binge was never a pretty sight. However, when she opened the door, she found something unexpected. Her mother was back. She wore a pair of jean capris and a black tank. Her matted hair was picked out dark in thick curls. And the whites of her eyes were clear, minus the red glaze that drinking always brought. Diane walked in.

"Mama?"

The twins stared up at her curiously, lips covered in cookie crumbs.

"There my babies! Hi boys!" Diane dropped to her knees, kissing them both. Simone closed the door. She stood there dumbfounded. Who was this woman?

"Mama? What's going on?"

"Who wants pancakes?" Diane asked.

The toddlers grinned, yelling their wants in unison. Diane laughed. "Pancakes are better for breakfast instead of cookies. Shame on you, Kitt, for giving them sweets." Though she only stood five-foot two and weighed barely one hundred pounds wet, she lifted the boys in her arms and carried them to the kitchen. "Go shower, Kitt. I'll take care of them."

"Okay."

Diane glanced back. "We'll talk when you get out."

Simone did as she was told. Having Diane dry and alert was an unexpected bonus. Instead of a shower, she took a bath, a long soak. She then dressed, mentally preparing for the next major steps in the day. Four times she checked her phone. Nothing.

When she returned, the twins were eating in their high chairs. Diane sat across from them sipping coffee from Dennis's fire station mug. She didn't even look up when she spoke. "Come in and sit down. I fixed you some eggs and toast with tomato, like you liked it when you were a kid. Remember?"

Curious, Simone couldn't take her eyes off her mother. She sat in front of the twins, who grinned at her, cheeks and fingers sticky with syrup. Diane returned with her plate and a freshly squeezed cup of orange juice.

It was all too much.

"What's going on, Mama?"

"Nothing, had to get out of here for a few days."

"Get out? I haven't seen you in over a week. Where did you go? I called Esther, your friends in the neighborhood. None of them saw you."

"Crashed at my sponsor's."

"Sponsor? You have one again?"

Diane gave a smart smile. "You don't lose a sponsor, sweetie. No matter how much you want to." She pulled out her cigarettes and then looked to the twins and decided against the smoke. "I had to dry out, Kitt. Greg's the only one that can deal with me when I try."

"Greg? It's a guy?"

Diane avoided her eyes. She scratched her brow and looked back into the kitchen when she spoke, "Only man that can put me in my place, besides your father when he gave a s.h.i.t, is Greg. Let's leave it at that."

"You okay? Mama?"

"No." Diane held out her right hand and showed her the tremors. "Your mama is an alcoholic. She's far from okay. But I'll hold on until-," she looked to the twins. "Until we get Kimmy home to her sons, and you divorced from that stank b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

Simone smiled.

Her mother was trying. She'd been here before. She knew how hard it would be. But her mother was going to try. That meant the world to her.

She picked up her fork, pierced her eggs and started to eat. Diane sat there talking to the twins. She encouraged them while nervously scratching her arm, and cracking her knuckles. But she sat there through breakfast, doing her best to be a mother to them all.

"I was going into Manhattan today. Taking the boys with me. I have a meeting with my lawyer. You can come."

"Not dressed to meet anybody."

"You look fine. Put on one of my shirts. Afterwards, we can go somewhere to eat, the four of us. How does that sound?.

"Good, I guess."

"You back on your meds?" Simone asked softly, noticing her somber mood.

Diane's voice had a leveled balance to it. "Yeah, on them d.a.m.n pills again. Keeps me constipated and forgetful, but I'm taking them all. Gonna stick to them too, until I can't no more."

"One day at a time, right?"

"One day at a time."

She ate her breakfast. Thinking of the changes for the Wilson women, soon Kim would be released, and Simone would be divorced. They'd be together again, but different this time. Somehow, through it all, bad habits and drama, she felt they were stronger. Diane put her face in her hands. She wondered if her mother had slept.

"I believe in you, Mama. No matter what you've done or how hard you try to convince me otherwise. I believe in you, Mama. I see you trying, and it means so much to all of us."

Diane shrugged. "Well s.h.i.t, it's only been a week ya know?"

"s.h.i.t!" Denny exclaimed.

Simone smiled. Shaking her head, she pointed her fork at the toddler. "Don't push it, Denny." The toddler opened his mouth and showed her the un-chewed food. Diane laughed.

"One day at a time."

Cain checked the rearview mirror, his fingers tightening and loosening on the steering wheel. It was the white van, again. This time it had fallen two cars behind, but like always, it was there.

"f.u.c.k you," he said under his breath.

Making the next turn, he checked for the time on the driver console. Maryanne called him as soon as she landed. That he expected. What he didn't expect was the next call, a summons to her doctor's office. From the moment he hung up, to the long walk out of the building to his fate, he found the air hard to breathe. This was the wild card his mother warned about. The one thing he couldn't control. The one 'choice' he would have to make and live with. Cain rubbed his chin, pressing his lips tightly together. His life flashed before his eyes.

He needed to talk to Simone. He needed to hear her voice. But that was for him, not for her. He had to stick to the plan. Be the player not the playee and follow Rachel's instructions to the letter. He had to. And then there was the van. After parking and paying the meter, he knew and felt it make the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end. Cain glanced back over his shoulder, just as the white van pa.s.sed him on the street. Cain watched it drive off and then turn away. He picked up on this tail during the drive out to see his mother.

Cain dropped his hands deep in his pockets and headed up the walk. He held the door open for a mother and child and then ventured in after them. He knew the doctor's office. Two years ago, he visited when Maryanne claimed her inability to conceive was 'his' issue. The doctor confirmed otherwise. Cain's swimmers were fine. But of course that wasn't enough. She would blame him with each failed attempt. Funny, that now was the only time he wished it were true.

"Mr. Gatlin, we've been expecting you. Your wife is in with Dr. Reed. This way."

Cain gave the nurse a nod. Her name was Mary or Sherry or something or other. She had one of those funny shapes. Big and round on top, with skinny legs that seemed challenged in holding her up. He walked through the back hall, pa.s.sing exam rooms. He could see the back of Maryanne's head as he entered. The doctor looked up, prompting her to turn.

"Cain! Hey, sweetie! Hi!" She came over to him and threw her arms around his neck. She planted a kiss on him and then touched the spot to rub away the lipstick smear. "I have missed you."

He looked past her to the doctor who stared on observing.

"Why did you call me down here?" Cain asked.

She took his hand, led him to the seats. "News. The news you've been waiting on. Go ahead and sit down. Tell him doctor. Tell him what you just told me."

Cain looked his wife over. She wore a smug smirk to her glossy pink lips. Her blue eyes focused directly on him.

"I was just telling your wife, Mr. Gatlin, that she's seven weeks pregnant. Congratulations."

"Told you," Maryanne chimed in.

Cain nodded. Not the least bit surprised. "Okay."

"Okay?" Maryanne asked, her brow arching. "Is that all? Okay? How about a little more enthusiasm? You're going to be a daddy. We're going to have a baby."

Cain looked down at his watch. "I'm in between meetings so..." He looked back up, "Is she okay? I mean Maryanne, the baby and all?"