"The Mayor."

"The Mayor? Why would-" It had started. Sue had warned of the s.h.i.t storm. Well it was brewing with hurricane force if the Livingstons had the Mayor of New York involved and it was barely one o'clock. "What did the Mayor want?" she asked softly.

"Your husband has powerful friends. My chief is on my a.s.s for not alerting them of your visit. However, they can't make you withdraw your complaint. A judge has signed off on it, Simone. It's in effect and fully forcible."

"But you came, so they must want something?" Simone asked.

"They think it's a misunderstanding. Wanted me to speak with you again to be sure."

"They wanted you to talk me out of it?" she asked.

"I only came to tell you that I will help you, no matter what they want. I'll keep you safe."

"What did they tell you? Exactly. Be honest with me," she said, trying to keep the fear from her voice. She didn't want him to coddle or comfort her. She wanted the cold facts. She needed to know what Keith was after.

"Your husband is contesting the order. He wants to respond to the complaint and have it dismissed. His family has a group of attorneys already pushing hard for an earlier court date."

"They can't do that. Can they?" She didn't wait for him to respond. Of course they could. "Well it doesn't matter. My attorney said they'd try. You tell them that I won't be dropping my complaint and I'll gladly meet Keith and his lawyers in court."

He smiled. "Good for you. Has he contacted you?"

Simone's gaze slipped to the phone then away. "No."

"If he does-"

"Is that all, detective?" Simone asked.

"Well, no," he said. He rubbed his hands over the top of his smile and chuckled nervously. She waited for him to say more. He stalled another minute before he cleared his throat twice and spoke. "Dinner?"

"Excuse me?"

"You look like you need a friend. Someone to talk to?"

"I don't," she said rising, her hand protectively going to her stomach. She dropped it away, guarding her secret. The detective rose. He towered over her. "I apologize. I wasn't trying to impose. It's just we sorta knew each other through Dennis and I know you're dealing with a lot. I wanted to let you know that I'd be willing to help if needed."

"Thank you. That's very generous of you, but I'm fine. As long as I have the order, he'll stay away." Simone smiled.

"It's not a force field, Simone," Detective Alverson said.

"And?"

"I'm saying that you need to be cautious, careful, do you understand? I've seen cases get way out of hand once the courts step in. Just be very careful. Locked doors, no going off alone. I suggest you let things cool off first."

Simone thought of Keith's rage and the night he showed her how far he'd go to own her. She was a believer that her husband was capable of the unspeakable. "I can protect myself," she said, crossing her arms, hugging herself against the inner chill his warning gave.

The detective smiled. "I'm sure you can. Do you have my card?"

"I do. Thanks. I really appreciate the warning. I'll be okay detective."

She walked him to the door. When she opened it and he stepped outside of it, she thought that was the end of the matter. But he reached for her hand. His touch surprised her. Though inappropriate, it was gentle, strong, and comforting. He held her hand. "I know you don't know me, but I've been at this job a long time so it gets personal quickly when I see someone in trouble, and besides, Dennis was a good brother. I feel like I should help. If your husband calls you, comes over here, you call the police first, and then call me second. Okay?"

Simone smiled, genuinely touched. "Thank you, detective."

"Derrick. Call me Derrick."

"Thanks, Derrick." She removed her hand from his. If she hadn't, he would have still held to it. He gave her another smooth smile, turned and finally walked away. Simone watched him get behind the wheel of his Ford sedan and pull out of her drive. She watched until he drove off. Shaking her head, she closed the door. So the battle lines were drawn? Well the detective, the Livingstons, h.e.l.l even Cain, all thought she'd crumble. But Joan was right. She wasn't about to throw in the towel, not when she had something special to look forward to. Simone smiled and touched her belly. She ran her hand down the precious cargo. She had more than one reason to fight.

"She's f.u.c.king cheating on me!" He ground out through clenched teeth.

"Keith, where are you? Are you over there? I told you that the order stands. The Mayor said-"

"f.u.c.k the Mayor! She's making a f.u.c.king fool out of me!" Keith shouted. He watched from across the street as a black man stood on the Jensen's porch holding his wife's hand. Simone smiled up at him, said a few words and flirted with the man. They were f.u.c.king! The wh.o.r.e, s.l.u.t, b.i.t.c.h! She was f.u.c.king around on him all this time! Hypocritical b.i.t.c.h! The man turned and walked off to the car. He could tell by the way he looked back, checking for her, that his suspicions were right. She had the nerve to think she'd annul their marriage? He couldn't wait to set things right with her. His hand reached for the door handle.

"Keith! Where are you?"

"She won't get away with this, Madison."

"Go to the house. Your father is calling in a few favors. I'm already headed there. Her sister's in rehab for drug abuse, and it gets interesting from there. I also got a rundown on your wife's divorce attorney. The b.i.t.c.h will fight dirty, so we have to get ready."

"She's my wife. She's my f.u.c.king wife!" Keith yelled in the phone.

"Right! Right! But we have to be smart. Until we can get the order of protection overturned, don't risk a confrontation with her. We'll take care of this. Just come back to the house. Now."

Keith let go the handle of the door. He glared at the house. "Fine, I'm on my way. But it's time Simone learn some valuable lessons. Get in contact with the chief of staff at Mercy Hospital. I want to know everything about the junkie b.i.t.c.h sister of hers."

Simone entered the kitchen. She walked over to the phone. Sighing deeply, she switched the ringer back on. The phone immediately rang when she placed the receiver in the cradle.

"Simone, they're ready. How about you?" Diane called out to her.

"A minute, Ma. Give me a minute." She picked up the phone and answered. "h.e.l.lo?"

"d.a.m.n, babe!"

"Cain?"

"Listen to me. I don't have much time," Cain said.

She could hear him breathing hard into the phone, as he slammed one door and opened another. She wanted to call him too, to tell him the news. But after learning of Maryanne's loss how could she? "I miss you, Cain. I was just thinking about you."

"Listen to me. Keith got the divorce papers."

"Annulment papers. I know," Simone said.

"Well he's on his way. He's headed to New York. I want you to go to a hotel, okay? I can't get there right now, but I can wire you more money."

"Cain, Slow down. It's okay."

"No, d.a.m.n it. I can't have you hurt too. Get to a hotel. I'll send you money. Stay away from the house until I can get up there."

"No," Simone said firmly, looking back at the sound of one of the boys laughing. "We're fine. I have my Order of Protection and my court date."

"d.a.m.n it! I don't want that b.a.s.t.a.r.d near you!" Cain said.

Simone smiled. "I know. I know, and I'm not being stubborn. Keith is already trying to intimidate me. But he's too smart to make a move on me. He does and he's in jail. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

"I trust you, Simone. It's Livingston that I don't trust. I need to be there with you, d.a.m.n it."

"I miss you too," she said softly. "I know that Maryanne needs you now."

The phone line went silent. His silence made her heart hurt. But she held the pain in. She had to do the right thing. For him and her.

"How do you know?" he asked softly.

"Joan's here. She's meeting us at the movies today. She told me what happened."

"Guess news travels fast," he sighed.

"Are you okay? Is she?" she asked.

"It's complicated. But we lost the baby. Simone, I didn't know she was pregnant. It all happened really fast," he said.

"I know, sweetheart. I'm so sorry, for everything. When you want to talk, call me?"

"The hotel? Will you go? Must I beg?" Cain pleaded.

"I'm okay. We stick to the plan. You deal with your life. I'll deal with mine. I've got to go, Cain. The boys need me."

"Simone?"

"I have to go. We'll talk again soon okay?" Simone said.

"I love you. No matter what's going on here, no matter how far you are from me. I love you."

"I love you too, bye." She forced herself to hang up though her heart screamed for her to hang on. No matter how wrong or cosmically uncertain her life was, she had hope for them both. When the annulment was done, she'd tell him about the pregnancy. And somehow, someway, they'd find their way together.

"Are we going or not?" Diane huffed, holding a crying Denny.

Simone smiled. "Yes, let's go. Joan can't wait to meet the kids!"

"What did that detective want? Is it that maggot Keith? Is he-"

"Mom, it's okay. We talked about this. It's going to be okay."

Diane smiled. "Yeah, well I'll believe it when I see it."

Chapter Thirty-One.

Stand Kim / Mathew "Kim? Kim?"

"Yes?" she said, closing her journal. This morning she pushed her desk and chair closer to the window. The natural light and serenity of the vast green landscape behind the gated gla.s.s helped ease her into somber thoughts of family, love, loss, and of course him-Mathew. Away from temptation, amongst people with similar afflictions, she felt strong. But as her eyes scanned pages of her writings, she discovered word for word the deep layers she would continue to need to sort through if she was to overcome her issues.

"You have a visitor, Kim."

Kim blinked twice. The housemother who many referred to as The Warden didn't stay to explain. Visitor? Kim's mind echoed. She was two days away from freedom. She and Simone had spoken last night. Her sister didn't mention visiting. Why would she, unless something was wrong?

In a hurry, Kim rose. The chair behind her was knocked to the floor. What if it was her babies? Or what if Diane slipped into the bottle again? What would bring Simone there without a call if it wasn't important? No matter the reason, this visit was serious. Kim forced her feet into her slippers and did the best she could with her untamed hair. Wiping her hands at her side over and over, she rushed out the door, out into the hall, headed for the visiting room. She wasn't dressed for a visit. Today she wore an old familiar pair of grey sweatpants and a white Mickey Mouse t-shirt. The shirt was a joke gift she bought for Dennis after he shared, following a few first dates, that he'd never visited Disney World. She joked that if they married and he knocked her up, he could take their babies to meet Mickey. In truth, she'd never been to Disney World either.

Kim turned the corner, her neck careening, eyes straining. Her visitor was just a distorted dark form beyond the opaque gla.s.s of the doors. Even if she was granted a preview before entering, nothing would have prepared her for this surprise.

"Keith?"

Her brother in-law wore a dark suit. He looked groomed and as expensive as ever. He flashed a pleasant smile. Kim smiled in return. She recovered from her shock and walked over. They embraced. "Hi! What are you doing here? Simone didn't tell me you were in town."

"How are you, Kim?"

"Me? Oh? I'm okay." Kim gave a nervous chuckle. Keith wasn't the type to be interested or considerate. In fact, he was quite indifferent to Simone's family. She didn't mind it much. But Keith's self-imposed superiority used to p.i.s.s Dennis off regularly.

"Sit, please," Kim offered, as if she were entertaining in her living room. Her cheeks burned hot with embarra.s.sment. She nervously sat and tried to collect herself. Keith unb.u.t.toned his suit jacket and then joined her. Kim sensed his visit had meaning, but for the life of her she couldn't discern what. Each time she pressed her sister on the subject of her marriage or her husband, the conversation abruptly ended or changed. In the past, Diane had labeled Keith the devil. Her mother had actually told him so to his face. Diane never liked him from the first day Simone brought him home. And Dennis disliked him equally, after only one meeting. Now seated across from him, looking into his dark eyes, she saw what she willfully ignored. The smug self-righteous att.i.tude she too once exhibited over others. It made her squirm a little in her seat.

"So, um, I guess you're shocked I'm here, huh?" Kim asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence between them.

"I know you've had a rough time of it lately," Keith said.

Kim nodded. "Yeah rough," she sighed. "I'm better now. Much better."

"Really?"

His tone set her teeth on edge. The warmth and concern he flashed her in his smile at first, was now the old familiar cold indifference she was used to receiving from him. His stare was hard, full of judgment; reminiscent of Dr. Murphy's during her unwanted visit. "Why are you here, Keith?"

"Your sister wants to divorce me. I'm here to make sure that doesn't happen," Keith stated.

Kim's eyes stretched. "Come again?"

"You haven't spoken to Simone?" Keith frowned.

"Divorce?"

"Divorce," Keith said firmly.

"Okay?"