"I want to ask Mama to marry me. But first I need permission. What do you think Danny? Can I marry Mommy?"

"Yes!" Danny said.

"Denny, can I marry Mommy?" Mathew asked.

"No!" Denny said.

"No? Why not, Denny?"

Denny reached for the phone. Mathew had to move it from his hands. "Denny, we talked about this. Can I please marry Mommy?"

Danny fell back laughing. He rolled off the bed and walked away. Denny made to follow. But Mathew got on his knees before him. "If I promise to be the best step-daddy ever can I marry Mommy?" Denny, looked at the phone, and then at Mathew, he shrugged, knocked Mathew's hands away and ran after his brother disinterested.

Kim laughed. Wiping her tears. The video stopped.

"Wait there's more," he said, taking the phone and retrieving the second clip. "Here watch this."

"Okay, boys, on the count of three. One...two... three...now!"

Her boys grinned in the camera, each with a lollipop, but neither said a thing.

"Now say it now." Mathew encouraged.

"WE WANT TO GET MARRIED!" they said and then laughed.

"See, I got a yes, well a maybe, then a definite cheer. What do you think?"

"Very slick, Dr. Donnelly." She smiled, replaying the clip one more time. "And candy too? Smart, bribe my babies."

"Hey I'm not above fighting for what I want. Anne's idea of the candy bribe worked."

"I see."

"Do you?" He took her hand. He kissed her knuckles and looked into her eyes. "I want a life with you, Kim. I'll wait forever to get you down the aisle if I have to. But I can't wait forever to ask you. I want to be your husband, the father to those boys. I want it all. Now tell me what do you want?"

Kim heaved a heavy sigh. The stomach cramps eased as clarity moved in. She felt the truth, heavy on her heart, lift when she opened her mouth to say it aloud. "I want the same thing. I want to marry you!" she jumped into his arms. He spun her around in the kitchen. The news was a relief to them both. Kim mostly. Who knew happiness could be found twice. It felt right.

Dinner was nice. Prepared by her hands, he expected nothing less. Mathew loved her cooking, but he was admittedly biased. She could have made him a cheese sandwich and he would have been satisfied. New love was like that. When a man falls and then surrenders, everything is extra sweet, extra s.e.xy, extra gratifying.

Together, they retired to the porch swing. They snuggled, waiting on sunset. Neither of them spoke. Silence was a perfect way to end the night. They were both content, silent, united.

Kim eventually lifted her head. She'd gathered her hair and pulled it back in a barrette. He could see the smoky brown and amber of her eyes with her bangs gone. He kissed her forehead before she lowered it to the inside of his arm, her cheek resting on his shoulder. The chain links to the swing squeaked as they swayed.

"Your sister came by," she yawned.

"Yeah? Figured as much with Mom's china and all," he said, rocking them with the heel of his boot "She brought something for you."

Kim withdrew. Mathew watched her curiously as she left his side and went back in the house. After a few minutes she returned. In her hands was a sealed doc.u.ment from the Medical Review Board. "She said it came by courier. Thought it might be best that I give it to you. Not a good sign, huh? I mean if they ruled in your favor, your attorney would have called you, right?"

"He did call." Mathew averted her gaze.

"What?"

He had called to tell him that they were to reappear and hear the ruling formally. Mathew declined. He was offered that option. He had found Kim again, and he knew it came at a price. He wouldn't let their reunion be marred by the ending of his medical career.

"Matt? You knew? What did they rule?" Kim asked "I opted out of the hearing. Told them to mail me the decision. I was going to deal with it later."

"No, Matt. Deal with it now." She came to his side. "This is your life. One that is important to you. Don't give up on it."

"You don't understand."

"I don't understand?" Kim asked.

He cut her a sly look. "Okay, you do understand. It's hard. What can I say?"

"You can say, yes."

"To what?" Mathew asked.

"To me opening it. To facing it together, and then moving on with me, wherever that may lead. Deal?"

"When you put it like that," he chuckled, "how could a man resist?"

"Ready?"

"Go for it," Mathew said.

He lied. He wasn't ready. Kim had pegged him right. He was afraid and as nervous as he was the day he waited on the results of his admittance into medical school. His whole life as a doctor, from his first patient to his last, flashed before him. She peeled back the fold on the envelope. She removed two, no, three doc.u.ments. Her face showed no outward evidence of emotion. Yes, it was the most torturous moment of his life.

"Mathew?"

"What?"

"They fined you."

"And?"

She grinned. "And that's it. I think. Read it."

He s.n.a.t.c.hed the paper. Quickly, he read though all the jargon to the final decision. It stated that he was to continue practicing. He was still a doctor. Kim touched the back of his head, stroking the hairs on his nape. "See, baby, good things happen to those that deserve it. We deserve it." Kim came in closer. He opened his arm to her and she fit nicely at his side. Mathew swayed, reading it aloud, every single word. She listened. His partner. His friend. And someday soon, his wife. And that's why he truly believed in sweet surrender.

Chapter Thirty-Nine.

A Fresh Start Simone / Cain "You planning on getting out?"

Simone smiled. "Guess I should, huh?"

"Babe?" Cain said. He touched her knee.

"I'm fine. Can't say this place has the best of memories for me though." A frown darkened her pretty features. "Things have definitely changed. I've changed. I remember the day we moved in." Her eyes were drawn to Cain's. " I really thought this was a fresh start. It was just the beginning of the end for me and Keith."

Cain looked to the house. The gra.s.s was un-kept and the curtains drawn. He too remembered the day the Livingstons arrived. Maryanne alerted him to the new black couple on the block, an unexpected change to their close-knit neighborhood. He didn't care. Then that night he found a reason to. She stood under the arch of her gazebo with a balmy breeze blowing her hair. Her gown clung to her in an angelic way. A vision. Her head tilted and her eyes focused on the moon. He wondered who she was, what she was thinking and why she'd ventured out in the night alone. Their eyes met, and she was gone.

Now they were both looking for fresh starts, together. Cain's hand slipped over to her belly. He found himself constantly touching the flat surface, envisioning life there. She wore a cute maternity top. It was too soon for her to wear such clothes, but for some reason she insisted on it. The only thing swollen on her was her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, but soon his son or daughter would be taking up s.p.a.ce there. "How are we doing today?"

Simone smiled.

Things were crazy. Every day was a challenge, but d.a.m.n it, her smile made him a believer. Just two days ago, Simone had some spotting. She and Cain happened to be at her sister's house when it happened. Diane remained in the Hamptons with Simone's father. He rushed her to the hospital. The doctor said it was common, something about her uterus expanding and blood vessels breaking. Bleeding didn't seem normal to him. He was taking no chances. They argued all night about returning to Castle Rock. She knew he had to go and wanted to come too. Who needed this stress? Far as he was concerned, her house and his could burn to the ground with everything in it.

"I can do this for you," he offered. "We can go inside and you point out what you need and I can come back and pack."

"Stop," Simone said. She pressed his hand over his. "I'm fine. The baby is fine. You need to take care of things too, remember? Besides, we both needed a break from New York. My dad was giving you h.e.l.l."

"He doesn't understand our thing, but we're getting there. Your father is protective of you. I can't fault any man for that," Cain said.

"All I plan to do is take inventory of my things and get them in order. Then you can use the movers you want. But let me make this step."

Cain dropped his head back on the car seat headrest.

"Have you spoken to her?" Simone asked.

"No. Maryanne won't call. I did hear from her attorney." He looked at Simone. "Was going to tell you tonight after I stop in town to sign the papers. She's filed already."

"Already, Cain?"

"Yes. I guess she wants to get on with her life too." There was a bitter edge of cynicism in his voice that even he couldn't deny. But when he looked to Simone he just saw love in her caring smile. She leaned over and kissed his shoulder.

"You okay?"

His mouth felt tight, and his heart felt grim when he thought of the end of his marriage to Maryanne and the lies and secrets they both kept. He didn't want to make the same mistake with Simone.

"What did the attorneys say? Are the Feds going to try to overturn their deal with you? Do they believe Keith's accusations are true?"

"We managed to drive back to Castle Rock and not mention it. Why are you bringing it up now?" he snipped. Immediately, he regretted it. Cain took her chin and turned her face back to his. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. They are only questioning things because of my mother's escape and Hollingsworth trying to cut a deal. None of it changes the facts. I told you what I did. The entire mess is going to be settled. It's a process. It'll be over soon enough. I promise."

Simone nodded. She leaned forward, offering her sweet lips in a kiss. Cain kissed her softly at first and then hungrily when their tongues met, until it naturally ended. Simone blushed. She looked to her house once more.

"Okay. I believe you."

Cain dropped his arm around the back of her pa.s.senger seat. "We're going to be okay. Keith and Andrew are going to prison. Not me. The investigation is routine. It's to be expected."

Simone's eyes pooled with tears. She blinked them away. She grabbed the inside of the door handle. "How about we get this over with, and then find us a nice little spot to relax in for the night. Just us? We can stay somewhere in town?"

"I like the way you think. It feels good to not sneak around with you." Cain took her hand. He kissed her knuckles. She withdrew with a flirtatious laugh and then got out of the front seat. Cain reluctantly followed. Each headed to their homes. When he reached his door, he looked back over at his lady. Simone blew him a kiss. "Give me an hour or two and we'll leave. Okay?" she called out.

"One hour and I'm coming for you."

Simone smiled and slipped inside. Cain was barely in his door when his phone rang. He stared down at the Hollingsworth number calling. Andrew had said nothing after his arrest. But Cain expected the call. "h.e.l.lo?"

"Cain, it's Bonnie. I need to see you," she sniffed. "Are you still in New York?"

"Bonnie, it's not a good idea."

"I need to see you now d.a.m.n it! I'm on my way to the airport. We need-we need to talk. You owe me that. You owe Maryanne!"

Cain closed his door. He walked through the house, turning on lights. "I'm here."

"Here where?"

"Home, at the house. Come by if you want to talk. I'll be here for the next hour or so."

The phone clicked off. Cain tossed his keys to the coffee table and looked around. The photos of his infidelity were still on the coffee table. But on the walls, bookshelves, and fireplace mantle, were the photos of his life with Maryanne. He stared at the images, trying to recall who that man was. He couldn't. Dropping his hands in his pockets, he shook his head and went into the kitchen for a beer. Just like he thought, returning to Castle Rock was a bad idea.

Simone tossed the last of her favorites on the bed. Shirts, pants, dresses and a couple pairs of her most comfortable shoes covered the mattress. Earlier, she'd dragged in a suitcase. When Cain arrived, he could pack them away. Already, she was p.o.o.ped. She wiped at her brow with the back of her hand over the exertion. It had only been thirty minutes.

"Whew, I need to sit down," she said, going to Keith's reading chair in the room and dropping down in it. As she reclined, allowing the muscles in her body to relax, she looked over to the nightstand. Keith's wrist.w.a.tch was there. She stared at it. Slow and easy, Simone sat up in the chair. Keith was a.n.a.l about all things. His suit and tie had to be exact, his gla.s.ses had to be wiped clean of dust spots and his watch was always on his wrist. He was never without it. Her eyes did another sweep of the room. Nothing else seemed out of order. Still the watch didn't sit right with her. Had he left it before he left for New York? She dropped back in the chair, remembering the call from his mother. Keith had far more problems than keeping up with her.

"Keith was attacked."

Simone stood at the kitchen table. Her mother's and father's eyes were on her. It was morning. She'd come into the house from the guesthouse where Cain slept to tell her parents that they were going to Kim's and then to Castle Rock. The conversation barely got started when the phone rang.

Simone moved to the sink. She lowered her voice as she spoke into the phone. "What do you mean attacked?"

"Attacked! Beaten up in that jail! He was thrown in there with animals, Simone. They had to get him medical attention. George and I haven't even been allowed to see him. Oh my G.o.d. I can't even believe this is happening to him," Mother Livingston wept.

"Alice?"

"We're getting him released today. Simone, please, you know I'm not one to beg, but please, this is a nightmare for my son. He's been through h.e.l.l. He needs you. I can hear it in his voice."

"Alice, you know I can't do that."

"Can't or won't?" Her mother in-law shouted into the phone.

"We're divorced. I mean annulled. My marriage to Keith is over. I doubt he wants to see me."

"All he talks about is you. He's in h.e.l.l!" Alice screeched.

"I'm sorry for his troubles, that he was hurt, but there is nothing I can do."

"So you'll just abandon him? Now of all times? I know you and my son have problems, but this is too much."