"We don't have problems, we're beyond that. We're done. No, in fact we're annulled which means we were never married," Simone repeated.

"Simone! We're family. I've loved you like a daughter. Keith's not in his right mind, I-I'm afraid for him. I just want to get his life back for him. And, sweetheart, I know my boy. His life is you. If he sees you, it'll help. It'll help you too, Simone. Whatever came between you both can't possibly matter now."

Diane marched over. "Hang up the phone!" she demanded, slamming her hand down on the countertop. "Now!"

"Mom, stop!" Simone said, covering the receiver. "Alice, I'm sorry but I can't help."

Diane s.n.a.t.c.hed the phone from her daughter despite her protest. "Look here, Alice. Don't call my baby again with this s.h.i.t. You and your crazy a.s.s family stay the h.e.l.l away from mine!" Diane slammed the phone down. "Why would you even take a call from them people?"

"I had my calls forwarded here. I want to see Joan when I go back to Castle Rock. Jesus, Ma, I don't want anything to do with Keith."

"Then open your mouth and say that," Diane shouted over her.

"Diane, leave her alone," Charles said.

Diane stepped to her daughter. "What's going on with you, girl? Is you through with that a.s.shole or not? You standing here pregnant with that white man's child. Have you forgotten?"

"Diane, let her alone."

"No, it's fine, Daddy. It's a fair question. I think I need to set it straight with you both." Simone looked back to her mother. "What's going on with me, Mama, is I'm happy. I'm not angry. I'm not sad. I'm ecstatic. And to be clear, I don't feel anything for Keith, not even pity. I also don't have to prove that to you or his mother. Before you s.n.a.t.c.hed the phone, I planned to tell her that."

Diane expelled a deep breath. "I can't take much more of this. You pregnant, Kim down in the sticks chasing some man when she should be in rehab. Your father aggravating me! I can't take it! I need a drink!"

Simone looked to her father. He stared at her mother. Again, she got the feeling that her father's presence wasn't what Diane needed. He seemed to be the catalyst for chaos, and her mother needed stability. Taking Diane's hands into hers, she squeezed them. "You don't have to protect me anymore or Kimmy. How about a little protecting of you for a change? I talked to Kim and we think you should see your sponsor."

"Leave your mother alone. She don't need to see that man again," Charles snapped. His caring eyes narrowed into threatening slits. His tone had an edge to it that made Simone uncomfortable. It reminded her of the snarl of a wild dog.

"Back off, Daddy. She needs her sponsor. Don't you, Mama?"

Diane s.n.a.t.c.hed her hands away and crossed her arms. She shrugged, dropping her eyes. "Maybe not. Charles says I can do it on my own."

"Your mama will be fine with me," Charles answered.

"Ma?"

"Go to h.e.l.l, Charles!" her mother grumbled, but she kept her eyes averted away.

Her father's smile softened his face. Simone shook her head. She couldn't understand either of them if she tried. And she didn't have the energy to try. "Daddy, I want you two to be nice to Cain. I heard you last night. He's a good man. I'm starting over. Keith's the past. Let's leave him there with all the c.r.a.p between us. Okay? Let's all start over."

"Mmhm, start over if you want, but if that b.i.t.c.h call here again, I'ma tell her what you won't!" Diane said before she stormed away. She avoided her ex-husband's eyes in her escape. Simone threw both of her hands up in defeat.

Charles chuckled, sipped his coffee. "I hear you, baby-girl. Trust me, Keith ain't your problem anymore. Daddy took care of that."

"What does that mean? Did you do something?" Simone asked.

Charles put down his coffee mug. "I have to go back to Harlem today. Convince your mama to come with me, okay?" He winked at her and walked out.

"Daddy! Did you do something?" Simone shouted after them.

Simone had seen Keith's release on the news. He had his suit jacket over his face as he was walked out. Alice was at his side crying. The Judge looked stoic as ever. Yes her nightmare was over, but according to the reporter, Keith and the Livingstons' nightmare had just begun. After all the lies and deceit, despite what she'd told her parents, she felt sorry for him. He'd never know or understand what he threw away in their marriage. Simone smiled, rubbing her tummy. She sure was glad he did throw it away. Her life couldn't be better.

Cain was right. There was nothing in this house for her anymore. Everything she touched or moved reminded her of Keith. And that was just something she couldn't stomach much of. Closing her eyes she relaxed.

The door downstairs closed.

Simone's eyes opened again. A smile spread wide across her lips. "I'm up here, Cain!"

She was hungry, h.o.r.n.y, and a little sleepy. Perfect mood for her guy, who always seemed to know how to meet those needs, in that order. Pushing up from the chair, she decided they would pack her things however Cain chose. She was done with Castle Rock and done with the past. She was finally done with worrying over everyone's happiness but her own, except for the little one she carried.

"Cain? I'm up here," Simone called out again. Had he gone to the kitchen for a beer?

Only silence greeted her. Simone frowned. She grabbed her purse and ventured out. She headed down the stairs. The front door to the house was closed, locked. She was certain she had heard him come inside.

"Cain?"

Simone walked into the living room. It was empty. Her hand went to her belly. Diane thought it ridiculous for her to wear maternity clothes so soon, especially since her stomach hadn't taken shape. But she saw no need to buy anything but. She loved looking pregnant. She wanted to enjoy every single day of it. Plus, Joan told her to make her own rules. That's what she was doing.

"Cain?" Simone called out again, heading to the dining room. "That's strange," she said. Turning she yelped, a short cry of shock and stepped back.

Keith pulled down the hood from over his head. He looked her up and down and then his hard gaze returned to her face. "Miss me, baby?"

"Cain?"

Cain rose from behind his office desk. He had just hung up with Maryanne's attorney. His wife had seen to everything. She effectively handed him in the settlement only what he arrived with. She even wanted his golf clubs. It was official. He was broke. Cain didn't care. She could have it all. The doc.u.ments were in his email. He printed them then faxed them over to the attorney with his signature. Just like that, the papers would be filed and in a matter of weeks, not months, he'd be divorced.

"I'm in the office."

Before he walked around his desk, Bonnie Hollingsworth entered. She looked wrecked. Her blonde tresses were unkept. It was a messy ma.s.s of hair on the top of her head. Instead of the designer suits she was notorious for, she wore a polo shirt and jeans. Her eyes were red and swollen and her cheeks flushed. She'd either been drinking, crying, or both.

"For a minute, I thought you were lying. But you are here."

"What is it, Bonnie? What do you want?" Cain asked.

Bonnie glared at him. She half laughed, half sneered a response. "What do you think? I want to know where my daughter is, d.a.m.n it!"

"You haven't heard from her?" he asked in surprise.

"You know d.a.m.n well I haven't!" Bonnie began to pace. She wrung her hands. Cain could swear she was trembling.

"Have you slept? Eaten?" Cain asked.

"Where is she?" Bonnie shouted. "Last I heard, her father dropped her off here. Then I get this in the mail!" She went to her purse and fished out an envelope. "Here! Take it!"

Cain accepted the envelope. He opened it but kept his eyes trained on Bonnie. "Where's Andrew?"

Bonnie narrowed her eyes. "Somewhere trying to save his a.s.s! I don't know and I don't care. Andrew lost interest in our daughter's well being when his own neck was put on the line. Guess you knew that would happen, didn't you?" When Cain didn't answer, she paced. "I threw him out. Are you happy? What you did, Cain, what you did to Andrew, maybe he deserved it. I can admit that. But my baby, I have to have her. She can't run from me. You fix that! Fix it!"

Cain unfolded the paper. He did a quick read of the letter. Maryanne said she was leaving and pretty much laid out all of the offenses of her parents that she would not tolerate, including their interference in her marriage. In summation, Maryanne warned them to not follow or contact her. She never wanted to see either of them again. "I'm sorry, Bonnie."

"You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" Bonnie charged him, swinging wildly. She hit him about the head and the face. Cain struggled with her, nearly bringing her to the floor to regain control. He held her to him as she screamed and blubbered through snot and tears. Finally, Bonnie went still.

"Bonnie, let her go. It's what she wants."

"No! It's what you want, to go on with your life. Andrew goes on with his. But my daughter is out there alone! She's all I had." Bonnie wept. Cain took pity on her and held her through her tears. His eyes went to the letter on the floor. Though he didn't share it, he was proud of Maryanne. Wherever she was, wherever she was going, she intended to live her life for her.

"What? What are you doing here?" Simone stammered in bewilderment. She took a careful step back. Keith's glare was full of rage. Simone clenched her fist and braced for what was to come next. He didn't speak. He sneered at her. Simone looked past him to the door. She looked behind her, realizing the dining table blocked her escape to the back door, and her heart sank.

"Looking for someone?" Keith asked.

"No, I wasn't."

Keith slapped her. The strike was so violent and quick she fell back on the table and dropped to the floor. She brought a chair down with her. Simone sucked in a staggered breath as she struggled to keep from losing consciousness from the shock of it all. Tasting blood in her mouth, it dripped with her drool.

"Sorry, baby. Let me help you up," Keith snarled, grabbing her by her upper arm, s.n.a.t.c.hing her up to her feet.

"Don't touch me...ge-get out," she stammered, trying to get her bearings.

Keith grabbed her by both arms and turned her toward him. He shook her so hard she felt her brain rattling loose in her skull. "Out! Out of my own f.u.c.king house! You're one tricky b.i.t.c.h aren't you? Here I am the bad guy and you were f.u.c.king Cain Gatlin all along. Setting me up?"

"Keith, don't."

"Then you get daddy to do your handy work? Have him send that criminal to-to-"

"What are you talking about? Let me go!"

"Shut up!" He grabbed her by the lower face and gave a hard squeeze.

Simone's eyes stretched. Keith's nostrils flared as he drew back and bared his teeth in a rage. "I followed you from your sister's house here. Been waiting for this moment, Simone. After everything I've been through, all I did was think of you and this moment. Dreamt of it every night, babe. It's what's got me through." He licked his chapped lips and grinned. "Couldn't find you at first. You weren't at Diane's, you weren't here, you weren't at Kim's. Guess you were with daddy, huh? Daddy tell you about the present he sent me?"

"Keith, you need to let me go."

"SHUT UP! Last night, I saw you at Kim's. Saw you there with him. All night you were with him. Saw you f.u.c.king him too, through the window. Letting him f.u.c.k you!" He grabbed her throat. Simone hit his face and shoulders but it was to no avail. He was stronger than he should be, and relentless.

She gasped for air.

"I SAID SHUT UP!" he yelled in her face. Simone pushed hard at his shoulders, her eyes rolling in her head. Finally, he did ease the pressure, just enough to allow air into her lungs. But the exertion mixed with terror, left her weak with fear. "I didn't believe it. Even after that detective told me, I didn't believe it. Even when Cain Gatlin set me up and I was sent to that prison, I didn't believe it. But seeing is believing. Simone, right? And I saw you, b.i.t.c.h! I SAW YOU THROUGH THE WINDOW f.u.c.kING HIM!" he shouted and sprayed spittle. "He's been f.u.c.king you, hasn't he? In my house! In my bed! YOU Wh.o.r.e!"

"Yes!" Simone wheezed.

It was an unexpected response that caused Keith to loosen his hold and release her. She was able to break free, though she coughed and hacked in deep gulps of air as she stumbled back. "I did it! I f.u.c.ked him, and I didn't do it once or twice. I did it as many times as I could, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"

Keith took a threatening step. Simone held her ground. It felt good to fight back and to finally say it to his face. "Want to know why? DO YOU?" she shouted. "Because I deserve it. A man that loves me, knows how to love me, treats me with respect! I deserve babies, diapers, school lunches, field trips, and PTA meetings. I deserve a partner who's my friend. Who tells me the truth, and who would never raise a hand to me. I deserve the dream, not the nightmare I lived in being with your sorry a.s.s for years! It feels good to be free of your a.n.a.l retentive a.s.s."

"You don't know nightmares, baby," Keith said. "But you will."

"What? You gone beat me up? Smack me around to make yourself feel better? Is that it?"

Keith smiled. "I'm going to give you what you deserve."

Simone's hand protectively covered her stomach as she backed toward the kitchen. Keith's eyes dropped down, curiously. Simone spoke fast to keep him from guessing. "I had nothing to do with what happened to you. If you leave now, we can just put this behind us. I have a protection order against you."

"You dropped it, remember? Besides, this is my house. The civil suit hasn't been settled. Looks to me like you're the one trespa.s.sing," Keith smiled.

Simone had effectively backed into the kitchen. She wanted to cry but not for him, for the state of them both. Who were they now? Instead, she focused on putting more distance between them. "What do you want?"

"You told your father I raped you."

"Huh?"

"You told daddy I raped you!"

"No, I didn't."

"Still a lying b.i.t.c.h! Well he believed you. Do you know what they did to me?"

Simone knew. She recalled her father's cold stare at the dinner table. The way he dismissed Keith as a threat. Dear G.o.d, she wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even Keith. She opened her mouth to say so, but Keith's hand curled into a fist as if he'd strike her again. She stepped back.

Keith closed his eyes. His chest rose and fell with deep but strained breaths. "For two days I was beaten, then raped, and beaten and then raped again. No guards came, no help. Just over and over again until I couldn't feel anything." Keith's eyes opened, hooded and full of unbridled hate, they slowly lifted to her face. "Well almost anything. I saved one feeling, my feelings for you. I had my dreams. The dreams of what I'd do when I found you."

Simone backed up against the kitchen sink. Keith charged her, but she didn't cower. She went left then charged back, hitting him in the nose with her upturned palm when his head turned to reach for her. She'd learned the move in a self-defense cla.s.s once. The blow hit the mark. Keith stumbled back, his nose sprayed blood. Simone reached behind her and got a knife. Blindly, she stabbed at him but hit his arm instead of his chest. Keith howled in pain as she dropped the knife and ran for it. She nearly made it to the door, screaming for help, but he caught her. Simone was lifted from behind kicking and crying as Keith dragged her toward the stairs.

"You want out, fine, but not until we're even, b.i.t.c.h!"

"Here drink this." Cain gave Bonnie a gla.s.s of water. She accepted it with shaky hands. He sat next to her on the sofa. After a few deep swallows, she handed him the gla.s.s.

"Better?" he asked.

"No." she sniffed. "She's gone, isn't she, Cain? We've lost her."

"She's gone, Bonnie. But she's much stronger than either of us ever gave her credit for. Give her time. Things will change. She'll change, and when she does she'll contact you."

Bonnie dropped her head, crying. "I was a terrible mother. A mother is supposed to protect her child, nurture her child's dreams. I just groomed her to be me. I knew what Gerald did to her. I knew it and I ignored it. What does that make me?"

Cain had no answer. Anything he'd say would only compound things. In truth, he had no sympathy for Bonnie Hollingsworth. He was glad Maryanne broke away. He checked his watch. He told Simone he'd be over in an hour. Bonnie lifted her head. "How long? How long were you plotting all of this?"

"Bonnie."

"Never mind. You didn't win either." She wiped at her eyes. Cain frowned not understanding. "Andrew may go to prison but it's obvious you won't be riding off into the sunset with Keith Livingston's wife."

"Obvious?"

Bonnie rose to get her purse. "He drove up when I did. Told me they were back together."