Part 67 (2/2)
”Depressed? Of course she's depressed. look at what she's been through!” Bonnie scoffed.
”I've signed the papers,” Cain said.
”Papers?”
”She's being admitted into Eastbrooke,” Cain replied.
”What? No... you can't.”
”It's done. She's my wife. It's done.”
”Her father won't have it,” Bonnie said. The fright in her voice and eyes only angered him more. This wasn't Andrew Hollingsworth's call. Maryanne needed help, and he was going to see to it that she got it. ”Doesn't matter. She's going.”
Cain walked out, ignoring his mother in-law's protests. He needed air, s.p.a.ce, and distance from them all. As he entered the elevator and stood amongst the surgeons and nurses, he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. Even now his heart leapt at the thought that it might be Simone.
Sadly, his luck hadn't changed. Of all people, it was Keith Livingston.
”Keith, look, sorry about the office but I have a family issue,” Cain said dryly.
”I need you to cover for me!” Keith rushed him.
”Cover?”
”I'm heading to New York, to collect my wife. I'll be gone a day or so.”
”Wait! No. You shouldn't. I mean why are you going after Simone? Did something happen?”
There was a silence, an uncomfortable pause. Cain realized how familiar he sounded at evoking Livingston's wife's first name.
”What concern of that is yours?” Keith hissed.
”I...uh? I saw her before she left she said her sister was sick. I just thought-”
”Doesn't matter what you think. My wife isn't your concern. Andrew has a meeting today. Keemler was supposed to go up for its Executive recommendation and approvals. I've signed the project charter, but I need that meeting cancelled. My name is all over those doc.u.ments. We need to contain things. Stall Hollingsworth, until I get back. Can you handle that?”
”Yes. I got it.”
Cain walked out of the hospital doors, his heart racing. Did Livingston get the annulment papers? Is that what has him off and running? ”I'll keep you posted,” he managed, as his heart pumped blood and adrenaline through his veins and ears.
”You do that.”
The line clicked off. Cain immediately dialed Simone's number. ”Come on, babe, pick up.”
She didn't. It went straight to voicemail. The number to her sister's place was back at his house. ”f.u.c.k!” He walked briskly through the parked cars in the Emergency parking lot, hurrying to his. He had to warn her. Or maybe he should just go after her. Beat Livingston there. He got inside his car feeling weighed down by helplessness. Whatever he did or didn't do, he was f.u.c.ked. His life just wasn't his own.
”WEEEEEEEEEEE!”
”I got him, Mom!” Simone laughed.
Danny shot past the bed, his little legs pumping hard as he ran for the door. Diane was in the bathroom now trying to coax Denny to sit on the potty. Danny had made a pee for the first time. p.o.o.ping was easy, but a pee was a big deal. This was progress.
”Danny! Come here, baby.” As soon as she said it, she spotted him. He stood in front of the television, bottomless. With his training pants in her hand she slowly crept up behind him. Just before she reached him, the doorbell rang. Danny spun around and raced left instead of the antic.i.p.ated right, going for the door. Simone stumbled, barely bracing against the fall that brought her to her knees. Sighing, she got up from the floor and swept him up just as he reached the door. The toddler screamed, kicking and crying, not wanting to be held. It took all her strength to keep from dropping him as she did his training pants. ”Who is it?”
”Detective Alverson.”
Simone froze. With Danny on her hip crying, she stared at the door.
”Is Simone Livingston home?” he asked.
She looked to the kitchen. She'd turned off all the phones in the house. Today was the day that Keith would be served. She didn't want to think about or hear his rage. Instead she was taking them all to a movie and then to see the boats.
”Yes. Just a minute.”
Simone undid the locks. Danny's cries were reduced to hiccups, as he peeked up at the handsome officer.
”Hi, Simone. I'm sorry to disturb you,” he began.
”It's okay. Come in please,” she said. She'd gotten dressed and groomed before tackling the toddlers with Diane. He flashed her that handsome smooth smile of his as he walked in.
”Simone, where's that little b.u.g.g.e.r?” Diane asked. She appeared with Denny on her hip. When she saw the detective, she frowned. ”Who is you?”
”Hi, Detective Alverson,” he said, extending his hand. Diane cast her daughter a worried look. She accepted the detective's hand and shook it. ”I'm Diane Wilson, Simone's mother. Something wrong? Is it Kimmy?”
”No, Ma. Take Danny inside and put him on a pull-up.”
Diane hesitated, but Danny walked over holding his wee-wee. She picked him up and called to Denny. The three of them disappeared back into the hall.
”Looks like I've interrupted?”
”Yeah, well dress up time is always fun with the boys,” Simone smiled.
”I tried calling but-”
”It's fine, really. Have a seat, please,” Simone gestured. She nervously followed him to the sofa. Together they sat. His eyes were on her the entire time. It didn't make her that uncomfortable, but she blushed sensing why he stared.
”Is it about my order of protection?” Simone asked.
”Yes.”
”I spoke to my attorney. I know he'll receive it with the papers, and the sheriff at Castle Rock has a copy. She said he will pay him a visit too. I know the procedure. Is there something more?”
”Actually yes. There was a visit to my station this morning as I was pulled in.” He cleared his throat. ”Normally I wouldn't be this involved, but I was the one to take your complaint.”
Simone frowned. ”I don't understand? Who visited you?”
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