Part 74 (1/2)
She gave a curt nod. ”Oh and, sweetie, you need a shave.” Barbara smiled then walked off the porch to her car. Mathew watched her drive off and away.
He wiped his hand down his face. ”Why indeed.”
The porch door squeaked open with Marlene and her gla.s.ses of tea packed with ice and lemons. ”She gone?”
”She's gone.”
”Strange that she came here after all this time.”
”I suppose.”
Marlene walked over to her brother and handed him the gla.s.s. Holding the other for herself. ”What she want?”
”Closure?”
”Hmpf. Did she get it?”
”Doesn't matter. I think I might have,” Mathew said drinking back the amber liquid and letting the lemon tang cool his throat. ”Guess I had to remember what love wasn't, to remind me of what love is.”
”Good, Matt. Good.” Marlene smiled, then turned and went back in.
Charles Wilson sat silently. Simone did most of the explaining. Kim was grateful for that. Her story was still too raw to share. Through Simone, her father was able to hear some of it though. When she finished talking, he asked two questions: Where was Keith Livingston now, and what was the address to Kim's place?
Having received his answer, he made a single phone call. Said a few words to arrange a meeting and then ended it. He reached in his drawer and withdrew a small notepad. He scribbled on the paper ”I want you three to stay here, a place to cool off while Simone finalizes her annulment.”
”Wait. I'm not leaving my house,” Kim snapped.
”Yes, you will, baby-girl,” Charles said, looking up. ”And it's not just your house at the moment. It will be again. I promise you that.”
”Daddy, wait.” Simone waved her hands to get his attention. ”Tell me the truth. Are you connected to those people still? The ones all those years ago that made you leave?”
”It's not important.”
”It is to me. I don't want to do something illegal,” Simone said.
”Oh, Kitt, please. That man raped you,” Diane said.
”Stop saying that, Mama! Don't any of you say that to me again. It's about more than that. I want my life back. I want Keith to hand it over and have to step aside to watch me live it, free of him. I don't want him dead.”
Charles chuckled. ”I have no intention of killing the man.”
Somehow Kim doubted the sincerity her father's tone. But she held her tongue. She understood where Simone was coming from. The revenge and justice Simone needed wasn't about brawn. She deserved more and the Livingstons deserved much more than that. ”I agree with Kitt. We came here to get your support but not that way.”
”I'm not a mobster. I started this business legitimately. Earned my way. But, yes, I have powerful friends. I think the Livingstons should know that.” He looked to Simone. ”These people can be quite vindictive when they want to be.” He held out the paper. ”My place in the Hamptons gets you away from them. It's a start. You need a fresh start.”
Simone started to reach for the paper but her phone rang. She looked at her purse and then to her family. Finally, she retrieved it. ”Excuse me, I have to take this call.”
Charles lowered his hand. He came from around the desk. Kim averted her eyes to the way he stared.
”I can help you, Kim, and Simone. You girls need to let me. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d won't get near either of you again. I promise you that.”
”Would you have ever reached out to us if we hadn't come here today?” she asked.
”I've tried,” Charles answered.
”To me then. Would you have ever reached out to me? Because we both know you haven't tried,” Kim replied.
He wiped his hand down his mouth and chin. ”I feared you the most, baby-girl. I let you down. I don't know if I've ever had the courage to face you and admit that. I just didn't know how.”
Diane rose from her seat. ”I'll wait in the car. I'm sick of this. I need air.”
”No, Mama. You need to answer a question for me too.”
Diane crossed her arms. ”What is it?”
”Why did you stay married to him If he left you with us, took up with another woman? Why?”
Diane looked her daughter in the eye when she spoke. ”He's my husband,” she said. She cut Charles a mean glare. ”But make no mistake, I got a new old-man who treats me just fine. Don't need or want you.” She walked past him, but Charles took her by the wrist and forced her to stop.
”You and I aren't done,” he said and something else that Kim could barely hear. She expected Diane to respond the way she normally did, but she didn't. She watched as he pulled her mother out of the office.
Alone, Kim closed her eyes and practiced breathing. She had forgotten how. Drained and aching to use, she found herself sweating, and panting. But she maintained control. It was getting late. She grabbed her phone to call Anne to check on her sons, but saw she had a missed call. It was actually a return call from Mercy. Her heart leapt with joy at the sight of it.
She redialed the doctor and bit on her nail, counting down the rings.
”Dr. Edwards.”
”Hi, uh, doctor. It's Kim. Kimberly Jensen.”
There was a pause. She listened intently as she thought she heard him close the door to the office he was in. He finally spoke. ”You got my message?”
”I saw I missed your call. Thank you so much for calling me back. I wasn't sure you would.”
”Well I understand, Kim. I liked Dr. Donnelly,” he said.
Kim sighed. ”Can you tell me anything? I've tried to find out if he's had his hearing. I need to know.”
”It's in two days, down at the University Hospital in Charleston. I left you a message with the contact person there. Are you sure you want to do this, Kim? You put yourself at greater risk by testifying.”
”I'm positive. Thank you. Thanks for telling me.”
Kim looked up as her father entered without her mother. He was red in the face. Jaw tight with anger. She rose from the sofa. ”Where is Mama?”
”She's refusing to come back in the office. She said she'd wait in the car. Who is this man she's with? Since when has she taken up with another man?”