Part 74 (2/2)
Kim blinked at him dumbfounded. Was he serious? ”Never mind that, Daddy. You said you wanted to help us?” She walked over to the desk where the address was on the desk. She picked it up. ”Are you serious?”
Charles sighed. ”I intend to help, whether your stubborn mama will allow it or not. You can't get rid of me this time.”
Kim forced a smile, still wary of his sincerity. ”I need some money, and a plane ticket. I have to go to Charleston, South Carolina for a few days. Mama and Simone will go to the Hamptons. I need to head south.”
”For what?” he asked suspiciously.
She knew his concern. She was as dubious as her mother in his eyes now. ”I won't discuss it with you. But it's not for drugs. I'm okay. Will you help me?”
Charles sighed. ”Get your mother to stay in a room with me for longer than an hour and we got a deal.”
Kim chuckled. ”No deal.”
Simone walked in. Her brow dented in confusion.
”What is it, Kitt?” Kim asked.
”That was Sue's office. She said that there is no medical record of Keith having a vasectomy. She said that he's claiming it was a lie he told me.” Simone looked at them both with tears in her eyes. ”It can't be true. Was he lying to me? I don't understand?”
”Calm down,” Kim said.
”No d.a.m.n it! I'm pregnant. It, it, can't be Keith's. It's Cain's. It's Cain's and I'm getting my divorce!” Simone rushed out of the office. Charles looked to Kim for an explanation. She couldn't begin to explain her sister's fears. It seemed like the nightmare would never end.
Chapter Thirty-Four.
Liberation Simone ”I said I don't want to discuss it anymore, Mama! I don't!” Simone stormed through the door and flung it wide on its hinges. The boys were both in their highchairs. Anne sat between them, spooning beef-a-roni into the open mouth of Danny. All heads lifted at their arrival. Simone didn't stop. She couldn't think or breathe. She needed s.p.a.ce.
The day was one for the record books.
First the surreal return of their father, who may or may not have abandoned them. The bizarre story her parents shared, which seemed riddled with untold truths. And then the call that said her world would implode any minute. Lastly, the long drive home in which she endured the rantings of her mother and the inquisition from her sister. Simone was on the verge of screaming. And she would. Soon.
In the guestroom, she tossed the door shut behind her, locked it and then threw her purse at the wall. Simone dropped back. The weight of her grief, disappointment and despair pinned her to the door. She closed her eyes to count down her breaths. The panic swelling in her like an inflating balloon behind her breast cage seemed to ease. Not much but enough.
”Kitt? Kitt, baby, it's Mama. Let me in. Let's talk about it. That b.a.s.t.a.r.d is lying, baby. He had the vasectomy. Just calm down and listen to what me and Kim is saying.”
”Go away!” she went to the bed and sat with her face in her hands. ”Just go away!”
Her mother obeyed. Though Simone suspected that she wouldn't be far. The ensuing silence that followed calmed her a bit. She admittedly was behaving like a baby. Placing a hand to her flat tummy, she winced at the irony and wept over the choices she faced if the news were true.
”It's Mindy, from Sue Bailey's office. I'm sorry but I have unfortunate news.”
”Tell me. Did the judge-”
”Your husband's medical records have been released. His routine physicals, his doctor visits, everything during his time in college and graduate school. Ms. Wilson, Keith Livingston did not have the vasectomy you allege.”'
”Huh?”
”He's filing a counter motion with the courts to have your request for annulment dissolved. He's seeking mediation and marital counseling. Mr. Livingston claims that you've distorted facts to suit your own purpose. His pet.i.tion a.s.serts that the marriage is salvageable.”
”No! He can't. You said you'd help me.”
”Ms. Bailey was called out to attend to another client. She does however want to speak with you this afternoon. Don't you worry. We are investigating this report, although I have to inform you that our attempts to dissolve your marriage have reached a stalemate.”
”d.a.m.n it! I want to speak with Sue.”
”Of course, how is six this evening?”
”Six? I can't wait that long.”
”Unfortunately it's the best I can offer. I will pencil you in. Please be timely. Thank you.”
”h.e.l.lo? h.e.l.lo! h.e.l.lO!”
Simone winced. Yes, in the silence, that conversation played over and over in her mind. With her hand to her tummy, she swallowed the urge to spew the bottom contents of her stomach. This wasn't happening. It's not happening. She repeated it in her head with her hands covering her ears. It couldn't be true.
Simone replayed the argument and the fight. she'd had with Keith. How was smug that his mistress's b.a.s.t.a.r.d wasn't his. He was certain of it. He wasn't lying. He confessed it to her. She would know the difference, wouldn't she? Simone shot up from the bed. ”Wait. Wait a d.a.m.n minute.” She grabbed her purse and hurried out into the hall, nearly colliding with Diane. ”Excuse me.”
”Where you off to?” her mother asked.
Simone found Anne and Kim in the kitchen. They stood there talking, whispering. In her paranoia, she a.s.sumed it was about her. Why not? Her life was s.h.i.+t and everyone knew it.
”I need your car.”
”Kitt? What are you doing?” Diane asked her. ”Charles is on his way over here so we can talk things out. We're going to head to the Hamptons, remember? Let him take care of things. The sorry b.a.s.t.a.r.d owes you and Kim that much. Slow down, sweetheart.”
”Keys!” she demanded, palm shoved in her sister's face.
Kim reached over and plucked them from the counter, handing them to her.
Simone's eyes swept them both. ”Keith won't win this one. I will do whatever I have to for my liberation.”
”Liberation?” Diane frowned.
”Let me go with you, Simone,” Kim offered.
”No. I have my cell. I'll call you. Trust me, I know what I'm doing.”
She left. Diane yelled after her, Kim called her name. Simone didn't stop. It wasn't until she was in the car, backing out of the driveway that she even took a breath. Consumed with emotions she barely processed, she reached over for her phone and dialed, blinking back the tears. ”Answer! Answer!”
”You've reached Cain Gatlin. Leave a message.”
”Cain? Cain, I need you to call me back. Jeez, I need to talk to somebody to keep me from doing something stupid. It's falling apart. Everything is falling apart. d.a.m.n him. It's never going to end. Is it? He'll never let me go. No one can stop him. No one! Call me. Please. Please.”
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