Part 86 (1/2)
”Well that's my fault. I put everyone through a lot. I know. So yep, time is up,” Kim sighed, ”I think you should go ahead and book a flight. Catch one out tomorrow. I might...” Kim sat up dusting the sand from her hands. ”I need tonight, to talk to Matt, to figure some things out before I go.” Kim wouldn't explain herself further. Anne was the kind of friend that understood and wouldn't press.
And it was true that Kim found the urge to use in everything. She even suffered from phantom back pains in the night that had her waking sometimes in a cold sweat. She'd sneak from the bed and splash water on her face and wait for the chills to subside. But they were always there, just beneath the surface.
Kim knew she and Matt were living as if yesterday or tomorrow didn't matter. He hadn't heard one word from the MRB regarding his medical license. She hadn't shared how dire things were back home with her family, especially now that her father had stepped back into their lives and was running things. Simone said she had her house back. But Kim was unemployed with two small children. Life was far from perfect.
”Are you going to stay?” Anne asked.
Kim drew her knees to her chest. She dropped her chin on the top. ”I can't say. All I know, Anne, is that I love that man. Don't get me wrong. Part of me will always belong to Dennis, but Matt-Matt is mine too.”
”That's cause you a greedy heifer.” Anne hit her playfully. Kim laughed. Anne shook her head, continuing to fan herself. ”I'm kidding. Of course you can love them both. Love them in different ways. You and Mathew fit. He's so different though.” Anne c.o.c.ked her head to the side observing him dunking the boys in the water to get them used to getting their faces wet. ”Not just being white, I mean he's all southern white boy, different. You know what I mean?”
”I guess,” Kim shrugged. Race was the last of their issues. They had so much pain and regret between them she was colorblind when it came to loving him.
”Take for instance his family's house. The one he grew up in, that he took us to. Place looks like some plantation right out of Roots.” Anne continued.
Kim chuckled. ”Yeah, I thought so too when I saw it.”
They both shared a laugh before falling back into a comfortable silence that Kim broke. ”He is different. I think that's why I feel so safe with him. Everything about us is genuine, unexpected, and different. It's like each time with us is the first time. Does that make sense?”
Anne nodded. ”I get that.”
Mathew walked out of the water carrying the boys. He had tanned nicely the past few days, but that wasn't the best part. Even his manly pudge was s.e.xy. The hairs that trailed from his navel and got thicker as they disappeared into his shorts was s.e.xy.
”Mmm, yes, I see why,” Anne said under her breath.
Kim pinched her, and then they both giggled. Kim waved to her sons. Tonight would be the night. They needed to talk about what comes next. She had her toes crossed that he felt the same.
Mathew set the toddlers on their feet. Wet, grinning, both tykes raised their hands to him wanting to be carried. He jogged ahead and they ran after him whining, near tears. He caved, scooping them back up. He carried them to Kim. She reclined on the sand with her sungla.s.ses s.h.i.+elding her pretty eyes in a tangerine orange bikini and sarong that tied at her thick hips. He loved her curves. She was making him crazy displaying them the way she was.
Since their reunion and the pa.s.sion they shared in her hotel room, they hadn't had s.e.x. There was no time for s.e.x. Every night they crowded in one bed with the boys between them. Every day he filled it with trips to each special spot he knew in his hometown. His sister kept calling to feed them. His brothers kept calling to invite them to some family gathering or another. He needed to get her alone.
”Look at my boys! You have fun, sweetie?” she asked rising. Denny reached for her. Danny just held to Mathew's neck. He handed Denny off as Anne pa.s.sed them towels to dry with.
”Why don't I take them up the boardwalk to put on their clothes so we can have lunch?” Anne asked.
”You sure you don't need help?” Mathew asked.
Anne frowned at him. Kim laughed. ”Sweetie, Anne knows what she's doing.”
”Oh! Yeah, of course. I just, um, here.” He picked up the beach bag to hand it to her as Kim put sandals on Denny's feet and handed him to Anne. She did the same for Danny who was bold enough to walk with his sitter without a fuss.
”We'll catch up with you guys,” Matt called after them.
Together, they watched Danny and Anne walk off with Denny in her arms. When he looked down to Kim, she was smiling up at him. Her auburn hair was thicker, bus.h.i.+er with frizzing curls behind an orange scarf. He touched her face to remove her sungla.s.ses. He preferred to look into her eyes. Kim wiped his chest with a hand towel.
”You ready to head back to the hotel?”
”Not yet,” he said. ”Come here.”
She went into his arms. Mathew hugged her. They needed to talk. ”Tonight I want to-”
”Talk?” she asked, her head popping up from his chest.
”Yes, talk. How about Dinner? Alone, the two of us.”
”Okay,” she agreed.
”You look beautiful, Kim.”
”I feel beautiful,” she said, throwing her arms around his neck. ”Now shut up and kiss me.”
He did. His lips parted hers and he greeted her slow moving tongue. The minty taste of her gum flavored breath filled his mouth as curves so soft and warm pressed into him, he went hard for her all over. He took his time to claim her, running his hands down her backside to enjoy the pleasures of being her man. He would devour her if it were possible. Naturally, the kiss came to an end. Their lips parted, but the ache in his groin throbbed painfully. Mathew ignored what felt natural between them. It was common practice since he reclaimed her heart. He found sustenance in his just having her in his arms again.
”Where do you want to go for dinner?” she asked.
”The cabin. I'll cook for you.”
Kim shook her head. ”How about I cook? You and your family have been so nice. I want to. Give me the key and I'll go to the grocery store and get some things. What you think? Anne can keep the boys and we can be alone.”
”I love your cooking.” He lifted her in his arms. She squealed but held to his neck. ”Now come on and play with me.”
”Matt, no!”
He ran her toward the water while she kicked and screamed.
”Hi.”
”Hi, how are you?” Simone asked.
Kim situated the phone between her shoulder and cheek as she removed her famous baked macaroni and cheese from the oven with mitts. ”I'm good. Just finis.h.i.+ng dinner.” She put the ca.s.serole dish on the stove. She stepped back to inspect the roast as it simmered in the baking bag with carrots and potatoes.
”Cooking, huh? Mama swears you won't be coming back. She's all upset over it. Daddy of course is constantly in her face. Kim, those two are just weird. She claims she can't stand him, but walks around here all dolled up waiting for him to arrive. I think they're sleeping together again,” Simone whispered.
Kim closed the oven. ”Yuck.”
”Exactly,” Simone sighed.
”Don't try to understand them. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll blow over. Now tell me what's up with you? I saw on the news that Keith was released. They said he was beaten up in prison? Is that true?”
”Girl, it's been a crazy week. I got so much to tell you. But yeah, he got out on a gazillion dollar bail. And now the federal prosecutors are investigating Cain. He has a deal with them though, so I don't know. It's all a big mess.”
”But is it true? Was Keith embezzling?”
”I dunno, girl. He's a lot of things, but he's too pompous to be a thief.. It's his problem though. My annulment is signed, sealed, and delivered. Our life together never was. Anyways that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I want to know when you're coming back? We're in the Hamptons, for now. I need to go back to Castle Rock soon. I have to get my things. It's best I do it now while Keith is distracted with all this. I just don't know about leaving Mama with Daddy. I'm not sure he won't hurt her again, Kim.”
”Yeah, I understand.”
”So? When are you coming back?” Simone asked.