Bad Habits Part 45

"I'm not a junkie. I just got some problems. Going to work through them, okay?"

Understanding, Anne shook her head.

"Hey, stop it. I'm fine. Look, I don't think you've had some time off since we became partners in toddler adventures. Take some time off." Kim forced a smile. "Mathew and I will see to the boys." She sipped, ignoring the burn to her tongue and savoring the burn as it went down her throat. "I'll pay you."

"No, you don't have to. Kim, I'd rather you talk to me. What is going on? Are you in trouble?"

Kim's eyes lifted at the sound of the door opening. Mathew struggled with her boys. She wiped at her tears. "No, I'm fine. Two weeks, okay?"

Anne looked to Mathew and then to Kim. "Okay, I'll get my things."

"Mommieee!" Danny sang. Kim smiled, reaching for him as Denny followed Mathew back out the door to the truck to get the groceries. She sat Danny on her lap and tried to believe that she would be okay. But even now, she doubted it.

Anne reemerged with her bag. She walked over and Kim rose. "Call me if you need me for anything. And, Kim, do me a favor. Whatever it is, call Simone. Okay?"

Kim smiled. "I'll call her."

Anne kissed Danny and left. Danny rested his head on her shoulder. She rubbed his back, trying to draw some strength from his body heat. Mathew returned with plastic bags. Denny dragged one behind him. He smiled at her, closing the door. "Why don't you go take a bath? I'll be in there in a minute to help."

She nodded, knowing what 'help' meant. It was starting, and whatever he prescribed, she'd do. She'd try. She promised him, but more importantly she promised herself. So she set her son down and did as he requested.

As Kim disrobed, she found herself scratching. Lately her skin was covered in dry patches no matter how much she moisturized. She knelt to the cabinet to find something, ignoring her nausea as she dug into the back of the cabinet. Her hand hit a small bottle. She frowned, removing it, a pill bottle of Vicodin. She had abandoned the pills when Patel moved her over to Oxy. She forgot she kept them back there with her lotions in the corner of the cabinet. How Diane missed this one, she wasn't sure.

"Kim? You okay in there?"

"Yeah! I'm okay." She jumped, pills in hand. She fished into the back of the cabinet. Quickly, her fingers connected with an old perfume box set. She removed the perfume and slipped the pill bottle inside in its place. Then she set it back in the cabinet, just as the bathroom door opened.

She looked up at Mathew. "Hey."

"They're in the room watching their DVD, eating. How do you feel?"

"Um, okay, I guess."

He gave her a sad smile and she rose in nothing but her panties. He reached for her arm, noticing how raw and red her skin was. "I got something from the store to put on it. I want you to drink this...it'll help with the stomach cramps and the nausea. Tonight will be tough, but we'll get through it. I promise."

She silently rolled down her panties. The Vicodin wasn't Oxy. She'd need three pills for the same affect, maybe four. But they were there, just in case. She felt stronger, knowing they were near. Naked, she picked up the tea and sipped. From the mirror, she could see him turn and look at her body, then try to look away. She smiled. He was so cute.

"Mathew?"

"Yes...water is ready."

"Join me. I feel okay."

He smiled. "Don't tempt me."

He took her hand and Kim stepped into the bathwater. She submerged, eyes lowering. She was going to be okay.

Chapter Twenty-Two.

The Party Simone The Hollingsworths and Gatlins were known for three things in Castle Rock: money, influence and entertaining. It came as no surprise to all arriving how festive the Gatlin's home was for the evening's events. In fact, from the excited whispers of those Simone pa.s.sed on her way in, she learned that most proclaimed this to be 'the party' to attend and the 'invite to have', which was exactly the type of thing that fed the ego of her lying husband.

Simone walked up the front steps and entered through the open doors. The night would serve two purposes. One, she'd give Keith a dose of his own medicine, and two, she'd find Joan Nelson and do some major recruiting. When they walked inside, Keith put his hand to her lower back as was customary of a man with his wife, but his touch sent chills of repulsion through her. She tensed visibly, and he persisted. She cut him the sideways look of disgust. He slipped her the same with a snide smile. A smile that said, you will behave or else.

"I think you know how I want this night to go. You should be at your best tonight," he said in a whisper to her ear, his hand running up and down her back near her backside.

"And that would be your first mistake," she whispered back, stepping ahead of him so his hand would drop away. She cut him down with a glare cast back over her shoulder and caught his grimace. She also noticed the heads of several men turn her way, husbands, and unknown guests whose eyes lingered over her s.e.xy apparel. It became clear to her husband and the other men that she was the most provocative woman in the room.

Inside the Gatlin's home, the transformation was quite impressive. Everything was done in black and gold. Ribbons were tied to the banisters and balloons positioned discreetly in the corners. Even the lighting was swapped for the warm golden glow of designer lanterns in the foyer. Leading the way to the festivities on the back lawn, larger round lanterns were strung up everywhere and being tossed to and fro like fireball balloons in the wind. She let her eyes sweep the many faces as each person stared at her and Keith. She didn't see Cain. That was good. She might lose her confidence if she did.

"Well, h.e.l.lo there." Andrew Hollingsworth approached, smoothing down his s.h.i.+rt. He was a tall man and as tall as her husband. He wore a dark tailored suit with a dark s.h.i.+rt and tie. His silver hair was combed over his oval head, and his cool grey eyes were piercing orbs behind his round spectacles. Bonnie was at his side with her coveted drink. Diamonds sparkled from her ear lobes, neck, fingers and wrist. She wore a pale pink pantsuit that blended well with her creamy white skin and yellow blond hair. Even at her age, and with her drinking, she was beyond beautiful. But there was something absent of beauty in her eyes evident in a vacant emptiness found in a lot of the wives over the years that were married to men like her husband. Simone wondered if in twenty years she would also be a Bonnie Hollingsworth.

Bonnie gave her a once over. Simone noticed her visible displeasure over her new funky haircut and jaw-dropping short mini-dress that accentuated every curve. Andrew's eyes moved from Keith to Simone with the opposite reaction. l.u.s.t was so blatant it made her husband flush with embarra.s.sment and anger.

"My, my, Simone. You look beautiful." Mr. Hollingsworth gave a wolfish smile. He took her hand, kissed it, held it and held her stare.

Old pervert.

"Thank you, Mr. Hollingsworth. Keith picked this one especially for the night." She removed her hand from his. "He likes it when we play dress up, doncha, baby?" She flashed her husband a sweet smile. "Especially around your white co-workers, we got to be on our best behavior. All shadity and stuff."

Bonnie choked on her martini.

Keith became the first black man in recorded history to go pale.

"Ever heard that less is more dear? Simplicity and a little cla.s.s are preferred at these types of functions. Wasn't my daughter clear on the invite?" Bonnie asked.

Simone narrowed her eyes on Bonnie. "Cla.s.s? Right, I get it!" Simone laughed out loud and heads turned. Keith tried to pull her back in.

"That's enough," he whispered.

"Un uh." She removed herself out of his reach. "She thinks Botox injections, money that I never worked a day for, and let's not forget the 'right' kind of skin gives you cla.s.s!" She glared at Bonnie. "Not women like me right? Too much melanin in my skin to qualify? Too hood for ya? Oh, and of course we less fortunate haven't mastered the art of hiding our misery behind those fancy drinks." Her eyes dropped to the sparkling martini in Bonnie's hand.

"That's enough!" Keith hissed. "Apologize!"

Andrew chuckled.

"No," Simone said.

"It's okay. Simone and I understand each other perfectly," Bonnie said through her thinly pressed petal pink lips.

"Keith, she's quite a woman." Andrew slapped him on the back. "Her wit is refres.h.i.+ng. I'll be dammed if we don't need more of it!" Andrew laughed. Bonnie tossed up her chin and walked off. "Give her h.e.l.l, Simone." Andrew Hollingsworth winked. "She can dish it, but she's not to good at taking it."

Keith cleared his throat, once again trying to bring Simone to his side and minimize the damage. She knocked his hand away, glaring. "She's a kidder," Keith chuckled nervously. "How are you, Andrew?" He asked, taking the time to shake his hand. "Thank you so much for having us."

"My pleasure, well my daughter's pleasure, since this is her house," Andrew said, shaking his hand with eyes continually returning to Simone's cleavage. It made her feel dirty. In fact, she hated the way she had attacked Bonnie. She felt such a flame of shame over her behavior that she found it hard to look back in Andrew's eyes. But it made Keith furious, and that gave her so much satisfaction. She could tell Keith was battling between anger and shock over her behavior by the way his jaw twitched and his features hardened. So, yes, it was worth it.

"Where can a girl get a gla.s.s of champagne?" Simone asked, running her tongue over her top lip. She lifted on her toes and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s jiggled as she bounced, braless. That was the intent. She felt Keith tense. She saw it from her peripheral as she scanned the partiers.

"There it is!" she yelled and again others that lingered inside looked over. Bonnie was next to that stuck up b.i.t.c.h from Bunco. They both sneered and observed from a corner. "Over here! Yoo hoo! Can you bring me a gla.s.s? Yeah, bring it to me!" She waved her hand as if she was at a baseball game trying to flag a drink from the top of the stands. Andrew looked back, and Keith s.n.a.t.c.hed her hard when his head turned.

"Keep your f.u.c.king hands off me," Simone hissed to him, and his hand dropped away. She then smiled into his glare as Andrew's eyes returned to them both. "Shall I get you a drink too, dear?"

"Enough of your jokes, Simone." Keith put his hand to her hip to pulled her back in. She gave a fake giggle, sashaying out of his reach, brus.h.i.+ng past Andrew with more swing to her hips than Keith ever enjoyed.

She felt their eyes on her, all of them. So what!

The server came over. She sweetly selected a gla.s.s, cutting her eyes back to her husband. It would be a long night. The pianist, who had temporarily skipped a beat after her performance, began to play again from the center of the living room.

"There you are! Oh yummy, right on time too!" Maryanne exclaimed, descending the stairs. Simone turned in time to witness Cain slowly stepping down behind her. She froze with the crystal flute to her lips. He was beautiful. Cain Gatlin was effortlessly, devilishly, handsome. Their eyes met. His narrowed with the kind of familiarity they shouldn't share. Within them, she found concern and wavering restraint. But it didn't end there. No, she s.h.i.+vered when his baby blues lowered and made a slow climb from her ankles up her legs, hips, cleavage, and then to her face. She averted her stare, because he wouldn't.

"Wow! You look beautiful!" Maryanne said, smiling at Simone. "I love your hair."

"Thanks. Keith hates it. Doncha,' baby?" she called out to Keith. He and Andrew walked over. Keith's jaw was locked so tight one would think it was wired shut. He now avoided Simone, and her taunts, focusing on the others, greeting each.

Cain shook Keith's hand, but like his father in-law, he kept looking over to her. Suddenly, the tension she stirred didn't feel like fun. Suddenly, she felt trapped. She s.h.i.+fted under the stare of these men as flashes of her night with Cain ravis.h.i.+ng her body surfaced. How she s.e.xed him over and over with no protection-like a husband-stealing hussy. Like Stacy. She wanted to cry. Here she was in another woman's home, sleeping with her husband. Who was she now? Her life was s.h.i.+t. s.h.i.+t! s.h.i.+t! s.h.i.+t!

"Excuse me," Simone turned away just as Maryanne turned to her guests and announced the Livingston's arrival.

"Simone?" Maryanne called to her, dismayed, "Let me introduce you!"

"Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me," she said, pus.h.i.+ng her way past the others, champagne slos.h.i.+ng in the crystal flute. Her eyes were glued to the open terrace doors. She imagined Keith trying to make excuses, purposefully insulting and blaming the bad behavior on her. She looked back and saw the way Cain stared after her. Unable to be public with his concern, he looked as miserable as she.

"At last, someone I want to see!" Joan hooked her arm through Simone's, catching her off guard. Simone blinked, surprise to have her appear from nowhere. She was beautiful too. She wore a long black summer dress, her red hair swept up from her slender neck. She gave Simone a big grin, her green eyes sparkling. Simone was flooded with relief.

"Joan?"

"My, my, honey, you sure do know how to make an entrance. I saw that little performance of yours. Too cute. Bonnie is over there drowning herself in gin!" Joan laughed. Her laughter brought a smile to Simone's face.

She walked her away from the others who tried to speak to them both. Joan shooed them off with an eye roll. "You've got every woman in the room tightening the leash on their husband," she whispered. "If I gave a s.h.i.+t, I'd be worried too. But Henry wouldn't know what to do with it if we put flas.h.i.+ng lights on it."

"Who?"

"Hubby." She pointed to the older grey haired gentleman in deep conversation with another. "Henry the bore. Love him though. He's a good father and provider, and sometimes, a good lover."

"He doesn't seem like your type. Too-"

"Stiff? Old? Stiff and old?" She laughed. "Tell me about it." She stopped and looked her over. "But, honey, you are gorgeous. Love your hair. You came to Bunco like Susie homemaker. Now you're Susie homewrecker. Got these men so worked up over you."

It was a joke, but it hurt. It cut deep. Simone looked down at her dress. "Well, this isn't me, not really, but thanks."

"Isn't you?" Joan frowned. They were on the lawn by the open buffet. She reached over and grabbed some tiny cuts of bruschetta. Lanterns swung in the evening breeze above their heads. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes. Can we talk, somewhere? It's really important that I talk to someone like you, an attorney."

Joan stopped mid-chew, her brow creasing with concern.

"Here you are!" Maryanne strutted over. Simone rolled her eyes. Joan looked from her to Maryanne.

"I would be offended if you weren't so cute. Mother told me about your jokes earlier," Maryanne chuckled. She stepped carefully in the freshly cut gra.s.s. The soft soil was h.e.l.l on all of their designer heels. Her bright blue eyes switched over to Joan.

"Hi, Joan."

Joan ignored her, still staring at Simone with a cheek packed with half chewed bruschetta.

"Simone, come with me." Maryanne extended her hand. "I want to introduce you to our guests. Keith's looking for you."

"Later," Joan said, swallowing, dusting off her hands and stepping in front of Simone. "She's not a show pony for you to parade around, princess."

Maryanne frowned. "Joan, been drinking have we?"

"Not nearly enough. Go find mother. Last I heard, we were out of gin."

Maryanne sighed. "Simone?" she said, looking around Joan to Simone who stood behind her. Simone found it hard to look Maryanne in the eye. She wished she'd just leave her alone. "Keith's looking for you. I'll tell him you're out here. Okay?"

She flounced off. Joan shook her head. "b.i.t.c.h works a nerve." She turned and looked to Simone who had her hand to her eyes. "Oh, sweetie, are you okay?"

Simone shook her head no.

Joan took Simone's hand and led her away. "Come with me."

"Sorry about earlier. Wife has had a little too much too soon if you know what I mean." Keith gave a nervous chuckle. Cain cut his eyes. He watched the open door that Simone had run off through. Should he go after her? He should. She was hurting, and he was partly the reason. What they shared shouldn't cause her pain, but it was evident that it had. He could see it all over her when he got near her. f.u.c.k! How was he going to pull this off and not reach out to her?

"No problem. I keep the liquor cabinet stocked. It's a good muzzle for Bonnie. Seems to have an adverse affect on your wife though," Andrew chuckled.

"Daddy, Senator Wellington wants to speak with you. Come on," Maryanne said brightly. Her return had gone missed by Cain. She hooked her arm in her father's and pulled him away. Cain was left with Keith, the one person he didn't want to be around.

"Excuse me."

"Can we have a word?" Keith said, stopping him.

Cain looked over. "Sure."

"OPAL, I've gone through the Keemler contracts and financial reports. There's something there, but I just can't put my finger on it. There has to be more. What isn't on the books is what I need," he said in a whisper.

Cain's eyes slipped over to his father in-law laughing it up with the Senator. A plan formed before he even processed the risks. "You're right. It requires insight that those financial reports don't have. You have to know where to look, and to do so you have to get your hands dirty."

Keith cut him a look. "Dirty?"

Cain nodded. "You need to show Andrew that you're willing to play by his rules. Go the distance. He trusts you, then the doors open. There are certain ways he likes things run. Certain ways he likes his 'boys' indebted to him. You won't get close enough to bring him down unless you play his game on his turf. The contracts and financial reports take on a whole new meaning."

"And you have played this game?" Keith looked him up and down.

Cain didn't want to incriminate himself, because he was indeed guilty. There was no way around that fact. If he wanted to get Keith Livingston and Andrew Hollingsworth, he'd have to get in the ring with them. "I have. Now the question is, will you?"