Bad Habits Part 29

"I have to ask, sweetheart."

"Have I gone to grief counseling? That's what you were going to ask, huh?"

"It's a good thing. Even a good ole-boy like me had to sit on a couch and get it all out."

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and put her hands in her lap. He walked over to the bed, taking a seat next to her. "It's about you and only you. There is a safe place to put all those emotions you can't share with anyone."

"I can't afford that." She inched in closer. He responded by wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

"We can work something out. They have these programs."

"Charity? I won't take charity."

"No, not charity. It's called EAP-Employee a.s.sistance Program. They can help."

"I don't need a shrink. I just need a friend. You said you'd be my friend."

"I will."

"But you changed your mind? Is that it?"

"Kim, you're a smart woman. Our friendship can only help with part of it. You need to deal with your grief. How many times have you told that to families suffering from the shock you went through? None of us are perfect, darlin''. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me that you aren't holding back on me."

"I told you those pills..."

"Counseling, therapy, these things exist for a reason. I need you to trust me."

She tried to rise. He could tell she was uncomfortable. He stayed the action, keeping her close. "We'll go at your pace. I just wanted to put it out there."

"You're on my bed." She cut him down with a s.e.xy look, effectively distracting him once more. "You notice that?"

He looked back at the bed. "So it seems. It's quite comfortable."

"You talk too much, doctor. Anybody ever tell you that?"

"And you're pretty hard-headed. Anybody ever tell you that?"

She smiled. "It's a bad habit with no cure," she groaned, her face on his shoulder. Turning to his neck, her nose rubbed up under it, softly. "You leaving now?" she asked in a whisper. Suddenly, he lost his train of thought again. She moved away. He opened his eyes to see her scoot back on the bed. Mathew shook his head. Her avoidance was becoming something predictable. Usually, when someone worked that hard to evade it meant they were indeed hiding something, or afraid.

"I'm sleepy, Matt." She extended her hand, fingers reaching for him. "Just lay here with me and hold me so I can go to sleep."

He kicked off his shoes. Turning back on the bed, he laid next to her, opening his arm to her so she fit nicely underneath.

"Thanks, friend," she yawned.

Her soft curves deliciously close, he closed his eyes. He was a man and he couldn't help it. There would be only so much he could take. Turning over to his side he pulled her to him, so close their noses touched. She didn't mind. He touched her face, traced the delicate line of her jaw. Then his hand rubbed her arm, went down to her wrist and rubbed her hand. She slipped it around his waist, hugging him. Mathew placed his hand to the curve of her hip, her flesh warm and tender, and his chest felt tight with need. She was all over him. In his arms, her face so close to his that he inhaled the soapy smell of her skin and the berry fragrance of her shampooed hair. She was too much woman not to notice. His loins burned with remembrance.

"Thank you," she whispered dreamily again.

Straining against the urge to flip her to her back and get in between her thick thighs, he spoke through his teeth. "For what?"

"For being my friend."

Mathew smiled. He released the desire forming a knot of emotion inside his throat and opened his eyes. They locked with her husband, Dennis, from across the bed on the nightstand.

"I'm not going anywhere."

He woke her an hour ago. He said he had to get home to shower and be in for work. When he offered a ride, once again she declined. She wasn't opposed to being chauffeured to work, but there were matters to be attended to. First, she needed to take the boys to the day camp since Anne wouldn't be free until that evening. And even more importantly, she had to get her car fitted for the tire she'd needed for weeks. Her Prince Charming had done enough. The rest was on her.

The coffee maker dripped a dark stream into the pot. Kim waited for the auto light to switch from orange to green, yawning. Last night he poured his soul out to her. She couldn't believe how much it had affected her, and still she hadn't found a way to fully open hers. But she wanted to, desperately.

The phone rang, bulldozing her thoughts. Kim reached for it on the counter and flipped the talk b.u.t.ton. "h.e.l.lo?"

"You can't call your sister back?"

"Hey, babe," Kim yawned.

"Hey."

Kim frowned. She heard so much in that little response. "You okay?"

"No. How my babies?"

"What's wrong?" Kim asked.

"Why does something have to be wrong?"

"I'm your sister. Some bonds are just the way they are. Now tell me," Kim insisted.

"I don't want to talk about me. I just called to check in. How are the boys?"

"I told you they're fine, Simone. Is it Diane? Did she call hara.s.sing you?"

"Mom? No why? You see her? Is she okay?"

"She's fine," Kim said bitterly. Diane's visit remained lodged in her craw. "Just stay away from her. She'll do nothing but drag you into her craziness."

"She's our mother, Kim. Crazy or not, we're all we got. Bonds and all."

Kim sighed. "How's Keith? Sure he's in his element in Castle Rock."

"Who gives a s.h.i.t," Simone mumbled.

"What did he do now?"

"I said I don't want to talk about it. Okay?"

Kim chuckled. "Here it was I thought I was the stubborn one. Looks like none of us want to talk about 'it' when 'it' counts."

"I'm thinking about leaving him, Kim."

The words struck Kim like a cold slap. Suddenly the sleepy haze that followed her throughout the morning began to fade. "Are you serious?"

"I'm thinking about it."

"Is he cheating again?"

"He's says he's not."

"Says he's not? What does that mean? You think he is?"

"The problem is I'm beginning to not care. Last night he proved to me that Stacy was hara.s.sing him, and it just didn't matter. If he was s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g her right now, I don't think I could care. I'm just numb to him now. It's scaring me. Plus-"

"Go on?" Kim plucked out the coffee pot and began to pour into her mug.

"There's this man, a friend."

"Simone? I know you aren't-"

"Of course not! I would never cheat, girl please. Besides, this man's married. It's not like that. Happily married I guess."

"Then I'm confused."

She heard her sister laugh. She missed Simone so much that her laughter actually caused her to wince. It killed her to push her away. She feared what would happen if she didn't. She'd cling to her and never let go.

"It's okay. I stay confused down here. His name is Cain. He's different from the rest of them. He makes me laugh. It's not like that with Keith now. I think Cain is just making me see Keith and all his flaws differently. Does that make sense?"

"Of course it does. You want to divorce him, then come home to us. We'll be fine."

Simone sighed. "I just said I was thinking about it. I haven't decided anything yet. Right now he's giving me s.p.a.ce. I just need to get my head right. Oh, guess what? I've started a garden."

"Why?"

"It's what you do in suburbia, silly."

"Oh."

"Besides, Diane loved plants. I got a green thumb from her. It's one of the few good memories I have of Mama as a little girl."

"Diane grew marijuana, Simone."

"Huh? That's not true!"

"Of course it is!" Kim heard her son scream. "Oh-oh, someone's calling my name. Got to go."

"You okay, Kim? The attorneys, have they settled yet?"

"Not yet, got a meeting this week. Hopefully this will all be over soon. I'm fine though. I made a friend too."

"What?"

"Mooommmmiiieeeee!!"

Kim looked back. "I promise to call you back and tell you all about him."

"Him? Wait?" Simone gasped.

"Gotta go... bye."

She hung up, smiling. Stealing a quick sip of coffee the hot liquid seared her tongue. "s.h.i.t!"

"s.h.i.t!" Danny said grinning, pulling on her robe.

Kim looked down and found her little parakeet at her side, which meant that Denny was the one in the other room crying. "Bad word, Danny. Don't say that."

"s.h.i.t! s.h.i.t! s.h.i.t!" he grinned.

Kim sighed. She picked him up and walked out of the kitchen.

"s.h.i.t! s.h.i.t! s.h.i.t!" Danny yelped, bucking in her arms.

The day had just started, and already there was reason to curse.

"Something I can do for you, doctor?" Patel said dryly, not bothering to look up. Mathew walked inside and closed the door. Patel sat behind his desk scribbling on paperwork. Visions of s.n.a.t.c.hing the pen and breaking it off in Patel's a.s.s clouded Mathew's thoughts. All roads kept leading back to this creep. The moment Kim marched in his office and threw his past in his face, he knew where it came from.

"It's time you and I have a talk," Mathew said.

"Not now, busy."

After another long pause, Patel finally did look up. He frowned, removed his spectacles, and then pressed the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "Are you here to throw another angry tantrum?'

"You told Nurse Jensen about my time at University. I want to know why?"

Patel sat back. "I did no such thing. I have little interest in you and your crush on that ice queen."

Mathew stepped forward. Patel's smirk dimmed. "Which brings me to my next question. If you think so little of her why are you treating her?"

Patel snorted. "I'm not. She's not my patient."

"You delivered her sons."

"And she found another doctor. Trust me, I preferred it. That one needs a shrink. Whatever she's conjured up for your sympathy is most likely a lie." Patel rocked back in his chair. "Satisfied? I have no interest in Nurse Jensen and no interest in getting into a p.i.s.sing match with you. If we're going to work together, then we need to get past this hostility, don't you agree?"

Patel was lying. The date on the prescription bottle he found was just a week old. His mind replayed her in his office, how upset she looked and how smug he looked. "If you're not her doctor, then why are you prescribing Oxycodone to her...800 mg?"

Suddenly the light of humor in Dr. Patel's eyes switched off. The color drained from his face. He sat upright. His mouth opened and then closed. Mathew watched him closely. If Kim was in trouble because of this a.s.shole, he'd make him pay.