It was just like Alden to drop a kid on his lap and disappear. It seemed the older the man got, the more chaotic he became because why was Alden making him watch Amelia's kid? He was just beginning to enjoy Marie's presence on his floor; and now he had to deal with the interruption of a kid, poking his nose into their business. It sort of helped that the kid was straight-faced and didn't seem to dabble into things that weren't his concern.He stepped out of the room and collided with Rick in the hallway.“Hello,” Rick said, falling into step with Steven.“Hi,” Steven replied, not slowing his pace as he jogged down the stairs.“You take the stairs, that's good. You should get your wife to do it too. My teacher says taking the stairs is good cardio for your heart.” Rick said, keeping up with Steven.“Hmmm,” Steven grunted to Rick as he reached the bottom of the stairs.“Marie said I could have some breakfast. Are you having breakfast as well?” Rick asked, taking his seat at the table.
“Alden and Amelia?” Marie exclaimed, her eyes expanded like saucers.“I knew there was a reason the old man’s not dead. He’s been quite busy.”“Steven!” Marie said, a laugh escaping her throat as Steven led her out of the kitchen by the waist.“It's a lazy Saturday, Ma’am. Got any plans for us?”“Well, whatever plans we settle on have to include Rick. But Alden and Amelia!”“Why? Why does it need to?” Steven asked, his narrowed eyes peering at her.“I know it's funny but it's not the most surprising thing in the world. Alden and Amelia, I mean. They are close, you know.”“I know but still I can't believe Amelia didn't tell me.” Maria mused out loud, walking out of the kitchen beside Steven.“Why would she tell you?” Steven paused, tilting his neck backwards to look at her.“Errm… I just mean she never mentioned it,you know. All those times she called to err … book a visit with you or something and she never mentioned…” She sputtered, walking ahead of him to the elevator before she sai
Steven tried not to laugh as he watched Marie trying to hide her surprise. After their last fight about Sandra, Steven was determined to build bridges, even if that meant pretending to be friendly with someone who he didn't like or trust. He had asked for her help to pick out a collection of shoes he wanted to give Marie by the next week. He had also sworn her to secrecy so she didn't go tattling off to Marie.“ Can I have some orange juice too?” Rick butted in, his signature frown on his face as both women turned to look at him.“Of course, Rick. Babe, can you pour him some?” Marie asked.He overheard snippets of their conversation as he poured some juice for Rick. Sandra was saying something about him reaching out to her, while Marie tried to find out what her brilliant idea had been. He wasn't too worried, he knew Sandra could hold her own where Marie was concerned.“Can you take me to the museum?” Rick asked as soon as he had downed the contents of his glass down this throat.“I d
Amelia was likely going to kill him. Assuming Marie didn't kill him first with the looks she was giving him. Thankfully she hadn't said anything. Why had the blasted kid not told him about his allergy? Steven didn't know the blasted ingredient that had hurt him.Marie was already pacing, dialing 911 while he helped to massage Rick’s forehead when he noticed Rick smiling.“Rick!”Rick tried to cover up the smile with a look of pain, but Steven knew what he had seen. The boy was faking.“Rick! Will you stop faking this instant?” Steven asked.“Steven! Are you for real? It's bad enough that we let him eat something he wasn't supposed to, now you're accusing him of faking it? He fell over for Pete's sake.”Steven continued to grill Rick with a glare until the boy broke into laughter and sat up, grinning.“I faked it, Uncle Steve. You should have seen your face!” Rick said.Marie's shoulders relaxed as relief flooded her features.“Rick, that wasn't very nice. You scared me to death.” Mari
“Will you?” He mumbled, resting his forehead on hers as he swayed her from side to side.“Well, are you asking me now?” She asked, keeping her tone level so as not to give anything away. Even if her insides were screaming and dying with excitement.“Well, not exactly right now. But I'm just saying, is it something you think you’d ever want to do?”“I guess you’d just have to wait to know until you ask me for real.” She said, before raising her head and giving him a passionate kiss that sent all anxious thoughts racing from her mind. This was her Steven King and he loved her and was thinking of marrying her. When she broke off the kiss, she looked into his eyes and said,“I know it's crazy but I think we should date for a little while. I already know what I want though so it's not to convince myself. I just want to be your girlfriend a little bit more. But you'll know my answer for sure when you really ask me.” She said, before pressing her lips to his cheek.“Alright.” Steven said, an
“Rick, honey. What’s the matter?” Marie asked, as a solemn Rick sat on her bed and rocked himself back and forth.“I’m scared, Marie. I can hear eerie sounds in my room.”Marie listened for a beat and didn't hear any sounds but didn't want Rick feeling like she wasn't taking his fears seriously.“Okay, Honey. Do you want to sleep in here?” She asked“Can I?” He asked in a shy voice, and for a few seconds Marie saw the frightened boy he tried so hard to hide.“Ofcourse, climb in.” She said, scooting to make space for him.Rick climbed in by her right and let Marie wrap the covers around him. All was quiet for a few minutes before Rick said,“I'm sorry, Mrs.King.”“I thought we agreed you'll call me Marie?” She asked.“I’m sorry, Marie.”“Why?”“For coming here. But the sounds are scary. I know nothing is out there but I'm still scared.” He said“I know what you mean.” She whispered.“Fear isn't logical. That's what Granny says.” Rick said“She's right. But that doesn't make it less rea
“Babe, I want to sell my old car. Do you think you could help me get a good deal for it?” Marie asked Steven, while they rode the elevator that led to their office floor.“Yes, I can. But why do you want to sell it?”“Err… you got me the new BMW, the other one sits in the garage all day. And I need the cash.”“Babe, if you're having problems…” Steven started to say but Marie held up her hand.“Nothing serious. I need to get someone a gift.”“Who?”“Ugh. Can you sell the car or not? Your questions are aging me, Steven.”“I’ll fix it and sell it. But you know I can give you whatever money you…”“Steven!”“Okay. Fine.” Steven said, stepping out of the elevator and holding his hand out for her.“Will you work from my office today?”“Nope. Absolutely not.” She replied. It was going to be tough enough plotting his surprise birthday from her seat in her own office. She checked her emails, set up Steven’s meetings for the day and went to his office to brief him on his next meeting.“You have
Steven smiled down at his cell as he read the text from James.Hey Delicious-looking shoulders, how's life?James hadn't been in the meeting which could only mean one thing. Marie had told him.Argh. Did she need to text James everything? Smiling, he typed backIs this how it is now? You and my wife talk behind my back? About me?James replied immediately,Only when you're letting scantily clad women with talons, call your hair gorgeous and bat their eyelashes at you.Steven chuckled, rolling his eyes, and then typed backShe did NOT bat her eyelashes at me.JamesI see how you avoided the subject of her being scantily dressed.StevenIt's her body, man. What do you want me to do? Tell a grown woman not to dress the way she wants?James…StevenBut you know Clara. You dated the chic, too.JamesClara? It was Clara Marie spoke about?Steven laughed so hard that he caught Marie’s disapproving glare from her desk.StevenThe one and only.JamesWell, still… Go find your wife and make he
“What?” Steven asked in a voice so phony that everyone turned to stare at him.“Is that blood, uncle Steve? It is. There's blood on your shirt.”“Shhhhh, buddy. Don't make a big deal about it. I cut myself.”“You did? Cool! Let me see.” Rick exclaimed, as though he was being given front row tickets to a fun show.“Richard! Get back to class!”“But granny…”“Now!” Amelia boomed as a disgruntled Rick turned in his heel and headed towards the stairs, waving to Steven as he went.“You may want to get that cleaned up before leaving.” Alden said to him as he wheeled himself into his room.“Hand it to me.” Amelia said.“Oh? I didn't actually cut myself.”“I know. I’m not stupid. Alden keeps sneaking off in his wheelchair and I've seen some funny looking characters hanging around. I don't want to know what all this is about but I hope you're both not being stupid. And he's finally getting the exercise ”“Ah.” Steven replied as he took off his shirt and handed it to Amelia. He walked with Stev
Maybe it was the fact that the guy was a psychopath who had put his wife in a coma or the fact that he had such a punchable face but Steven didn't stop until Smith stopped laughing and started to cough.“Oh, I could go on for hours. I'm only just getting started.”“Kill me, please. I’d love to see how you get the answers you want.” Smith saidSteven snarled as he shook his knuckles.“Oh, make no mistake, Smith. You are going to die. You're going to pay for what you did to Cadence. I’ll make sure about that even if it's the last thing I do.”“I keep telling your stupid old man. I didn't kill Cadence Steele.”“The same way you didn't run my wife over?”“Exactly. I mean I know about it, make no mistake. But I neither authorized nor did it.”“You know what Smith, you're full of crap and I'm tired of doing this with you, so start talking. There's no use stalling too because you're not getting out of this till I'm satisfied.”“Look, I know you think I'm the one you’re looking for but I'm no
“What do you mean?”“I mean I've never seen you so affected by anything, Alden. Not even when your own son got into an accident.”Alden’s eyes hardened as he grunted.“That wasn't an accident. It was a stupid decision made by someone who should have known better.”Steven fought the urge to roll his eyes. Of course Alden would say that about his father. Alden had never cut him any slack.“Right, but you're deflecting the question. Why do you act like she means so much to you? What's this about?”“The only person that can give you the answers you want us is your wife, Steven.”What did that mean? Was there something about Alden and Marie he didn't know?“I don't understand what you mean, Alden.”“Are you ready to leave now?” Alden asked, pushing his chair backwards as he averted his eyes from Steven. Steven sighed and walked ahead of his grandfather. It was funny that Alden would rather die than let Steven touch his wheelchair while he allowed Amelia to help him all the time. He also kn
“Where are you?”“Hello to you too, Alden.” Steven said as he honked at the driver in front of him. Did people drive with their brains turned off these days?“I'm at your house and Dr. Terence tells me you’re not here.” The accusation in his tone spoke volumes but Steven chose to ignore it.“If you’d let me know you were coming over, perhaps I may have been ready to receive you.” Steven answered in a cool tone.“When you asked for this leave, you did say it was so you could remain at your wife's side, not gallivant around town.”“What do you want, Alden?”“No, listen to me young man. You're the one who’ll get down here fast if you want to hear what I have to say.” He answered before hanging up the phone. Steven exhaled as he massaged his temple. The last thing he wanted was Alden sticking his nose into how he was caring for Marie. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the house and headed to the room where Marie was. Alden was in conversation with Dr. Terrence and didn't notice at firs
Dr. Terrence met him outside Marie's room and was about to say something but Steven held up his hand to forestall any comment.“I need everyone to leave for a few moments.”“Okay, Mr.King but if I may…”“Now, please.” Steven repeated as frazzled nurses began filing out of the room. He wasn't sure if he could stomach any more bad news so whatever Dr. Terrence had to say would have to wait.Dr. Terrence nodded and exited the room. Steven looked down at Marie and smiled at her. Even in a coma, her beauty took his breath away.He let out a long sigh and sat beside her bed before taking her hand in his.“You know, for the past few weeks, Marie. I’ve been mad at myself. Thinking about where I went wrong and how I could have failed you so much.”He squeezed her hand and checked to see if there was any reaction on her face. Her eyes remained blank and unfocused as they had been.“I’ve been mad at myself for letting you go through so much pain. For the fact that you're stuck somewhere between
Steven's mind whirled with thoughts as he heard the sound of Zed Norton's car backing out of his driveway.He ran a hand through his hair as he thought about what had transpired between Sandra and him. How on earth was he going to explain this to Marie when she came out of the coma? He could just imagine the look on his face.“You know when you were stuck in a coma fighting for your life? Yeah well, I slept with your best friend. And I don't even remember doing it.”He let out another curse and Sarah tossed him a concerned glance. He let out a sigh and plunked into the chair.“Any special orders for lunch, Sir? The chef wants to know…” She askedThe thought of having any food right now made him want to puke. Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see was Cadence lying in a pool of her own blood.“I'm not hungry, Sarah. I’ll head out and probably eat something.”“Okay, Sir. Do I make any provisions for Ms.Rakes?”“No, Ms. Rakes wouldn't be returning anymore.” Steven replied as she
“What are you doing?” Steven whispered as he jerked away from Sandra. His head was reeling from pain. Had she really kissed him?“Sorry. I don't know what happened…You looked so sad and I wasn't thinking.” She said as she abruptly got on her feet and cleared her plate. She grabbed the glass and was about to take the bottle of wine with her when Steven dragged it from her.“You can't drink the whole bottle, Steven.” She said in a quiet voice.“Get out.” He said, in a voice harsher than he intended. She glared at him for some seconds before wilting and walking out of the room.He took a swig of the bottle and sighed. Did she deserve such hostility from him for a mistake? She had only been trying to help him after all. It seemed all he was capable of these days was messing up on a grand scale. His actions kept hurting the people he called friends and family even when he didn't intend for them too. Tomorrow, he'd apologize for being bitchy to her. For now, he had only one thing on his min
“Thank you for calling me. I’ll drive him home. The last couple of weeks have been very hard with his wife being in a coma, you know.”Steven could hear Sandra talking to someone. He tried to remember calling her. Had he done that himself or had Tony called her? What time was it? She was looking at him now with something akin to disappointment on her face. Well, he didn't bloody care.“Come on, let's get you home.” She said, as she tried to help him to his feet. Steven chuckled as the both fell back on the leather seat. What was she thinking? That her tiny body could support his weight?“Is something funny, Steven King? You should be ashamed of yourself. You’re drunk. No one's been able to reach you all afternoon. James and Joanna left after breakfast and have been trying to get across to you. Your cell was switched off. And then I get a call that you're wasted in a bar!”“Arghhh. Stop talking in my face.” He mumbled. Her voice was beginning to give him a headache. He wasn't that drun
After Steven got off the call with the 911 operator, he thought about what to do next. He couldn't go home to Marie in this state, knowing that her suffering was caused by him. Nor was he in the mood to face either James or Joanna. He couldn't go to Alden's as that meant endless lectures he wasn't ready for. He knew the only thing likely to get him through the next couple of hours. He turned off his cell phone and drove off. Thirty minutes later, he parked outside Ziggler’s. The tiny, nondescript bar was exactly as he remembered it. He hesitated for a minute before heading in. He had promised James that he wasn't ever coming back here and for over ten years he had kept that promise. But there was no turning back now. A woman was dead because of him, another was in a coma fighting for her life. He needed this, if only for a few minutes. He opened the door, alighted and walked in before he could lose courage. Inside the tiny bar was exactly as he remembered it. How long since he had sat